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PREFACE
This story demands no explanatory word.
But I do wish to assure the reader that
-. Incident in it casting' discredit on the
invaders of Belgium is founded on actual
tact. I refer those who may doubt the truth
tf this sweeping statement to the offlciul
rscoras published by the Governments of
Great uruaxn, rranco ana iscigium.
ijPV'
C-r-cA
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Awrvc $ I ?ax
1
CHAPTER I
The Lava Stream
ffTTlOR, God's Bake, If you aro an English-
X man, help me!"
That cry of despair, so subdued yet pierc
ing In Its Intensity, reached Arthur Dalroy
as he pressed close on the heels of nn all
powerful escort In Lieutenant Karl von
Halwlg, of the Prussian Imperial Guard, at
the ticket-barrier of tho Frlcdrich Strasse
Elation on tho night of Monday, 3d August,
1914,
An officer's uniform Is a pnaje-parrouc In
Germany; the showy uniform of tho Impe
rial Guard adds awo to authority. It may
well be doubted If any other Inslgna of rank
could have passed a companion In civilian
attire so easily through tho official cordon
which barred tho chief railway station at
Berlin that night to all unauthorized per
ions. Von Halwlg was In front, Impartially
eurslng and shoving nsido tho crowd of po
lice and railway men. A glgnntlc ticket
Inspector, catching sight of tho guards
man, bellowed nn order to "clenr the way" ;
but a general officer created a momentary
diversion by choosing that forbidden exit.
Von Halwlg's heels clicked, and his right
hand was raised In a salute, so Dalroy was
given a few seconds wherein to scrutlnlzO
the face of tho terrified woman who had
addressed him. Ho raw that sho was
young, an Englishwoman, and undoubtedly
a lady by her speech and garb.
"What pin I do for you?" he nsked.
"Get mo into a train for tho Belgian
frontiei". I havo Jilenty of money, but these
Idiots will not even allow mo to enter the
nation."
He had to decide In an Instant. Ho had
every reason to bellevo that a woman,
friendless and alone, especially a young
and good-looking one, was far safer In
Berlin where somo thousand of Britons
and Americans had been caught In the lava
wavo of red war now (lowing unrestrained
from tho Danube to the North Sea than
In the train which would start for Belgium
within half an hour. But the tearful In
dignation In the girl's voice even her folly
In describing ns ".Idiots" tho hectoring
Jacks-ln-offlce, any 'ono of whom might
have understood her led impulse to tri
umph over saner Judgment.
"Come along! quick!" ho muttered.
"You're my .cousin, Evelyn Fane!"
With a self-control that was highly cred
itable, the young lady thrust a hand
through his arm. In the other hand sho
cafrlcd a reticule. The nctlon surprised
Dalroy, though femlnlno intuition had only
displayed common sense.
"Have you any luggage?" ho said.
"Nothing beyond this tiny bag. It was
hopeless to think of "
Von Hajwlg turned at tho barrier to
Insure his English friend's safe passage.
"Hallo"' ho cried. Evidently he was
taken aback by tho unexpected addition to
tho party
"A fellow-countrywoman. In distress,
smiled Dalroy, speaking In German. Then
he added, In English, "It's all right. As It
happens, two places aro reserved."
Von Halwlg laughed In a way which the
Englishman would havo resented at any
other moment.
"Excellent'" ho guffawed. "Beautifully
contrived my friend HI, there, sheep's
head'" this to tho ticket inspector "let
that porter with the portmanteau pass !"
Passage Assured
Thus did Captain Arthur Dalroy And him
lelf Inside tho Frlcdrich. Strasse station on
the night when Germany was nlready at
war with Russia and France. With him
was tho stout leather bag Into which he
had thrown hurriedly such few articles
as were Indlsponsable an Ironic distinction
when viewed In tho light of subcquont
vents, with him, too, was a charming nnd
trustful and utterly unknown traveling
Companion.
