the English or French armies where they knew they would be among friends。 At Hal they were stopped by the German officials and Morgan wisely returned to Brussels。 However； Richard having decided to continue on his way； was promptly seized by the Germans and held as an English spy。 For a few days he had a most exciting series of adventures with the German military authorities and his life was frequently in danger。 It was finally due to my brother's own strategy and the prompt action of our Ambassador to Belgium； Brand Whitlock； that he was returned to Brussels and received his official release。
On August 27； Richard left Brussels for Paris on a train carrying English prisoners and German wounded； and en route saw much of the burning and destruction of Louvain。
BRUSSELS； August 17； 1914。 DEAREST：
Write me soon and often！ All is well here so long as I know you are all right； so do not fail to tell me all； and keep me in touch。 If _I_ do not write much it is because letters do not get through always； and are read。 But you know I love you； and you know twice each day I pray for you and wish for you all the time。 I feel as though I had been gone a month。 Gerald Morgan and I got in last night； this is a splendid new hotel； for 2。50 I get a room and bath like yours on the 〃royal suite；〃 only bigger。 This morning the minister did everything he could for us。 There are about twenty Americans who want credentials。 They say they will take no Americans； but to our minister they said they would make exception in favor of three； so I guess the three will be John McCutcheon； Palmer and myself。 John and I； if anyone gets a pass； are sure。 With the passes we had； Gerald and I started out in a yellow motor； covered with flags of the Allies； and saw a great deal。 How I wished you were with me； you would so have loved it。 The country is absolutely beautiful。 We were stopped every quarter mile to show our passes and we got a working idea of how it will be。 Tonight I dined with Mr。 Whitlock； the minister； and John McCutcheon came in and Irving Cobb。 John and I will get together and go out。 All you need is a motor car and you can go pretty much everywhere； EXCEPT near where there is fighting。 So what I am to do to earn my wages I don't know。 I am now going to bed and I send my darlin' all love。 Today I sent you a wire。 If it got to you let me know。 Take such good care of yourself。 Remember me to Louise； and； WRITE ME。 All love； DEAR； DEAR one。 My wife and my sweetheart。
Your husband；
RICHARD。
The following is the last letter that got through。
BRUSSELS； August 21； 1914。 DEAREST ONE：
I cannot say much； as I doubt if this will be opened by you。 The German army came in and there was no fighting and I am very well。 I am only distressed at not being able to get letters from you； and not being able to send them。 I will write a long one； and hold it until I am sure of some way by which it can reach you。
YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD SAY。
Mrs。 Davis had waited in London to meet Richard on his return from the war； but a misunderstanding as to the date of his return； coupled with her strong sense of duty to his interests at home； gave occasion for the letter which follows：
LONDON； August 31； 1914。 DEAREST ONE：
Not since the Herald Square days have I had such a blow as when I drove up to 10 Clarges； and found you gone！ IT WAS NOBODY'S FAULT！ YOU WERE SO RIGHT to go； and I COULD NOT COME。 I am so distressed lest it was my cable saying I could not get back that decided you to go before the fifth。 But Ashford says it was not。 He tells me the cable came at THREE in the morning and that you had arranged to be called at six…thirty in order to leave for Scotland。 So； for sending that cable I need not blame myself too much。 I sent you so many messages I do not know which got through。 But I think it must have been one saying I could not return in time to see you before the fifth。 THEN； no trains were running。 The very NEXT DAY the Germans started a troop train； and I took it。 The reason I could not come by automobile was because I had a falling out with the 〃mad dogs〃 and they would not give me a pass。 So Evans； with whom I was to motor to Holland； got through Friday afternoon and sent the cable。 As soon as I reached Holland； I cabled I was coming and kept on telegraphing every step of the journey； which lasted three days。
