The Man with the Clubfoot

ong. As the Berlin train bumped thunderously over the culverts spanning the canals between the tall, grey houses of Rotterdam and rushed out imperiously into the pla

ded to protect me! I had bought my ticket in advance; I had given my overcoat and bag to a porter that I now knew to have been my saviour in disguise; I had sallied forth from th

nd German, to the effect that the carriage was reserved. Suddenly I thought of my bag and overcoat. They were

Dordrecht wearing the famous colours of a famous regiment round his neck you will understand how they got there. Then, wearied out with

s. The train was sensibly slackening speed. Outside the autumn sun was shining over pleasant brown stretches of moorland bright with heather. The next mome

e in G

s, with only the most meagre information about the man whose place I had taken and no plausible tale, suc

What did we manufacture? I had not the faintest idea. Wh

ficer, followed closely by two privates, the white cro

ase," he said cur

er my Ameri

been viséd," s

ult. Of course, the passport should have been

most important business to Berlin. I only reached Ro

turned to one

Customs Hall," he said and

g to take my place in the queue when the soldier prodded me with his elbow. He led me to a side door which opened in the gaunt, bare Customs Hall with its long row of trestles for the examination of the passengers' luggage. In a corner behind a desk was a large group o

are! Again we shall have a

-tempered individual and I fervently praye

driven along before a line of soldiers. For an hour or more babel reigned. Officials bawled at the public: the place rang w

d. After the customs' examination passengers were passed on to the searching-rooms, the men to one side, the women to the other. I caught sight of a

s, I surmised, the last instance, for several passengers, including a very respe

rd looked straight in front of him and said never a word. When the hall was

ound the fat official. Something had evidently upset him, for his brows were clouded with anger

pers!" h

over my

cheeks and forehead and he brought his hand down on the t

in a voice shrill with anger. "It's worthl

..." I said

you? What do you want in Germany? You've

otterdam," I said. "I arrived there too late in the evening. I

frenzy. "Your passport is not in order. You're not a German. You're an American. We Ger

lles einsteigen." I said as politely as

importance. I trust the train can be held back until I have satisfie

was convinced he must be a big bug

err von anybody else," the German cried. Then he

been s

t a frightened lo

jor," said t

nd strip him and bring

on his heel li

ed on the frontier lest Stelze and his friends should catch up with me. I was

, Herr Majo

!" The fat man

business. I can convince you of that, too. Only ...

chief. After this he said nonchalantly: "Everybody get outside except this gentleman!" The sentry, who had spun round on his heel again, se

left brace out of the armhole of my w

man sp

Doktor was not one of these tiresome American spies that are overrunning our co

o my voice (that is what a German understands), "I am not in the habit of

n has gone, Herr

t my business brooks no delay. I tel

e fat man replied smoothly, "but unfortunately the special which I had re

onage of note. But a special would never d

ial was clear," the Major went on, "but we must stop her at

one and after a brisk conversation

utes. But there is no hurry. You have an hour or more to spare. Might I offer

n business...! Perhaps I might be able to extract a little information out of my fat

for an instant and returne

group of officials peering curiously into the room. As we walked through their midst, they fell back

re the sentry at an iron gate denoted the Officers' Club. In the anteroom four or five officers in field-grey uniform were lounging. As we entered they sprang to their feet and remained stiffly

h which I was received. Germans don't like Americans, especially since they took to selling shells to the Allies, and I began to think that all these officers must know more about me and my m

walls above a glass filled with war trophies. With a horrible sickness at heart I recognized amongst other emblems a glengarry with a silver badge and a British steel

was polite an

lame officer, "that one recognizes how our br

dinarily interesting," obs

s of a Greek play. "You will be in Berlin to-night, where your labours will be doubtl

red: "H

tact to have aroused no s

epends,

rselves, is it not so, gentlemen? There were special orders about you from the Corps Command at Münster. Your special has been waiting for you here for four days. The gentl

g. I most certainly wa

emlin?" said a voice in perfect English from

ugh my heart seemed turned to ice wi

ent," the other

d that as a compliment. Not all Americans talk through t

young man. "I was

his comrades. I seized the opportunity to give them in German a humorous description of my simplicity in explaining to

ar of laughter

stasy. "Kolossal!" echoed one of the dug-outs. The lame man smiled

on again in German. Nothing of the kind. The room lea

d

es in London," the

ht, bold blue eye-the eye of a fighter. His left sleeve was empty and was fastened across h

ly, "when I go to England. Cl

ntinued; "you speak German like a German and English

yes off me: he had been staring at me ever since I had e

end up very cred

er," I said, smiling brightly, "if

ourtesy. But he continued to stare

g-out who had spoken the opportunity for launching out on an interminable anecdote about an ulster he had bought on a holiday at Br

tarting up-I noticed he made no attempt to br

ve. Schmalz came to the do

ng to Berlin

" I r

u be staying?"

ably at t

nd perhaps we may meet again. I should much like to talk more with y

, at the same time making a mental note to get