Von Halwlg was not only vastly amused
but Intensely curious; his endeavors to
scrutinize the faco of a girl whom tho Eng
lishman had apparently conjured up out of
the malestrom of Berlin were almost rude.
They failed, however, at tho outset. Every
woman knows exactly now to nttract or
repel a man's admiration ; this young lady
was evidently determined that only .the
vaguest hint of her features should be
vouchsafed to tho guardsman. A fairly
large hat and a veil, assisted by the angle
at which Bhe held her Ticad, defeated hi
Intent She still clung to Dalroy's arm,
and relinquished It only when a perspiring
Platform Inspector, armed with a list,
brought the party to a first-class carriage.
There were no sleeping cars on the trala
Every "wagon-lit" In Berlin had been com
mandeered by the staff.
"I have had a not-to-be-descrlbed-In-words
difficulty In retaining these corner
Places," he qald, whereupon Dalroy gave him
five-mark piece, nnd tho girl was In
talled In the seat facing the engine.
The platform Inspector had not exagger
ated his services. The train was literally
besieged, Scores of important officials
were storming at railway employes because
accommodation could not be found. Dal
roy, wishful at first that Von Halwlg
would take himself off instead of standing
hear the open door and peering at the girl.
Joon changed his mind. There could not
J the slightest doubt that were It not for
the presence of an officer of the Imperial
Guard he and his "cousin" would have been
unceremoniously bundled out on to the
Platform to make room for some many
Syllabled functionary 'who "simply must go
to the front." As for the lady, she was the
ole representative of her sex traveling
west that night. , '
Meanwhile the two young men chatted
amicably, using German and English with
tqual ease. v
"I think you are making a mistake In
rolng by this route," Bald Von Halwlg,
The frontier lines will bo horribly con
tested during tho next few flays, You
e. we have to be In Paris In three weeks,
o we must hurry."
ii v ou are very confident," said the Eng
uanman pleasantly.
lie purposely avoided any discussion of
ij reasons for choosing the Cologne-Brus-
Bels-Oatftnri llt Ate mh nm.i nf h
B1tlsh army, he was particularly anxious
K-watch (he vaunted Qerman piobipxa-
w ' wiy phases.
i"!inM.pl?u;pl0US a slanB term for the
1-rench Infantry "will run along before
they see the whites of our eyes."
..J'1 hTaven,t mct a"y French regiments
since I wai a youngster, but I bellevo
fif?,"?.0 U far bel,cr organized now than In
1870, was the noncommittal reply.
Germany's Plans
Von Halwlg threw out his right arm In
a wide sweep. "We shall brush them aside
so,' ho cried. "Tho German army was
strong In thoso days; now It Is Irresistible,
ou nro a ooldler. You know. Tonight's
papers ray England Is wavering between
pcaco and war. But I have no doubt she
will bo" wise. That Channel Is a great
asset, a great safeguard, eh?"
Again Dalroy changed tho subject. "If
It Is n fair question, when do you start
for tho front?"
"Tomorrow, nt six In the morning."
"How very kind of you to spare such
valuablo tlmo now!"
"Not at all' Everything Is ready. Ger
many Is always ready. The Emperor says
'Mobilize,' nnd, behold, wo cross tho frontier
within tho hour!"
"War Is a rotten business," commented
Dalroy thoughtfuly. "I've seen something
of It In India, where, when nil Is said
nnd done, n Ecrap In tho hills brings tho
lighting men alono Into lino. But I'm sorry
for tho unfortunate peasants and town,
people who will suffer. "What of Belgium,
for Instance?"
