The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-09-26

mao 20 una uiulux pluce xQf Lne my
/ thought would approach the inst
peasant I came ~ and ask for food,
but that day had misgivinRs -
hunch-that would get into trouble
II did. and I decided to 60 without
food altogether for that day.
II was . foolish thing to do. found,
because I not only suffered greatly
from hunger all that day, but It inter-
fered with my sleep. would drop on
to sleep for half an hour. perhaps,
and during that TINT would dream
that 1 was free, back home, living .
life OF comparative ease. and then
would woke up with start and catch
glimpse Of the bushes surrounding
me, feel the hard ground beneath me
and the hunger psngs gnawing at my
sisIea and then would realize how
far from home really was. and I
would lie there and wonder whether
I would ever really see my home
again. Then would fall asleep again
and dream this time. perhaps Of the
days spent In Courtrai. or my leap
from the train window, Of the Bava-
rian pilot whom 1 sent to eternity In
my last air fight. of my tracer bullets
getting closer and closer to his head.
and then I would wake up again with
a start and thank the Lord TINT was
only dreaming II all a,pin instead Of
living through III
Thnf night got an early start be
cause knew had TO have food, and
1 decided that rather than look for
~x,nt. ffx.u r ~-o.xyI koEn . rf.un~o or,d
apply to the first Belgian peasant
whom came to.
II was about 8 o'clock when I came
to a small house. I had picked up a
heavy stone and had bound II In my
handkerchief and I was resolved to use
it as weapon IL II became necessary.
After all had gone through. wns
resolved to win my liberty eventually
at whatever cost.
As IL happened. I found that night
the first real friend had encountered
IN all my travelling. When l knocked
timldiy on the door. Il WIS opened by
a Belgian peasant. about fifty years of
age. He asked me In Flemish what
wanted. but I shook my head and
pointing 10 my cars and mouth inti-
mated that was deaf and dumb. and
then I opened and closed my mouth
several times to show him that l
wanted food.
He showed me inside and sat me at
the table He apparently lived alone.
for his fiI-furnished room had but one
chair. and the plate and knife and
fork he put before me seemed 10 be all
be had. He brought me some cold
POTATOES and several slices Of stnie
bread. and he warmed me some milk
on a small oil stove.
ate rarenousiy and ail the time 1
wss Engaged knew that he was eye
ing me closely.
Befere I was hnlf through he esme
over to me. touching me on the shoui-
der. and STOPPING over 30 that his lips
almost touched my ear. he said In
brokcn English. you are an Eng
lishnnr-I know it---and you can hear
and talk if Jon wish-am not rigisty'
There was smile on his fnce ana
. friendly attitude about him that told
me fnstinctiveir that he could be
trusted. and replied: You have
guessed right-oniy I am an Afneri-
can. not m Engiishman.-
He looked at me pityingiy end nlled
my cup again with warm milk
His kindness and apparent willing
ness to help me almost overcane me.
and felt like warning him Of the
consequences he would suffer II the
Huns discovered he had befriended
me. had heard that twenty Bclrisns
had been shot for helping BeiEians
to escape into Holland. and hatrsi
to think what might happen to this
good old Samaritan II the Huns ever
knew that he had helped an escaped
American prisoner.
After my meal was finished. told
MIN IN rs simple language as 1 couiu
command OF some OF the experiences
I had gone through and outlined my
future plans.
"Ycu viii never be able to get to
Holland" he declared. without .
passport. The nearer you get to the
frontier the more German soldiers
you will encounter. and without a
passport you will be marked man"
1 asked hir. to suggest way by
which could overcome the difilc~lty.
He thought for several moments
and studied me closely all the time
perhaps endeavoring to make abso-
lutely sure that was not German
spy-and then apparently deciding In
my favor, told me what he thought II
was best for me to do.
-If you will call on this man.
tmentioning the name Of Belgian In
\ city through which had to