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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1946-10-31, Page 8Page 8 THE TIMES.ADVOCATE, EXETER, ONTAR IO, THURSDAY MORNING. OCTOBER 3jst, 1946 Qelte 'of the <£egion By WALLACE K. NORMAN The story thus tar; Dismissed from West point by the perjured testimony of Curt -Sawyer, Bill Harvey, alias. Xerxes Benedict, is now a lieutenant in the French Foreign Legion, stationed in Tlaba* Trouble is expected from the nat­ ives. Constance Barteau, an Ameri­ can girl, is in Tlaba with her broth­ er Raoul. Xerxes sees her with Sawyer, and she gives evasive an­ swers to his questions about Curt. Orders come to Capt, Berouge to take half his force to El Grimgau, leaving Xerxes in Tlaba. Next night the station is attacked while Xerxes is with Constance, Undei* military arrest in .gidi-bel-Abbes, Xerxes sees Constance and follows her into her residence. CHAPTER XI How much time had elapsed since he had been knocked uncon­ scious, Xerxes had no way of know­ ing, When he opened his eyes again he found himself in the same room in which he had been talking to Constance Barteau. His hands were tied behind his back and he was propped up stiffly in a corner. Blinking -dazedly, he turned, his head to survey the room. Half­ way through the motion, he brought up with a grunt of astonishment. Curt Sawyer stood beside him. Too dumfounded to speak, Xerxes simply sat and stared. Pounds of flabby flesh had added themselves to Sawyer’s bulk since 'he 'had last seen him that memorable day at West Point. His face, pouchy and red, bore the unmistakable stamp of excessive dissipation. Xerxes shot a swift glance about the room. Sawyer and he were alone. He started to wriggle to a stand­ ing position, but Sawyer promptly kicked his feet from under him. “Stay where you are,” Xerxes’ ex-classmate snapped coldly. “Do you suppose I ' knocked you over the head just for the fun of seeing you hit the floor?” Xerxes regarded him with grow­ ing astonishment. “You hit me?” he asked puzzedly, his senses still somewhat fogged. “Why should you hit me? What have I done to you?” “It’s not what you’ve done,” Saw­ yer replied, eyeing him reminis­ cently. “It’s what you could do. And if you weren’-t so innately stupid you’d have done it days ago.” There was something half sinis­ ter and half challenging in Sawyer’s voice that brought Xerxes out of his mental fog with a bang. '“You’ll have to explain that, Sawyer,” .he said after a moment in which he had studied the man above him closely. “Maybe I am, as you say, innately stupid. When I first saw you in Tlaba I wondered how and why you’.d got there, and I’m still wondering.” While he was .: talking Xerxes tested the cords that -bound his wrists. He felt them loosen appre­ ciably and knew he could free his hands if lie managed to stall .Sawyer long enough. Sawyer lighted a cigarette de­ liberately. “Well, Harvey,” he be­ gan. “Or, no—it’s Benedict now, isn’t it? Lieutenant Xerxes Bene­ dict.” “Yes,” Xerxes said grimly. “Ben­ edict—thanks to you.” -Sawyer laughed, his bloated face twisting cynically. “I’m -damned if I ever dreamed you had that much imagination!” he -chuckled. “But then, you're inane enough and ro­ mantic enough at heart to consider yourself the most tragic figure in the history of the United States.” “Shut up!” Xerxes .growled, and tried again to stand up. Sawyer spilled him with ‘one thrust of 'his foot. “There! What more proof do we need?” Sawyer scoffed. “Ready to fight at the mere mention of his beloved country’s name! Here you are, kicked out in black disgrace— but does that stop you? Indeed not! You plaster a phony, romantic name over your besmirched one and hie yourself off to die gloriously for France! Death seems to hold no terror for you, so long as you can be wearing a uniform when you meet it . . ”1 can think of less commend­ able ambitions,” Xerxes shot back. •“What became of the uniform you played rat to save for yourself? It looked pretty much then that you had a deep craving for brass but­ tons.” “Looks are deceiving,” Bawyer re­ turned calmly. “I didn't want that uniform; my old man wanted it. H© had to have a soldier in the family, A medal-smeared hero. But, sad to erlate, before it came to pass things wenf Smash along about ’29* and with them went all th© old man's oil wells and money.” “I see,” Xerxes cut in caustically. “!A,nd with that you chucked the uniform he'd bought you for night clubs and chorus girls.” “Right, ana wrong,” Sawyer re­ plied. 