"Hal Les braves Beiges!" laughed the
other. "They will do as wo tell them
What olso Is posslblo? To adapt ono of
your own proverbs: 'Needs must when tho
German drives!' "
Dalroy understood qulto welt that Von
Halwlg's bumptious tono was not assumed
Tho Prussian Junker could hardly think
otherwise. But tho glances cast by tho
guardsman at tho Mlent figuro seated near
tho window showed that somo part of his
vaporing was meant to Impress the fem
lnlno heart
A gallant figuro ho cut, too, as ho stood
there, caressing his Kalscr-fashloned mus
taches with ono hand while the other rested
on the hilt of his sword. Ho was tad. fully
six feet, and, according to Dalroy's stand
ard of physical fitness, at least a stone too
heavy. Tho personification of Nietzsche's
Teutonic "overman," tho "big blonde brute"
who Is tho German military Ideal, Dalroy
classed him, In tho cxpresslvo phraso of the
regimental mess, ns "a good bit of a
bounder." Yet ho was n patrician by birth,
or ho could not hold a commission In the
Jmporlal Guard, and he had been most help
ful and painstaking that night, so perforce
ono must be civil to him.
Dalroy himself, nearly as tall, was lean
and lithe, hard as nails, yet Intellectual,
a cavalry officer who had passed through
tho Oxford mint.
By this tlmo four other occupants of thu
compartment were In evidence, and a ticket
examiner came along. Dalroy produced a
numbor of vouchers. Tho girl, who ob
viously spoko German, leaned out, purso In
hand, and was about to explain that the
crush In the booking hall had prevented her
from obtaining a ticket.
But Dalroy Intervened, "I have your
ticket." ho said, announcing a singular fact
In tho most casual manner ho could com
mand "Thank you," she said Instantly, trying to
conceal her own surprise. But her eyes mot
Von Halwlg's bold stare, nnd read therein
not only a ready appraisement of hor good
looks but a perplexed half recognition.
Tho railwayman raised a question. Con
trary to the general custom, the vouchers
boro names, which ho compared with a list
"These tickets are for Hcrrch Fane and
Dalroy, nnd I find a lady here," he said sus
piciously. "Knuleln Evelyn Fane, my cousin." ex
plained Dalroy. "A mtstako of the issuing
"But "
"Ach, was!" broko In Von Halwlg Impa
tiently. "You hear. Somo fool has blun
dered. It is sufficient."
At nny rate, his word sufficed Dalroy
entered the carriage, and the door was
closed and locked.
"Never say I haven't done you a good
turn," grinned tho Prussian. "A pleasant
Journey, though It may bo a slow ono.
Don't be surprised If I am in Aachen bc
foro you."
Aix-la-Chapelle?
Then ho colored. He had said too much.
Ono of tho men In tho compartment gave
him a sharp glance. Aachen, better known
to traveling Britons as Alx-la-Chapelle,
lay on the road to Belgium, not to Franco.
"Well, to our next meeting!" ho went on
boisterously. "Bun across to Paris during
the occupation."
"Good-by I And nccept my very grateful
thanks," said Dalroy, nnd the train started.
"I cannot tell you how much obliged I
am." said a sweet voice as he settled down
Into his soat. "Please, may I pay you now
for the ticket which you supplied so mirac
ulously?" "No miracle, but a piece of rare good
luck," ho said. "One of the attaches at our
embassy arranged to travel to England to
night or I would never have got away, even
with tho support of the Stnto councilor,
who requested Lieutenant von Halwlg to be
friend me. Then, at the last moment, Fane
couldn't come. I meant asking Von Halwlg
to send a messenger to the embassy with
tho spare ticket."
"So you will forward the money to Sir.
Fnno with my complments," said the girl,
opening her purso.
Dalroy agreed. There was no other way
out of tho difficulty. Incidentally he could
not help noticing that the lady was well
supplied with gold and notes.
As they were fellow travelers by force of
circumstances, Dalroy took a card from his
pocketbook, In which he was securing a 100
mark note.
"Wo have a long Journey before us and
may as well get to know each other by
nisst," Zl -"'"
; , f
' ' j
"Get me into a train for .the Bel
giiLfrpntir." yr .
Dalroy put a good deal of
The girl smiled acquiescence. She read,
"Captain Arthur Dalroy, Second Bengal
Lancers, Junior United Service Club."
