Chapter 18
chapter eighteen of grace harlowe with the marines at chateau tiery by jesse graham flower this librivox recording is in the public domain chapter eighteen punishment to fit the crime "'Who did that?' demanded an officer, rushing into the room in a towering rage. No one answered him. None of the girls looked at Grace, nor she at them, though she looked straight into the eyes of the German.
"'We shall find out who did it. We shall see what solitary confinement and bread and water will do for you,' he raged. "'Take these women below,' he shouted to the corporal, who stood awaiting further orders just outside the door. These ladies had nothing to do with what you refer to, Herr Officer, spoke up Grace.
I am the one who discovered the trick that you thought to play on us. We are none of us what you think we are, and none of us would, in any circumstances, discuss the affairs of our countries while in enemy hands. Had it not been for the elaborate way in which we were entertained here, your plans might have deceived us, but we would not have talked over military matters,
revealed military secrets. Having none to reveal, I think... Silence! We shall see what solitary confinement will do for you. Take this woman below and send the others away. I'm sorry, Miss Grace, whispered the English girl. I'm so sorry. Never mind, my dear. I did it, and there is no reason why you should be made to suffer for something that you did not do. The best of luck and a speedy release.
Goodbye. I am ready, Herr Officer. Grace was taken downstairs and on to the cellar where she was thrust into a cell and the door slammed on her. This is what I get for being too smart, observed Grace.
I don't seem able to keep out of trouble. I wonder how long they propose to keep me in this awful place. the day passed without the door being opened nor a sound reaching her night came but with no supper there was a cot in the cell with one blanket and that time might pass more quickly grace went to bed again with her clothes on it serves me right she murmured next time perhaps i may know enough to let well enough alone next morning she was served with two slices of bread and a cup of water at night the same sort of meal was served to her this continued for three terrible days days of anguish with the overton girl pacing her cell for an hour or more at a time then throwing herself down on her cot trembling from sheer exhaustion
on the fourth day grace was led from her cell groping with eyes nearly blinded by the light a crust of bread was thrust into her hand after which she was led to a railway station and there turned over to a military guard who boosted her up into a car that journey of a day and a night she did not remember much about in the days that followed except that it was a nightmare of misery and suffering suffering from weakness and from hardships She arrived at her destination, more dead than alive, late on the following morning, being able to keep on her feet only by the exercise of all the willpower she possessed. Fortunately, she and the other prisoners in her party were taken away in an army truck,
jeered by the people of the little German town where they had detrained as they were driven through the streets. Where are we being taken? she asked weakly of a Frenchman who stood at her side, and who, observing her weakness, had slipped her hand under her arm to assist in supporting her. Camp Villingen, English? American, answered Grace, after giving him a quick glance of inquiry. Ah! the Frenchman was smiling, and thrusting her hand in his tunic,
brought forth a piece of bread which looked as if he had carried it in his pocket for days but it seemed to the hungering girl as if this were a gift straight from heaven. She munched the bread ravenously and felt better. In fact even that little food gave her new life and strength. After a long ride the prisoners were put down just outside a camp
which consisted of several rows of one-storey buildings surrounded by a high wall of barbed wire. Outside of this, another wall of wire, and, as Grace learned, to be caught between the two walls meant death at the hands of the guards with a rifle. One woman was a passenger on the truck. She gave her name as Dorothy Lloyd, an English nurse who had been taken in a raid when she had accidentally walked into the enemy lines while on her way to a dressing station. She was a sweet-faced woman to whom Grace Harlow was attracted the moment she looked at her.
The men of the party were first taken before the Commandant, a major in the German army, who was in charge of the prison camp at Willingen, but it was late in the afternoon ere Grace and Miss Lloyd were called before the officer to be looked over and give vital statistics about themselves. twilight was at hand when finally they were turned over to a guard to be conducted to the detention section where all newcomers were first placed for 24 hours before being permanently
assigned to quarters there were many men there grace's shoes had been taken away from her and a pair of wooden shoes given to her in place of her own and the wooden shoes hurt her feet terribly. The air was close and hot in there, and the men prisoners were surly or silent and discouraged according to temperament. There were no cocks in the section, merely little heaps of straw that did duty as beds, with a blanket thrown on each of them.
"'Are you ladies English?' questioned a voice at Grace's side. "'Ah, I see you are American.' "'Yes, but my fellow prisoner here is an English woman.' "'Haven't I seen you before, sir?' "'Perhaps. One sees many persons in wartime.
"'Your name here is?' "'Harlow Grace,' she replied, "'not overlooking his accentuation of the word here. "'And yours?' "'Private Johnson is the way I appear on the records
"'of this delightful summer resort. "'This is not a proper place for a woman. "'Had these dogs of Germans a restage of decency left, "'if they ever had any, They will not put you in a detention section with men.
I will see what I can do for you tonight. Please, Mr. Johnson, what sort of a place are we in, if you know? Well, the persons you see about you are suspected of being spies. That is, there is nothing against them except what you might characterise as a Hun delusion. Spies?