'T chucked the uniform, but there were no night clubs or chorus girls. That takes money.” “So you gathered your robed about you,” Xerxes finished for him sarcastically, “and struck out for the deserts of Morocco, there to hide your tragic disgrace.” Sawyer's puffy features flushed. With an oath/ he planted a boot Iti. Xerxes’ face and ’hurled him back against the wall. As he foil Xerxes strained against the cords. They were definitely looser* A little more time *■ * ♦ ’’You’re a lot closer to the truth than you have any idea, you stupid ass!” he snarled, “probably you are aware that there is. a native up­ rising in progress?” “I’m well aware of it,” Xerxes said bitterly, “infinitely more aware of it than you could ever be!” “Oh, yes?” Sawyer sneered, “You think because you lost one miser­ able little battle, a mere skirmish, that you know something of what’s about to happen. Hardly, my gal­ lant but thick-headed hero! The French are worrying themselves in­ to the madhouse trying to discover this hidden power behind the up­ rising, are they not?” “Yes,” Xerxes admitted grudg­ ingly. “And they’ll discover it.” “Undoubtedly,” Sawyer laughed coldly. “But they won’t discover it until too late. They won’t — be­ cause I am that hidden power!” Sheer astonishment brought Xerxes to his feet. “You?” he •gasped: “You?” “Right," Sawyer agreed, backing off a step, an automatic appearing from a* hidden shoulder holster. “And when I saw you coming marching into Tlaba I knew my first move would be easy. You al­ ways were a sap for women,” Xerxes winced, and Sawyer con­ tinued, grinning maliciously. “There’s oil out there in that whole region around Tlaba and El -Grim- gau,” he said. “.Millions of dollars’ worth of it. And what could ?be more natural than that I, old man Sawyer’s son, should go after oil?” Xerxes was too stunned to more than murmur: “Oil? Oil, out in that sun-scorched hell-hole?” “Certainly,” Sawyer grinned. “Only the French were too stupid to find it.” “Then how did you learn of it if it’s a mystery to the French?" Xerxes demanded. “Never mind that,” Sawyer chuckled archly. “There are ways. The iFrench knew nothing of it, but once one well was brought in they’d claim every droip of it. So, naturally, the thing to do was to get rid of the French.” Xerxes’ eyes widened and nar­ rowed in an instant. “Now I get it!" he exclaimed incredulously. “You’re stirring up the natives in the hope they’ll drive out the French! Why, you haven’t a chance! How long do you suppose a few hundred natives can hold off the full military -power of France? You’re mad, I tell you! You haven’t a chance!” “I wouldn’t have if I were as stupid as you seem to think,” Saw­ yer told him blandly. “Do you imagine I’d attempt this with a b handful of stinking natives as my only allies? Hardly! Two large European powers are ready to step in and back me the moment the natives get a foothold,” Sawyer laughed icily. “Just a lit­ tle matter of protecting their own nationals from the barbaric cruelty of the French, lieutenant. It has served as an alibi for wars before, and it will serve very nicely again.” The full import of Sawyer’s plot struck Xerxes. On the surface it had seemed ridiculous and impos­ sible. A further look at it proved otherwise. World wars had started from less. “Sort of stops you, eh, my dash­ ing hero?” Sawyer chuckled as Xerxes sank down on the -edge of the divan. “Then this ought to prove doubly interesting. Thanks to your romantic gullibility in Tlaba all I have to do now is keep the French troops here in Sidi-bel- Abbes from moving down into the desert for a few -days. By then the natives will have the whole region completely under control.” “Keep the troops from leaving here?” Xerxes demanded. “That’s impossible, you lunatic! Don’t tell me you’re mad enough to attack Sidi-beNA|bbes!” “Why do that when other meth­ ods are more effective?” Sawyer inquired amusedly. “Haven’t you had an example of what just one spy can do? What happens when the ammunition dumps are ’blown up? What happens when the food supply is suddenly destroyed? You’re a worse soldier than I’d sus­ pected, mon lieutenant!” Xerxes surged up off the divan despite the menace of Sawyer’s au­ tomatic, “You’re a raving maniac,” he announced coolly, and for the moment he believed what he said. “Untie my hands and i’ll take you over to headquarters, where, though I shouldn’t, I’ll intercede in your behalf on the grounds that your losses in the United States unbal­ anced your mind.” Sawyer struck him full across the mouth with the back of his hand, “You’d intercede in my behalf?” he sneered, his bloodshot eyes sinister and dangrous. “You, the man Who left his post to go simpering after a woman—-a spy! A spy, who is mine, body and soul. Mine, do you hear? Mine! And you’d—” Xerxes laced out a savage kick, hut Sawyer evaded it with Surpris­ ing agility, “Thanks/’ Sawyer panted, fury twisting his bloated face. “Order­ ing a defenseless mart to be killed didn't exactly appeal to me, but now I can do it with pleasure, These natives ate' unpleasant *to tbs nostrils, but they are highly ef- floieut workmen with a knife.” Xerxes advanced, a stop. “Don’t be a complete damned fool/* he snapped. “Ho you think you could get uway with murdering me? This close to headquarters?