The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-06

possibly could have done in circun1- stances 50 unusual Possibly had I gone by train, there would have been so many people travelling that 1t would have been very difficult to make any secret attack upon me. But, on the other hand, might have been temporarily arrested by the po- lice. and the despatch taken from me violently. That this was not done I attribute to the Austrian idea at that moment to stand well with the British people. They had not vet QuarrelIed with us, and they certainly did not believe that we were coming inte the war.
 Challenged by Police.
 There were some hours to spare before need take the train to Met kovitch, and the night being hot there was no better way of spending it than by seeing one of the most famous sights in Herzegovina. Such a tale satisfied the sentries, who were already posted at all the bar riers about the city, and my papers being in perfect order, they readily let me pass. Thus we set out upon | a long and dismal road over a wide plain, darkness soon overriding us, and the villagers everywhere going to
 
 village streets It was odd, indeed, to see whole families lying upon patches of grass before their doors, the ham lets themselves in black darkness, and the people snoring though 1t was not yet nine o'clock.
 I myself, however, felt far from sleepy. I had lighted a cigar, and had already congratulated myself up- on the success of a ruse which seem ed to give every chance of reaching Metkovitch. If my story of tourists pilgrimage were accepted, the lady | and her bazaar friend would be wait l ing for me at the station at eight o'clock next morning, and a police 1 emissary probably with them. But 'once upon the luggar'' could cla l protection, and I do not think that l the Government would dare the out rage of arresting me upon the high | seas.
 : This, I say, was all 10 my great i satisfaction, when, To and behold, a | couple of horsemen suddenly appear ] ed at small post by the wayside i and demanded to see my papers. 1 Their uniform showed me that they l were military police, and their man Ter certainly was worthy of these | gentry.
 They examined every document that I showed them with Iaborious 1 care, and it seemed to me that they | were waiting for some person or some instructions which they did not yet 1 possess.
 In the end, however, I satisfied them, and they allowed me to pro- 1 ceed though evidently with relucs- ance.
 l My drsre,- Ia5 Dorzr hacor,a o Jj++To
 suspicious of me, and evidently he 1 doubted if he ought to go on. The 1 remedy was obvious, and doubled the offer of money which already I | had made to him, with such success l that he determined to risk it, and,
 whipping up his horse, we fell to at
 a hard gallop.
 1 Pursued.
 A mile further on the second event l of the night happened. In the far l distance I heard the screech of a l motor horn, and saw two huge acety- l lene lamps upon the horizon. Instinct
 told me in 8 moment that it was for l this car the military guard had been l waiting.
 1 The woment had come then. l But here upon the road the men, whoever they were, would search me l
 knocked the ashes from my ci- gar, and quickly reckoned with the 1 problem. The precious letter was in the sleeve of my coat, as I have told you, under the double-cIip lining | which had often served me to carry 1 valuable documents in Austria l
 withdrew it, and held it in my hand
 Should I destroy it, or was a way yet
 to be found?
 The situa ton had become critical 1 and called for the swift employment | of my faculties. They say it is bet
 ter to be born lucky than rich, and
 I have always been called a lucky
 man. Had I been a novelist should 1 never have guessed in a twelve
 month the precise expedient to which | ought to have resorted in that try
 ing instant-but there was the thing
 under my nose, and I will add in a word that it was nothing more nor 1 less than a nose-bag.
 Attached to the rail of the drivers | seat was the common canvas bag from which his horse, I believe, ate oats, if he could get them. My destiny | evidently had placed it there, and the | opportunity was obvious. Taking the 1 letter I slipped it in amongst the provender in the bag. Yet this was
 not enough of itself, for even if the 1 rolice did not find it, there might be | other opportunities for them tc
 search me, and the conditions less l favorable.
 Again my luck helped me. ] We had come to a place upon the 1 river where there was one of those | deep and silent pools so characteristic 1 of the limestone formation of Herze- l govina. I can see it now as I saw il l then-clear and still in the moon light, a low cliff battling above it, 6
 little house close by upon the border 1 of the river, and in the near distance
 a motor car rushing towards us.
 Here was the place, and this m5 l opportunity.
 My Little Ruse.
 ''Halt"' I cried to the driver, and ] l slapped him heavily between the | shoulders. He stopped amazed, an6
 watched me with his little mean eyes i (Continued On Page Nine)