The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-06


"The only thing replied the Mapor, els
for me to appeal to His Highness for pro-
lection. You must find out for me just
where he is and I will write him letter."
"That's all very well,' said the woman,
"but if l were you, l would not depend too
much on him. Even he has to give in to the
High Command Instead of trusting to
him, let US all concentrate our minds and
efforts upon your escaping into Holland,
away from all the treachery of the Ger
mans. l am going now, but before l sleep
l will try and find the solution"
After she had gone, the Major and Cap
tain sat up trying to find a way out. 1t
began to look as if, with victory almost
within their grasp, they were going to fail.
That night the firing squad and the brick
wall seemed very real and very near. Va
rious plans were discussed and rejected, and
just as daylight was breaking in the eastern
sky and they had decided to make run for
i. that very night, the soft signal rap sound
ed and there were the two women.
The Escape
81 have solved it for you, Major" cried
Gretchen. "Listen and do not interrupt,
and you will never say that woman's wit
is not match for mans brain-this is
the plan:
Both of you men, according to what you
have said, are now outlaws In France, there
is price on your heads, because you have
turned traitors, and if captured you will be
shot unless you can offer something of
great value in exchange for your life Here,
in Germany, it is only a question of time
before you will be MIXED dry and then it
will be a firing squad or quiet stab, or a
shot in the dark and the Rhine You can
not remain here and you cannot escape into
Holland so your only hope is to return to
France through the front, taking back some
thing that may help you to win back your
lives.
'For a long time l have been ON friendly
terms with two of the officers of the gen.
eral staff. Their devotion to the cause has
been waning for some time, as they have
realized the Germans were playing losing
game ever since the Americans came into
the war. They have read the reports of
your interviews with Hindenburg and they
know that there is no hope of a German
victory now. They do not like the idea of
staying in Germany after the defeat, for
they are afraid the German people won't
look upon the army officers with favor
then, and they are anxious to get away if
possible. I have just left one of them and
he is willing to do almost anything to get
away, he is SO desperate, and the other will
go with him. l have made them see that
their only chance of getting out of Germany
lies in going with you.
"Now, here is the great point. can in
duce these men to steal all the general
staff's most vital plans and records and
drawings"
No wonder the girl was tense and short
breathed with excitement. The men were
used to tremendous experiences, but here
was moment that will always stand out
beyond any memories of personal dangers.
Here was reckoning bigger success than
anyone had ever even dreamed about. They
only nodded for her to go on, and the girl
told how the four fugitives could get into
Metz and, at the first opportunity, slip over
the trenches and cross No Mans Land and
surrender.
"You will be granted PARDON" she con-
cluded, "for the information these two Ger
man officers will bring with them will be
so valuable that, instead of being classed as
deserters, you will be hailed as heroes.
What do you think of it,"
1t was wild plan, not to be accepted
instantly. No one but woman could have
conceived such an idea; but, by it's very
boldness, it held a chance of success. The
situation was desperate and the more Ma
ior Anderson thought the more he thought