"I haven't a card In my bag," sho said
simply, "but my namo Is Beresford Ireno
Beresford Miss Beresford," and sho col
ored prettily. "I havo mado nn effort of
tho explanation," she went on, "but I think
It Is stupid of women not to let people
know nt onco whether they are married or
single."
"I'll be equally candid," he replied. "I'm
not married, nor likely to be."
"Is that defiance, or merely self-defenso?"
"Neither A bald fnct I hold with
Kitchener that a soldier should devote him
self exclusively to his profession."
"It would certainly bo well for many a
heart-broken woman In Europe today If all
soldiers shared your opinion," was tho an
swer; nnd Dalroy know that his vis-a-vis
bad deftly guided their chatter on to a moro
Ecdato plane.
Tho train halted an unconscionable tlmo
nt a suburban station nnd again nt Char
lottenburg. The four Germans In the com
partment, nil Prussian officers, commented
on tho delay, and one of them mado a
Joke of It.
"Tho signals must be against us at
Liege." he laughed.
"Perhaps England has sent a regiment of
Territorials across by the," Ostend boat,"
chimed In nnother. Then ho turned to Dal
roy and said civilly. "You are English.
Your country wllliot bo so mad as to Join
In this adventure, will she?"
"This Is a wnr of diplomats," Bald Dalroy,
resolved to keep a guard on his tongue. "I
nm qulto sure that no ono In England wants
war."
"But will England fight If Germany In
vades Belgium?"
"Surely Germany will do no Buch thing.
The integrity of Belgium Is guaranteed by
"Your friend the lieutenant, then, did not
tell you that our army crossed the frontier
today?"
"Is that possible?"
"Yes. It is no secret now. Didn't you
realize what he meant when he said his
regiment was going to AachCn? But, what
does It matter? Belgium cannot resist. She
must give freo passage to our troops. Sho
will protest, of courso, Just to save her
faco."
The talk became general among the men.
At the moment there was a fixed belief In
Germany that Britain would stand aloof
from the quarrel. So convinced was Austria
of the British attitude that the Viennese
mob gathered outside the English Ambas
sador's residence that same evening and
cheered enthusiastically.
Another Delay
During another long wait Dalroy took ad
vantage of the clamor and bustle of a
crowded platform to say to Miss Beresford
In a low tone: "Aro you well advised to,
proceed va Brussels? Why not branch off
at Oberhausen and go home by way of
Flushing?"
"I must meet my Bister In Brussels," said
the girl. "Sho Is younger than I, and at
school there. I am not ufraid now They
will not Interfere with any ope in this train,
especially a woman. But now about you?
You have the unmistakable look of a British
officer." .
,"Hv irM MM. amlllnff. 'TMt ,jwt
't-t
scienco and no small leaven of brute force
why I nm going through. I suppose "
Neither could guess tho Immense signifi
cance of thoso few words. Thoro was n
reasonnblo chanco of cscapo through Hol
land during tho next day. By remaining In
tho Belgium-bound train they were, nil un
knowing, entering tho crater of a volcano.
Tho ten hours' run to Cologno was drawn
out to twenty. Tlmo and again they were
shunted Into sidings to mako way for troop
trains and supplies. At a wayside station
a bright moon enabled Dalroy to tako stock
of two monster howitzers mounted on
specially constructed bogle trucks Ho esti
mated their boio nt slxteon or seventeen
Inches; the fittings and accessories of each
gun filled nlno or ten trucks. How prepared
Germany was! How thorough her organi
zation ! Yet the hurrying forward of theso
giant siege guns was premature, to put It
mildly! Or wcro tho German generals
really convinced that they would sweep
every obstacle from their path, and ham
mer their way Into Paris on a fixed date?
Dalroy thought of England, and sighed, be
caube his mind turned first to the army
barely 100,000 trained men. Then he re
membered tho British fleet, and the outlook
was more reassuring!
