Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-07-18

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"That is true, my friends" the tall
er officer said, and held out his hand
81 am PisEre Dubreuil, and glad to
know you. This is my friend, Henri
Martin" They all shook hands warm
ly, and he continued. II am very
dull. You would never have discover
ed our stone unless you, too, had been
seeking a means of escape. Am l not
right"
"Never RICHTER" Rusty said, and
David was about to translate when
Dubreuil held up his hand and an
nounced that both he and Martin un-
derstood English.
"You know" Dubreuil said. "The
funny, or should 1 say strange, part
is that 1 went to Oxford with the ty-
rant who has been running this place
say 'has-been', as I am advised by
the mouth-to-ear telegraph system
that Fritz Won Spec is leaving us to-
night. Where he is going could not
discover, but I'll wager he's up to no
good. He's beastly clever, and they
only put him here as punishment for
failure while on mission in Tur-
key. He'll be worse than ever when
he is on the job again. Some sort
of fifth columnist, l understand"
"But what about the chances Of es-
cape," Hutch cut in.
Dubreuil laughed. "You have not
been here three hours and you al
ready wish to accomplish what Henri
and 1 have been Shaving on for three
months. However, you are lucky.
You have come at the crucial moment.
Tomorrow might have been too late.
Come, let US talk it over" He had al
ready replaced the rug and table while
speaking, and now he drew up his
chair at the table, motioning the 9TH
ers to do the same. When they were
seated, he took from his pocket a
deck of cards, soiled and worn by
much use, piece of paper and the
stub of a yellow pencil.
Dubeuil wrote the names down
carefully across the top, then beneath
them scrubbed some complicated fig
ures. He seemed to enjoy the per-
picked expressions on the faces of the
aviators, and dealt the cards slowly
and with some ceremony.
Bridge" he announced laconical-
ly. 81 hope you play, although it
does not matter really. We will have
little time for that excellent diver
sion. However, 1 must take four or
five tricks. 1t looks more natural.
You see," he said, addressing Hutch.
Eve can talk freely in this way, with
out exciting the guards suspicion
when he makes his rounds. Several
of them have the very pleasant habit
of dropping in on us without so much
as the courtesy of a rap at the door.
Most impolite people, the Boches."
Hutch realized that the Frenchman
was toying with their curiosity. He
was impatient, but as he imagined
this was the first amusement the man
had had in months, he did not be-
grudge him the lost moments, the tan
talizing wait.
"Now," declared Dubreuil, as he
blocked off the fifth trick and placed
it at the end of the neat pile before
him. Remember that it is my lead
if a guard sticks his head through
the door. Come Closer" The four
men leaned their heads together until
they nearly touched. Had anyone
been able to see them he would have
thought it a tense bridge game in
deed. "Our story is this. We both
wish to continue the war, against Ger
many. We have heard rumors that
General Charles de Gaulle is forming
an army of Free Frenchmen in Eng
land. Is that correct?"
cit is" Hutch confirmed.
Splendid! You hear that, Henri?"
The stocky Frenchman nodded and
stuck his mead out furCner Cnan De-
fore. 81 knew it. I knew that there
was one Frenchman left with the cour
age to carry on the battle. Long live
de Gaullle and Free France!"
David was surprised at the vehe-
mence of this short, square, redfaced
fellow. At the same time he thought
there must be millions more in France
who, like Henri Martin, were waiting
for the moment to come when they
could avenge their country's honor.
Pierre also, is his eagle-like fashion,
looked as if he would gladly give his
life for the cause. Courage they I'M
doubtedly possessed, these French
men, but the odds so far (thanks to
weak government and a decadent