Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-18

awake 10 the danger OF the German
| spy peril. Horn never would be per-
mitted such an opportunity 10 do the
dirty work of his masters
Monday evening came. and Horn de-
cided TO blow up the bridge that niyht
after the last train had passed Hcfore
4. giving up his room and walking away
| from the hotel with his suit case m.
plotter pinned to each sleeve bands of
cloth with the colors Of his country.
How Won Papen must have chuckled
derisivcly afterward at the recollection
Of his specious argument
AS a civilian Horn had absolutely
refused TO blow up the bridge Not
even at the command of the All Highest
himself would he deliberately commit
n crime against the United States-a
friendly, trusting neutral
But the act OF attaching the red,
white and black bands on his sleeves.
Horn bclicvcd--and the government
agents believe his story-madc him
over from civilian into an officer or
active Guty. Canada was an enemy
nation. He was fighting her, not the
ohted states. And what blow would
be struck for the Fa,herland.
Thai long. unceasing stream of food
ana munitions pouring across the
bridge from America for the allies
would be cut off for weeks. No wonder
the simple Horn fell. Won rapcn knew
not TYPICAL HUN
WAS THIS MAN HORN
Nowadays Horn would have been fol-
lowed from the hotel by self
appointed Secret Service agent, but in.
th!S period Of the great sleep he was
permitted TO leave unmatched So no
one observed that he did not go to
the station TO take the Boston train.
AZ he had declared his intention In
stead. he hid in the woods TO wait for
the passing Of the last train The
arch demon Won papcn had assured
him that the last train went over the
bridge at about II. Won Papcn cared
not a snap OF his fingers how many
lives were snuffed out as long as the
dynamite was once planted.
The IL O'Clock whistled and rumblcd
over the bridge. Horn came out Of
his hiding place
/, was fcarfully cold. the Their
momcter registered so below en- the
sheltered platform. out in the open
where Horn was blindly stumbling to-
ward the railroad track. it mus, have
been 10 degrees lower.
That night in Washington the gallant
Captain Won Papen was the. guest OF Il
prominent American family.
Horn literally staggered up the track
Near the cut above the bridge he al
most Knocked down Maine Central
Railroad employee on his way to work.
so binding was the storm as the gale
whipped sand and snow into both thei.
eyes. The latter had TO shout his in
9uiiics into the Germans ear. but Horn
gave him no satisfactory explanation
OF his presence out there with "A suit
Gaze At that hour OF the night Later
III tn" roundhousc, the man spoke OF
meeting the stranger, but all conjcc-
lures as to his business were wide of
u. mark.
Nl.ltNI:n HORN
TIE ICY BRIDGE
Fighting every inch OF the way and
resisting the elements - thought OF
the great deed for the Fatherland,"
Horn finally reached the International
bridge. IT was pitch dark. The ties
on the bridge were coated with ice
Footing was precarious. Once he
slipped and nearly fell OF the open
side of the bridge. Again he slipped
and fell heavily upon his back.
Neither time did he release his grip on
the SUIT case.
He had ust gotten on to his feet the
second time when the dull fast of 4
whistle fell upon his ears. He turned.
and his startled eyes beheld the head
light OF 4 locomotive. There vas no
room on the bridge TO stand lay
down While the train passed. Horn was
Of the stuff out OF which heroes are
made, and did not hesitate u moment.
out until his left hand grasped 4 steel
rod. Holding the suit case in his right
hand. he swung out from the bridge.
The fire OF his misguided patriotism
gave him the strength, and tenaciously
did his near-frozen hands cling to rod
and handle.
The trains vibration almost flung
him of and below into the ice-caked
river. He was dazed. but he managed
to climb back onto the ties
For a moment or two he wondered
about the train. Had not Won Papen
assured him that the last train crossed
the bridge at IL. He had hardly
ceased wondering when another Shrek
ing whistle was heard, and another
headlight bore down on him-from the
Canadian side Again he hung out from
the bridge, and again he clambered
back.
1t never occurred to the honest fol-
low that his master. Won Papen, had
duped him. His conclusion was that
these were either extra trains or that
tho train schedule had been upset for
some reason other.
Would Won Papen have done the
splendid thing that Horn did?
He would-not.
Werner Horn Immediately reafIirmed
his determination not to endanger
human life by the wrecking Of the
bridge. He had made fifty minute
fuse with which TO explode the dyna-
mite.
Now that Won Papen had "blundered"
about the trains. he could not be sure
whether any trains would cross the
bridge shortly after the explosion and
before the wreck was discovered.
So Werner Horn deliberately cut the
fuse down to three-minute length.
And in so doing he cut off all chance
OF his escape.
True. he could never have escaped
! through the trackless woods over the
| route he had ignorantly plotted on the
| railroad timetable map reached Prince
ton and taken 4 Boston train there.
But he did not realize the absurdity
of his plans to escape.
He was well over to the Canadian
side Of the bridge by now. Wedging
| the dynamite against n girder. he lit
| the fuse with the cigar he had been
smoking since leaving the hotel. Reck-