*’ ’’You don't think I’d shave told you what I have unless I’d intend­ ed to wipe you out, do yoxi,?” Saw­ yer* snarled, and turning, called over his shoulder: “Akbad.! Djahlal Come quickly 1” Two brawny natives appeared suddenly in the arch which led in from the passageway, Hack was armed with a heavy, swordlike dagger, and each had a new Euro­ pean pistol stuck under his belt, Xerxes took a step backward, and as he moved Constance Barteau entered on the heels of the two na­ tives. “Take the dog through the under­ ground passage to the third house down the street,” Sawyer snapped to the swarthy pair in very bad na­ tive dialect. “Slit his throat like you would that of a sheep, and throw him into the old well. Take him away!” The savage-faced pair caught hold of Xerxes and yanked him to the middle of the room. With one last desperate attempt he wrenched at the heavy cord binding his wrists. It did not break. He tried again before the blow Sawyer aimed at his head could land. One hand, dripping with perspiration, slid out through the loosened coils of cord. With a bellow, Xerxes grabbed the sword from one of the natives and drove his knee into the stomach of the other. Constance cried a warning, but no one heard her. Her cry was lost in the roar of Sawyer’s automatic as he fired point blank at his old classmate. Xerxes ducked, swinging a wild blow with his sword. As he did so a swarm of natives, brandishing knives and guns, burst into the room through a rug-draped door­ way at the rear. Three of them struck Xerxes with the force of charging4 water-buffaloes, sending him sprawling onto the floor. Con­ stance Batreau screamed and fled down the passageway, Hay Township Couple Honored by Friends Before Moving to Exeter About eighty neighbors and friends gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Geddes, second concession of Hay Township Wed­ nesday, October 24th, and spent a very pleasant evening prior to the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Geddes for their new home in Exeter, Au address was read by Earl Campbell and the presentation of a trilight Xerxes had h fleeting glimpse of Constance as she darted from the room, but there were othev things to occupy his mind, Half a dozen natives were slashing wildly at him with their knives. Others were pouring into the room, seem­ ingly from the cracks and crevices, Brom somewhere in the melee came the squall of Curt Sawyer’s hoarse voice as he urged the natives to their bloody task. Battling furiously, Xerxes lurched to his feet only to be met by an­ other attack that hurled him back against, the wall, The flat of a swora caved jn the side of bis head Another knife blade found his fore­ arm slitting it from elbow to wrist, Sawyer, dancing about the edge of the circle of combatants, fired twice more at Xerxes, the bullets smacking 'into the wall beside the lieutenant’s bobbing head. Weakening rapidly from loss of ■blood and the rain of knife thrusts. Xerxes slipped and- went to his knees. The natives swarmed over him, like wolves on a fallen deer. With superhuman effort Xerxes fought them off, and made a des­ perate lunge toward the passage­ way. (Concluded Next Week) Next Week: Aid from the least expected source comes at the cru­ cial moment in Bill’s fight for life and for the territorial integrity of France. floor lamp and u hassock was made by Edgar Munn, and Tercy Camp” bell. .Mr. Geddas, on, behalf of him­ self and Mrs. Geddes, made a very suitable reply. Supper was served by the ladies and the evening spent In music, .cards and dancing. Red Cross Unit No. 14 of which Mr. and Mrs, Geddes were loyal sup­ porters were largely responsible for the success of the evening. The ad­ dress was as follows; Pear Alice and Albert:-— As you are about to move from this section we, your friends and neighbors, are gathered here this evening to enjoy a few hours to­ gether before you move to your new home in Exeter where we hope you will both live long to enjoy. We are going to miss you among us but we hope to see you in town and enjoying good health. We ask you to