After a night of fitful sleep dawn found
tho travelers not yet half-way. The four
Germans wcro furious. They held staff ap
pointments, and had been assured In Berlin
that the clockwork regularity of mobiliza
tion arrangements would permit this par
ticular train to cover the Journey according
to schedule. Meals were Irregular and
scanty. At one small town, In the early
morning, Dalroy secured a quantity of
rolls and fruit, and all benefited later by
his forethought.
Newspapers bought en route contained
dark forebodings of 'England's growing hos
tility. A special edition of a Hanover Jour
nal spoke of an ultimatum, a word which
evoked harsh denunciations of "British
treachery" from tho Germans. Tho com
parative friendliness Induced by Dalroy's
provision as n caterer vanished at once.
When the train rolled wearily across tho
nhlne Into Cologno. ten hours late, both
Dalroy and the girl were fully aware that
their fellow passengers regarded them as
potential enemies.
It was then about G o'clock on the Tues
day evening, and a loud-voiced official an
nounced that the train would not proceed
to Alx-la-Chapelle until 8. The Ger
man officers went out, no doubt to seek a
meal ; but took the precaution of asking an
officer In charge of somo Bavarian troops
on the platform to station a sentry at tho
.carriage door. Probably they had no other
Intent, and merely wished to safeguard
their places; but Dalroy realized now the
Imprudence of talking English, and signed
to the girl that she was to come with him
Into the corridor on the opposite side of
tb,e carriage.
There they held counsel Miss Beresford
was firmly resolved to reach Brussels, and
flinched from no difficulties. It must be
remembered that war was not formally
declared between Great Britain and Ger
many until that evening. Indeed, the tre
mendous decision was made while the pair
bo curiously allied by fate were discussing
their program. Had they even quitted the
train at -Cologne they hsM a fair prospect
pt meUacMUtral territory by hoojs or by
into a straight punch.
crook They knew nothing of Llego nnd
tho Imperlshahlo laurels which that gallant
city was about to gather. They elected to
go on !
A station employe brought them somo un
palatablo food, which they mado a pretense
of eating. Ireno Beresford's Hanoverian
German was perfect, so Dalroy did not air
his less accur.-Uo accent, nnd tho presenco
of tho sentry vns helpful nt this crisis.
Though sharp-eyed and rabbit-eared, tho
man was qulto civil.
At last tho Prussian officers returned.
He who had been chatty overnight was now
brusque, even overbearing. "Von havo no
light here!" he vociferated at Dalroy.
"Why should a damned Englishman travel
with Germans? Your country is perfidious
as over. How do I know that you aro not
a spy?"
"Hples aro not vouched for by Councillors
of State," was the calm reply. "I havt In
my pocket a letter from his Excellency
Ktaatsrath von Auschenbaum authorizing
my Journey, nnd you yourself must per
ceive that I am escorting a lady to her
home."
Tho other snorted, but subsided into his
seat. Not yet had Teutonic hatred of all
things British burst Its barriers. But tho
pressuro was Increasing. Soon It would
leap forth llko the pent-up flood of some
mighty reservoir whoso retaining wall had
crumbled into ruin.
"Is there any news?" went on Dalroy
civilly. At any hazard, ho was determined,
for the sako of tho girl, to maintain the
semblance of good fellowship. She, ho saw,
was cool and collected. Evidently, sho
had complete trust In him.
For a little whllo no one answered. Ulti
mately, tho officer who regarded Liege as
a Joko said shortly, "Your Sir Grey has
made some Impudent suggestions. I sup
poso it Is what the Americans call 'bluff' ;
but bluffing Germany Is a dangerous game."
"Newspapers exaggerate such matters,"
said Dalroy.
"It may be so. Still you'll be lucky If
you get beyond Aachen," was tho ungra
cious retort Tho speaker refused to give
the town Its French name.
An hour passed, the third In Cologne,
before the train rumbled away Into the
darkness. The girl pretended to sleep. In
deed, she may have dozed fitfully. Dalroy
did not attempt to engage her In talk.
The Germans gossiped In low tones. They
knew that their nation had spied on the
wholo world. Naturally, they held every
foreigner In their midst as tainted in the
samo vile way.