We are not spies. Of course not. however it is not what you are but what it pleases the Huns to decide that you are that counts with the German military establishment the prisoner walked away and after consulting with some of his fellow prisoners
returned with two men and some blankets these they fastened up between posts with the aid of some nails that they had produced from somewhere thus giving the two women some privacy Private Johnson piled more straw on their beds and apologised for the soiled condition of the straw.
Straw, he said, was worth about as much as gold in German prison camps. I will see that you are not disturbed during the night, you and your friend, Miss Grace, offered the prisoner. You have been extremely kind to us, Mr Johnson, and we are more appreciative than we can well express.
I am unable to place you from your uniform, but I take it that you are a countryman of mine, he nodded. The Germans took away my clothes and gave me this combination peasant-soldier outfit until I scarcely know what I am, he replied laughingly. By the way, did they issue a mess kit to you ladies?
Yes, sir, but thus far we have made no mess, said Grace with a wry little smile. Give them to me. The chow is ready and I'll save you the annoyance of getting into line. You are pretty well all in. I can see that. Mr. Johnson hurried away and was gone a long time,
finally returning with two bowls of soup, some barley coffee, and two slices each of hard bread. It was wretched stuff, but it put new life into the two young women, not so much because it was nutritious as because it was hot, almost steaming hot. Grace and Miss Lloyd threw themselves down on the straw bed with their clothes on
as they had nothing to wear in place of the garments they had on upon their arrival at the prison camp, and even those were in wretched shape, but they did not go to sleep for a long time, not until their eyes closed from sheer weariness. Good morning, sir, she greeted shortly after daylight, as Mr. Johnson called to know if he might fetch their breakfasts.
Grace thanked him, and said that they might as well get used to taking care of themselves first, us later, at the same time inquiring where they might find soap and towels. There is no soap, and you will have to get along as best you can with water and towel. Soap is a luxury in Germany, you know. How did you sleep?
Better than we had any right to expect. What do you think they are going to do with us? Johnson shrugged his shoulders. Hard to say. First you might make it your business to acquaint yourself, yourselves, with the rules of the
camp, which you will find severe, for discipline, I understand, is very strict here, cruel in spots, and the slightest infraction of rules is likely to bring a bayonet thrust or a bullet. I may be so placed that I shall not be able to speak with you often, but I shall do what I can for you, and should you need my assistance, try to get in touch with me through your fellow prisoners, but be cautious. That afternoon the men in her section built a small house, a mere shack,
with barely room for two cots in it for the two women prisoners, and into this they moved on the second morning with the permission of the commanding officer. It was not that he cared whether or not they were more comfortable, but he considered that with the American and English girl
occupying a place by themselves, they would be less likelihood of their causing trouble. Each morning working commandos, as they were called, meaning working parties, were sent out from the main camp to work in fields or factories or in the forests, each group under the surveillance of a German non-commissioned officer known as a
Feldwebel. If the Feldwebel was humane, the working party suffered no great hardships. If he were brutal, they were subjected to many cruelties, out of sight of their camp and whatever restraint there might be back there. The party to which Grace and Miss Lloyd were attached that day consisted of seven French privates and the two girls. All were marched to a factory some three miles from the camp, their felled fable being a man well past middle age and ugly. The men were
set at work cutting cloth while the women were ordered to sew. What is it that we are supposed to sew, demanded Grace of the felled fable. Gus masks that the brave soldiers of our fatherland may not be killed with the poisonous fumes sent over by the enemy, growled the felled fable. I refuse to work on anything that is for military purpose, declared Grace. Dorothy, do not let me influence you. I am merely speaking for myself, not for you. I feel the same way you do about it,
Miss Grace. Very good, Feldfable. We refuse to work. If you have something to do that is not military, we shall do it. Otherwise not. That is final. What do you propose to do about it? Grace eyed him steadily, and for a moment she feared the Feldfable was going to strike her with the butt of his rifle, which he had clubbed threateningly. Instead he marched them to a small detention room and locked them in. I hope I haven't gotten you into trouble, Dorothy, cried Grace once
they were locked in. It does not matter. I prefer to get into trouble rather than do something that will help the enemies of my country. Oh, I wish I were away from here. Be patient. The right moment will be known to us, and then we shall try to get away. Just now we must be cautious, watchful, and at the same time stand on our rights. At four o'clock that afternoon their jailer unlocked the door
and roughly ordered them out. The hike home was done at a rapid pace for the man was in a hurry to be rid of his troublesome charges, the Frenchmen having tried to attack him when he prodded one of their number with his bayonet.
Immediately upon turning the men into their enclosure the Feldweber drove the two women ahead of him to the office of the commandant, where he reported their refusal to work. So, exclaimed the commanding officer, why, he demanded sharply, we shall do nothing of a military nature, nothing that will help your army, nor can you compel us to do so. We are perfectly willing
to work if you will give us such work as we can do. According to the laws of nations, your country agreed not to impress prisoners into anything like military service. However, whether or not you did, we must stand on our decision, for which I suppose you will punish us if you dare, added Grace. End of chapter 18