accept these gifts as a small token of the esteem in which you are held and as you use them may you remember your friends and neighbors of this neighborhood. —Signed on behalf of your friends and neighbors. ANDREW B. -McLEAN And pew B. McLean, native of Kippen district, passed away at (Foam Lake, Sask., in his 84 th year, He had fallen while working outside his home and suffered a fractured collar bone. Mr. McLean was born at Kippen and married Martha Ann Greenwood, of Lumley, Ont. Previous to taking up resi­ dence at 'Foam Lake, iMr. and Mrs. McLean liv/ed at Devil’s Dake where Mr. McLean was appointed a justice of the peace, and served in that capacity foi* eight -years. He was a prominent -breeder of Clydes­ dale .horses, 'Shorthorn cattle, and Shropshire sheep. Two sons and four daughters survive. SPECIAL LOW RAIL FARES - i . FOR REMEMBRANCE DAY pl a ■ a ■ a»' i ■ • i fi jjti I ■ ij C.B S C ’ ® H FARE AND ONE-QUARTER FOR THE ROUND TRIP GO: Any time from 12:00 noon Friday, Nov. 8th, until 2;00 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11th. RETURN: Leave destination up to 12:00 mid­ night, Tuesday Noy. 12 th, 1946. Full information from any agent. C A NADI AN NAT 10 N A L ... •• • ' >, ■ Classified Ads Bring Results Worry Often Causes Loss Of Sleep Worry is probably the most common cause of restlessness. Anxieties and fears, worries over finan­ cial and other matters, all take their toll of hours of restful sleep. Such a condition may eventually result in nerv­ ousness and irritability, loss of appetite or fatigue. If you suffer from a nervous condition or restlessness, why not try Milburn’s Health and Nerve Pills? Over the past fifty years, thousands of Canadians have found Milburn’s Health and Nerve Pills beneficial as a general tonic to help build up the system and thus help promote refreshing rest and sleep, Ask your druggist for Milburn’s Health and Nerve Pills, identified by the “Bed Heart” on the box. Price 50c, The T. Milburn Co., Limited, Toronto. Ont. CONGRATULATIONS to the ESSO CHAMPION TRACTOR PLOWMEN AT THE INTERNATIONAL PLOWING MATCH, PORT ALBERT, ONT. PRIZE WINNERS IN LOCAL ESSO COMPETITIONS HELD TO OCT. 21 Ernest Alipond, Box 186, Meaford Harry Armstrong, Leith Roy Barrie, R.R. No. 1, Fort William Bernard Beehler, Chrysler Hugh Beilhartz, Bruce Station Jean Bercier, Plantagenet J. Boville, Dayton R. G. Brown, R.R. No. 7, Galt Vernon Campbell, R.R. No. 9, Peterborough R. Carney, R.R. No. 1, Erin Lucien Cazabon, Verner . Harold Ceasar, R.R. No. 1, Owen Sound Alclde Charbonneau, Clarence Creek George Clark, Sault Ste. Marie Howard Holliday, R.R. No. 4, ML Forest Stanley Ireton, R.R. No. 1, Clarksburg Emerson Kincaid, Russell Fred. Lemcke, Richard's Landing Gordon Long, R.R. No. 3, Owen Sound Bert Maw, Minesing Russell Maw, Minesing - Allah McNabb, Edenvrile Glen A, McFaddin, R.R. No. 1, Millbank Ernest McGuire, R.R. No. 2, Spencerville Allan B. Meyer, Claremont Ed. Mitchell, R.R, No. 1, Benfield Roger Mitchell, Leith Allarf Newman, Lorrieville Arthur Purvis, R,R. No. 3, Mallory- town Pitt Seguin, R.R, No. 1, Chalmsford Wilfred Stott, R.R. No. 5, Tillsohburg Willis Sloss, Spring Bay Algie Wallace, North Gower Clifford Wightman, Lancaster 1st PRIZE — gold medal and free trip to Britain — won by FRED TIMBERS, of R.R, No. 4, Stouffville, Ont. 2nd PRIZE- silver medal and free trip to Britain—won by ALEX. BLACK, of R.R. No. 2, Guelph, Ont. 3rd PRIZE —$20.00 —ERIC RUSSELL HARE, Nanticoke, Ont. 4™ PRIZE —$18.00 —DRAY MONTAGUE, Jarvis, Ont. 5TH PRIZE —$16.00—JAMES ECCLES, Brampton, Ont 6TH PRIZE —$14.00 —WILFRED SCOTT, R.R. No. 5, Tlllsonburg, Ont. 7th PRIZE — $12.00 — H. J. COUPERTHWAITE, Agincourt, Ont. 8TH PRIZE —$10.00 —RUSSELL MORRISON, Beaverton, Ont. 9TH PRIZE —$10.00—HARVEY NURSE, R.R. No. 2, Georgetown, Ont. 10TH PRIZE —$10.00 —ERNEST EVANS, R.R. No. 2, Maple, Ont. 11th PRIZE —$10.00 —ROY CRAIG, Mono Road, Ont. 12TH PRIZE —$10.00 —T. P. O’MALLEY, Teeswater, Ont. 13TH PRIZE —$10.00 —CLARK NAGEL, Fisherville, Ont. 14TH PRIZE —$10.00 —GORDON RAPSON, Londesboro, Ont It is a real pleasure to offer congratula­ tions to the winners of the Esso Tractor Plowing Contest, sponsored by Imperial Oil Limited, at the International Plow­ ing Match, Port Albert, Ont. The first and second prize winners receive a free trip to Britain to enable them to study agricultural methods there and compete in British plowing matches. Cash prizes go to the other winners. Imperial Oil considers it a privilege to be able to contribute in this way to the development of o Canadian agriculture. W- ’IMPERIAL < PRODUCTS J Serving Canadian Farmers front Coast to Coast