From Cologne to Alx-la-Chapelle Is only
a two hours' run. That night the Journey
consumed four. Dalroy no longer dared
look out when the train stood In a siding.
He knew by the sounds that all the dread
paraphernalia of war was speeding toward
the frontier; but any display of interest
on his part would be positively dangerous
now; so he, too, closed his, eyes.
The Last Stop
By this time he was well aware that
his real trials would begin at Alx; but
he had the philosopher's temperament, and
never leaded fences till he reached them.
At 1 In the morning they entered the
ttatlon of the last important town In Gei
many, Holland lay barely three miles
"
away, Belgium a llttlo farther. The goal
was near Dalroy felt that by calmness
and quiet determination he and his charm
ing protege might win through, He was
very much taken by Ireno Beresford. He
had never mct any girl who attracted htm
bo strongly. Ho found himself wondering
whether he might contrive to cultivate this
strangely formed (friendship when they
reached England. In a word, the self-denying
ordinance popularly attributed to Lord
Kitchener was weakening In Captain Ar
thur Dalroy.
Then his sky dropped, dropped with a
bang.
The train had not quite halted when the
door was torn open and a bespectacled, red
faced officer glared In.
"It Is reported from Cologne that there
arc English In this carriage," he shouted.
"Corn' -t. my friend. There they nre !"
said tho man who had snarled at Dalroy
earlier
"You must descend," commanded the new
comer "You aro both under arrest."
'On what charge?" Inquired Dalroy, bit
terly conscious of a gasp of terror which
came involuntarily from the girl's lips.
' You nro spies. A sentry heard you
talking English, and saw you oxamlnlng
troop trains from tho carriage window "
So that Bavarian lout had listened to
the Prussian officer's taunt, nnd mado a
story of his discovery to prove Oils dill
genco "Wo aro not spies, nor have we done
anything to warrant suspicion," said Dal
roy quietly. "I havo letters "
"No talk Out you come!" and he was
dragged forth by a bloated fellow whom ho
could have broken with his hands. It was
folly to resist, so he merely contrived to
keep on his feet, whereas the fat bully
meant to trip him Ignomlnlously on to tho
platform
Arrested as Spies
"Now you!" was tho order to Irene, and
sho followed. Half a dozen soldiers closed
nround There could bo no doubting that
preparations had been made for their re
ception "May I havo my portmanteau?" said Dal
roy "lou are acting In error, as I shall
prove when given an opportunity."
"Shut your mouth, you damned English
man" that was a favorite phrase on Ger
man lips apparently "would you dare to
arguo with me? Here, ono of you, take
his bag Has the woman any baggage?
No Then march them to the "
A tall young lieutenant. In the uniform of
the Prussian Imperial Guard, dashed up
breathlessly.
' Ah. I was told 'the train had arrived '"
he cried "Yes, I am In search of thoso
"Thank goodness you are here, Von Hal
wlg'" began Dalroy.
The Guardsman turned on him a faco
anamo wmi fury. "Silence!" he bellowed.
"1 11 soon settle your nffalr. Take his pa
pers and money, and put him In a waiting
room till I return," ho added, speaking to
the officer of reserves who had effected the
arrest "Place tho lady In another waiting
room, and lock her In. I'll see that she Is
not molested. As for this English schtveln
bund, shoot him at the least sign of re
sistance "
"But Herr Lieutenant." began the other,
whose heavy paunch was a measure of his
self-importance, "I have orders "
"Ach, was' I know! This Englishman
Is not nn ordinary spy. Ho is a cavalry cap
tain, nnd speaks your language fluently.
