The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1918-08-17

ing so interested in that window dis
play as 10 stand in front of the win
dow for two, three or four minutes AT
Il time, however, certainly seemed
funny to me, and when | got back to
the house l sat at the keyhOle again
and found Just as much interest as
before In watching the Germans stop
in their tracks when they reached the
window, even though was now aware
what the attraction was.
One Of my chief occupations during
these days was catching flies. | would
catch fly. put him in a spiders web
there were plenty of them in the old
house), and sit down for the spider I"
come down and get him. But always |
pictured myself in the same predica-
ment and rescued the fly Just as tn"
spider was about to grab him. Several
times when things We're duh | was
tempted to see tn" tragedy through.
but perhaps the same Providence that
guided me safely through all perilS
was guarding, too, the destiny of those
flies, for | always weakened and the
flies never did suffer from my lust for
amusement.
The house was well supplied with
bookS-in fact, one of the choicest Ii
braricS | think | ever saw-hut they
were all written either in Flemish or
French. | could read no Flemish ami
very little French. | might have made
little Roadway with the latter, but
the books all seemed too deep for me
and gave 1t up. Their" was one thing
though that ! did read and reread
from beginning 10 end; that was n
New York Herald which must have ar
rived }uSt about the time war was de-
clarcd. Several things in this in
terestod me. and particularly tn" base
ball scores. which | studied with rs
much care as a real fan possibly could
an up-to-tiatc score. ! Couidnt refrain
from lnurhing when | cam" tn an &C
count Of Zimmerman (of the cubs)
being benched for some Spat with the
umpire. and ii afforded me just us
much interest tire" Years after it had
huppened-perhapS more-than some
current item Of Worldwide interest
had ut that time.
| Tummnged the house many times
from cellar to garrett in my search for
something to eat, but the harvest Of
three Years Of war had made any Sue
cess along that line impossible. | was
like the man ont in III" ocean in n boat
and thirsty with water everywhere but
not Ii drop 10 drink.
WAS tempted while i'm the city to
20 rs church on" Sunday. hui my better
Judgment told me it would he Il useless
risk. OF course, Sum"On" would surely
say something to IN" and | didn't
know how many Gr-muns would be
there or what migl happen, - give
up that idea.
During nll the time was concealed
in this house | saw but one automobile
and that was German staff officers.
That same afternoon l had one OF the
frights of my young life.
had been gazing out of the keyhoe
as usual when | heard coming down
the street the measured tread of Ger
man soldiers. 1t didn't sound like very
many, but there was no doubt in my
mind that German soldiers were
marChin. down the street. ! went up
stairs and p"ekcd through the window
and sure enough Il squad of German iH
fautry WIS coming down the street
accompanied by IL military motor
truck. ] hadn't the slightest idea that
they were coming after me, but still
the possibilities of the situation gave
me more or less alarm, and ] COnSid-
cred how ] could make my escape If
by chance / was the man they w-re
otter. The idea of hiding in the wine
cellar appealed to me as the most
practical; there must have been
plenty of places among the wine kegs
and cases where n man could conceal
himself, but, a. matter OF fact, I did
not believe thar any such contingency
would arise.
The marching soldiers came nearer,
| could hear them at the next house.
In a moment ! would see them pass
the keyh0le through which was look
ing.
Halt! :"
At the word of command shouted by
a Junior officer the squad came to at