Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-09-27

been Staying anu not unlike IL IN ap-
pearance. 1t, too, was a substantial
dwelling house which had been unten- |
anted since the beginning save perhaps
for such occasional visits as Huyliger |
and his associates made to it.
Huyliger let himself in and con-
Quoted me to room on the second |
floor, where he introduced me to two |
mon. One, 1 could readily see by the |
resemblance, was his own brother. |
Tie other was a stranger.
Very briefly they explained to me
that they had procured another pass
port for me-a genuine One-which
would prove far more effective in help
ing to get me to the frontier than the
counterfeit one they had manufac
tured for me.
1 think I saw through their game
right at the start, but / listened pa
ticntly to what they had to say.
"Of course, you will have to return
to us the passport we gave you before
We can give you the real one," said
Huyliger's brother.
Il haven't the slightest objection" l
replied, ''if the new passport is all you
claim for it. Will you let me see it?"
There was considerable hesitation on
the part of Huyliger's brother and the
other chap at this.
''Why, don't think that's necessary
at all, Mr.. O'Brien," said the former.
''YOu give us the old passport and we
will be very glad to give you the new
one for it. Isn't that fair enough?"
1T may be fair enough, my friends"
retorted, seeing that it was useless to
conceal further the fact that l was
fully aware of their whole plan and
why had been brought to this house.
1T may be fair enough, my friends" l
said, 'but you will get the passport
that l have here" batting my side and
indicating my inside breast pocket,
"only off my dead body"
I suppose the three of them could
have made short work of me then and
there if they had wanted to go the
limit, and no one would ever have
been the wiser, but had gone through
So much and was feeling so mean to-
wards the whole world just at that
moment that l was determined to sell
my life as dearly as possible.
Il have that passport here" 1 re-
piled, "and am gong to keep it. If
you gentlemen think you can take it
from me you are welcome to try!"
To tell the truth, I was spelling for
a fight, and half wished they would
start something. The man who had
lived in the house had evidently been
a collector of ancient pottery, for the
walls were lined with great pieces of
earthenware which had every earmark
of possessing great value. They car
tainly possessed great weight. l fig
ured that if the worst came to the
worst that pottery would come in
mighty handy. A single blow with one
of those big vases would put man
out as neatly as possible and as there
was lots of pottery and only three men,
believed had an excellent chance of
holding my own in the combat which l
| had invited.
! 1 had already picked out in my mind
what was going to use, and I got up,
stood with my back to the wall and
told them that if they ever figured on
getting the passport. then would be
| their best chance.
Apparently they realized that
meant business and they Immediately
began to expostulate at the attitude
was taking.
One of the men spoke excellent
| I,o
! could speak five languages, and if he
could lie in the others as well as
knew he did in my own tongue, he was
not only an accomplished linguist, but
most versatile liar into the bargain.
"My dear fellow said the linguist
sit is not that we want to deprive you OF
the passport. Good heavens! if it viii
aid you in getting out of the country
l wish you could have six just like it
But for our own protection, you owe
it to US to proceed on your journey
as best you can without it because a.
long as you have it in your possession
you jeopardize our lives, too. DON
you think it is fairer that you shoult
risk your own safety rather than plac,
the lives of three innocent men il
danger?"
''That may be as it is, my friends,
1 retorted, "and l am glad you realiz
your danger. Keep it in mind, for il
case any of you should happen to fee
inclined to notify the German authori
ties that I am in this part of the coun
try, think it over before you do sc
Remember always that if the German
get me, they get the passport, too, an
if they get the passport your live
won't be worth a damn! When I tel
the history of that clever little piec
of pasteboard, will implicate all thre
of you, and whoever is working wit
you, and as I am an officer I rathe
think my word will be taken befor
yours. Good night!'
The bluff evidently worked, becaus
, 1 was able to get out Of the city with
out molestation from the Germans.
l have never seen these men since
1 hope 1 never shall, because / al
, afraid l might be tempted to do some
thing for which I might otherwise b
sorry.
! do not mean to imply that all Be
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