The Washington times., 1919-01-28

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been one of. the ragged. emaciated
band OF British prisoners Of war
who had shivered through that
first long winter In the starvation
camp of Friedrichsfeid, near wesel.
For two years he had endured the
filthy food, the neglect, the harsh
treatment, then a resourceful Bel
gian friend, whom he called John,
in happier days a contraband run
ner on this very frontier. had shown
him a means TO escape. Five days
before they had left the camp and
separated. agreeing to meet at
Charlemagne's Ride in the forest
and try to force the frontier to-
gether. John" had never come
For twenty-four hours Maggs had
waited in vain, then his courage
had forsaken him, and he had
crept to that hole in his grief.
went and fetched Francis and
Monica. Maggs shrunk back as
they came in. -. y -
Il bean't fit cumpany for no
lady, zur." he whispered TO me, II
be that durty, fair crawling i be.
We couldn't keep clean no
how in that camp"
All the good soldiers horror of
dirt was in his voice.
That's all right, Maggs," I ar
swered soothingly, She'll under
We sat down on the floor in the
light Of sapper Maggs' candle. and
Francis and / reviewed our situa-
ton The cave We were in-an old
smuggler,s :-che-was where Fran
els had sss;.s several days during
his different attempts to get across
the frontier. The border line was
only about a quarter OF a mile dis
tant and ran right through the. for
est. There was no liye-wire fencing
in the forest, such as the Germans
have erected along the frontier be-
tween Holland and Belgium. The
frontier was guarded by patrols.
These patrols were posted four men
to every two hundred yards along
the line through the forect, SO that
two men, patrolling in pairs, cove
ed e hundred yards apiece
Maggs," / said. 1--WE are all in a
bad way. but our case is more des-
perate than yours. shall not tell
you more than this, that IL we are
caught, any Of US three. VIC shall be
shot, and anyone caught with US will
fare the same. II you will take my
advice, you will leave US and start
off by yourself; the worst that can
happen to you Is to be sent back to
your camp. You will be punished
for running away. but you won't
lose your life!'
Sapper Maggs shook his yellow
head.
"I'n stay" he answered stoIidIv.
"1ts more CONFERENCE.-The for US
four to old together. and it's a bet
ter protection for the lady. ]
bean't afear'd OF no Gers, I bean't!
I'll go along O. yew officers and the
lady, II yew don't mind. zur"
So it was settled. and we four
agreed to unite forces. Before we
set out Francis wanted to go and
reconnoitre. I thought he had done
more than his share that day, and
said so. But Francis insisted.
II know my way bIindfold about
the forest. old man." he said. "It1I
be far safer for me than for you.
I'll leave you the map and mark the
route you are to follow, so that YOU
can fnd the way II anything hap
pens to me. II I'm not back by
midnight. you ought certainly not TO
wait any longer. but make the at
tempt by yourselves"
My brother handed me back tn.
document and went over the route
we were to follow on the map. Then
he deposited his bundle in the cave
and declared himself ready.
And don't forget old Clubfoot.s
box" he said by way OF a parting
Injunction.
Monica took him to the entrance
OF our refuge She was dabbinr
her eyes with her handkerchief
when she returned. To divert her
thoughts I questioned he. about the
events that had led to my rescue.
and she told me how. at Francis
request, she had got all the scr
wants out OF the Castle on different
pretexts. II was Francis who had
got rid OF the soldiers Remaining
as a guard.
you remember the Captain Of