Do ns I tell you I shall come back In
half nn hour Frauleln. you are In safer
hands You, I fancy, will be well treated "
Dalroy said not a word. He saw nt once
that some virus had changed Von Halwlg's
urbanity to bitter hatred. He was sure the
Guardsman had been drinking, but that fact
alone would not nccount for such an nmaz
lng volte-face. Could It bo that Britain
had thrown In her lot with France? In his
heart of hearts ho hoped passionately that
the rumor was true. And he blazed, too,
Into a flerco If silent resentment of the
Prussian's satyr-llko smile at Irene Beres
ford. But what could he do? Protest was
worso than useless. Ho felt that ho would
be Bhot or bayoneted on tho slightest pre
text. Von Halwlg evidently resented the pres
enco of a crowd of gaping onlookers.
' "No more talk!" he ordered sharply, "Do
ns I bid you, Herr Lieutenant of Hesoryes!"
"Captain Dalroy!" cried the girl In a
voice of utter dismay, "don't let them part
us!"
Von Halwlg pointed to a door. "In there
with him!" he growled, nnd Dalroy was
hustled away. Ireno screamed, and tried
to avoid tho Prussian's outstretched hand.
Ho grasped her determinedly.
The Threat
"Don't be a fool!" ho hissed In English. "
can savo you. He Is dono with. A firing
party or a rope will account for him at
daybreak. Ah! calm yourself, gnadipes
Fraulcin. There are consolations, even In
war."
Dalroy contrived, out of the tall of his
eye, to seo that the distraught girl was led
toward a ladies' waiting room, two doors
from the apartment Into which ho was
thrust. There ho was searched by the lieu
tenant of reserves, not skillfully, because
the man missed nearly the whole of his
money, which ho carried in a pocket In .the
lining of his waistcoat. All else was taken
tickets, papers, looso cash, even a clga
rctto case and favorite pipe.
The Instructions to the sentry were em
phatic "Don't close the door' Admit no
one without Bending for mel Shoot or stab
the prisoner If he moves'."
And the fat man bustled away. The sta
tion was swarming with military blg-wlgs.
He must remain In evidence.
During Ave long minutes Dalroy reviewed
tho situation Probably he would be exe
cuted as a spy. At best, he could not avoid.
"No moro talk I Do as J tld you,"
; ' '"'Mm
.Internment in a fortress till the end ot Ui
war. He preferred to die In a struggle lor
ilfo and liberty. Men had escaped In, con
ditions quite as desperate. Why not hT
Tho surge of Impotent anger subsided t
his veins, and he took thought
Outside the open door stood the seatpt
holding his rifle, with fixed bayonet, in tkt
attitude of a sportsman who expects & cevtr
of partridges to rlso from the stubble, 'A!
window of plain glass gave on to the plV.
form. Seemingly, It had not been op4
since tho station was built.
Three windows of frosted glass in tb
opposite wall were, to all appearances,
practicable Judging by the sounds, the
station square lay without Was there &
lock and key on the door? Or a boltT He
could not tell from his present position.
Tho sentry had orders to kill him if he
moved. Perhaps tho man would not inter
pret the command literally. At any rate,
that was a risk he must take. With head
sunk, nnd hands behind his bock, obviously
in a state of deep dejection, he began te
stroll to and fro Well, he had a fighting
chance Ho was not shot forthwith.
A slight commotion on the platform
caught his eye, the sentry's as well. A tall
young officer, wearing a silver helmet and
accompanied by a glittering staff, clanked
past; with him the lieutenant of rcserveef
gesticulating. Dalroy recognized one of the
Emperor's sons; but the sentry had probably
never seen tho princeling before, and waa
agape. And there was not only a key but
a bolt I
With three noiseless strides, Dalroy was
at the door and had slammed It. The key
turned easily, and the boit shot home. Then
he raced to the mlddl window, unfast
ened the hasp, and raised the lower sash,
He counted on the thick-headed sery wast
ing some precious seconds In trying to
force the door, and he was right Aa It
happened, before tho man thought of look
ing through the platform window Dalroy
had not only lowered tho other window be
hind him, but dropped from the sill to the
pavement between tho wall and a covered
van which stood there
Free Again
Now he was free free1 as any Briton
could be deemed free In Alx-la-Chapelle, a(
that hour, one man among three army corps,
an unarmed Englishman among a bitterly
hostllo population which recked naught of
France or Belgium or Russia, but hated
England already with an almost maniacal
malevolence
And Ireno Beresford, that sweet-voiced,
sweet faced English girl, was a prisoner at
the mercy of a "big blonde brute," a half
drunken, wholly enraged Prussian Junker,
The thought rankled and stung. It vraa
not to be borne. For tho first time that
night Dalroy knew what fear was, and In a
girl's bohalf, not In his own.
Could ho savo her? Heaven had be
friended him thus fpr; would a kindly
Providence clear his brain and nerve his
spirit to achieve an almost Impossible
rescue?
The prayer was formless and unspoken,
yet It was answered He had barely gath
ered his w its after that long drop of nearly
twelve feet Into the station yard before he
was given a vague glimpse of a means of
delivering tho girl from her immediate
peril.
CHAPTER II
In the Vortex
THE van, one among a score of similar
vehicle, was backed against the curb
of a raised path At tho Instant Dalrpy
quitted tho window ledge a railway em
ploye appeared from behind another van on
tho left, and was clearly bewildered by see
ing a well-dressed man springing from such
an unusual and precarious perch.
The newcomer, a big, burly fellow, who
wore a peaked and lettered cap, a blouse,
baggy breeches and sabots, and, carried a
lighted handlamp, looked what. In fact, he
was an cnglno cleaner. In all likelihood
he guessed that any ono choosing such a
curious exit from a waiting room was avoid
ing official scrutiny. Ho hurried forward
at once, holding the lamp above Ills head,
because It was dark behind the row of vans.
"Ill, there '" ho cried "A word with you,
Frelhcrr '" The title, of course, was a bit
of German humor. Obviously, he was bent
on Investigating matters. Dalroy did not
run. In the street without he heard the
tramp of marching troops, the Jolting of
wagons, the clatter of horses. He .knew that
a hue nnd cry could havo only one result
he would be pulled down by a score of
hands. Moreover, with tho sight of that
suspicious Teuton face, -Its customary
boorish leer now replaced by a surly ln
qulsitlvencss, came the first glimmer of a
fantastically dating way of rescuing Irene
Beresford
He advanced, smiling pleasantly. "It's all
right Helnrlch," he said. "I've arrived by
train from Berlin, and the station was
crowded. Being an acrobat, I took a bounce.
What?"
The engine cleaner was not a quick-witted
person. He scowled, but allowed Dalroy to
come near too near
"I believe you're a verdammt Engl f
ho began.
But the popular German description of a
Briton died on his lips, because Dalroy put v
a good deal of science and no small leaves '
of brute force Into a straight punch Which
reached that cluster of nerves known to
pugilism as "the point" The German fell
as though he had been pole-axed, and hi
thick skull rattled on the pavement
Dalroy grabbed the lamp before the oil
could gush out, placed t upright on the
ground, and divested the man of blouse.
I baggy breeches and sabots. Luckily, .since
ctciy coiuuu was J'lcgiuus, ilQ 1UUI1U Uliht
he was able to wedge his boots into the
sabots, which he could not have kept on
his feet otherwise. His training as a soldier
had taught htm the exceeding value pf our
Fifth Henry's advice to the British army
gathered before Harfleur;
In rare therv's nothing io becomes a man.
Ai modest UUnn and humility.
Hut when tho tlut of war blowi In our ears
Than Imitate th action of the titer
The warring tiger does not move slowly.
Half a minute after his would-be cap tor A
crashed headlong to the hard cobble '
Alx-la-Chapelle, Dalroy was creeping; V
tweeg two wagons, completing a hasty toilet
by tearing oft collar and tie, and smearlmr
his face and hands with oil and grease free '
lamp and cap. Even as he w.it he heard aV
window of the waiting foom bolng fiutse ''
open, and the excited cries which announced
the discovery of a halt-naked body 1ykw
beneath In the srloom ' -
(Copyrltht, by Edward J. Clod.) ,
CONTINUED
IN MONDAY'S
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