I telegraphed last from Folkestone； even telling you what to have for my supper。 As you directed； Ashford opened the cables； and when I drove up； he was at the door in tears。 He had made a light in your rooms and； of course； as I looked up I thought you still were in them。 When they told me I was a day late； I cried； too。 It was the bitterest disappointment I ever knew。 I had taken the very first train out of Brussels； the one with the wounded； and for three days had been having one hell of a time。 But I kept thinking of seeing you； and hearing your dear voice。 So the trip did not matter。 I was only thinking of SEEING YOU； and thanking God I was shut of the dirty Germans。 We had nothing to eat； and we slept on the floor of the train； the Germans kept us locked in； and； all through even Holland； we were under arrest。 But nothing mattered； because I was so happy at thought of meeting you。 As I said neither of us was at fault。 You just HAD to go； and I could NOT COME。 But； you can feel how I felt to learn you were at sea。
I was so glad I could use your old rooms。 I went to the table where you used to write and was so glad I could at least be as near to you as that。 No other place in London could have held me that night。 Not Buckingham Palace。 I found little things you had left。 I loved even the funny pictures on the wall because we had talked of them together。 It was ROTTEN； ROTTEN luck。 But only the Germans and their hellish war were to blame。 I drove straight to the cable office； and tried to wireless you； knowing you would feel glad to know I was well； and safe and sound。 But the cable people could not send my message。 You were then out of reach of wireless； on the Irish coast。 And for nine days there was no way to tell you I had come back as fast as trains and boats and the dirty Germans would let me。 Oh； my dear； dear one； HOW I LOVE you。 If only I could have seen you for just five minutes。 As it was； I thought for five days more we would be together。 What I shall do now； I don't know。 I must go back with either the French or the English until my contract expires； and then； I can join you。 Tomorrow I am trying to see Asquith and Churchill to get with the army。 And I will at once return across the channel。 But； do not worry！ I will never again let a German come within ONE MILE of me！ After this； between me and the Germans； there will be some hundreds of thousands of English or French。 So after this reaches you I will soon be on my way HOME。 Don't worry。 Get James back and Amelia and everyone else who can make you comfortable； and trust in the good Lord。 I have your cross and St。 Rita around my neck； and in spite of what the Kaiser says； God is looking after other people than Germans。 Certainly he has taken good care of me。 And he will guard you； and our 〃blessed〃 one。 And in a little time； dear； DEAR heart； I will be back； and I will become a grocer。 God love you and keep you； as he does。 And you will never know HOW I LOVE YOU！ Good night； dearest； sweetheart and wife！ I am writing this at your table； and； thanking God you are going to the farm； and to peace and happiness。 I SEND YOU ALL THE LOVE IN ALL THE WORLD。
RICHARD。
LONDON； September 3rd。 MY DEAREST ONE：
It was a full moon again tonight and I think you were on deck and saw it； because by now； you have passed the four days at sea and should be in the St。 Lawrence。 So I knew you saw the moon； too； and I sent you a kiss； via it。 It was just over St。 James Palace but also it was just over you。
Today has been a day of worries。 Wheeler cabled that the papers wanted me to be 〃neutral〃 and not write against the Germans。 As I am not interested in the German vote； or in advertising of German breweries （such a hard word to SAY） I thought； considering the EXCLUSIVE stories I had sent them； instead of kicking； they ought to be sending me a few bouquets。 Especially； as I got cables from Gouvey； Whigham； Scribner's and others congratulating me on the anti…German stories。 So I cabled Wheeler to tell papers of his syndicate； dictation from them as to what I should write was 〃unexpected；〃 that they could go to name…of…place censored and that if he wished I would release him from his contract tonight。 Considering that without credentials I was with French； Belgian and German armies and saw entry of Germans into Brussels and sacking of Louvain and got arrested as a spy； they were a bit ungrateful。 I am now wondering WHAT I would have seen HAD I HAD credentials。
I saw Anthony Hope at the club last night。 He had to go back to the country； so I dined alone on English oysters。 Fancy anyone being NEUTRAL in this war！ Germany dropping bombs in Paris and Antwerp on women and churches and scattering mines in the channel where they blow up fishermen and burning the cathedrals！ A man who now would be neutral would be a coward。 Good night； NEAR； DEAR； DEAR one。 It has been several weeks since I had sleep； so if I rave and wander in my letters forgive me。 You know how I am thinking of you。 God bless you。 God keep you for me。
Your husband who loves you SO！
LONDON； September 7th。 DEAREST：
I just got your cable saying you were at the farm； and well！ HOW HAPPY IT MADE ME！ I cabled you to Quebec； and to Mt。 Kisco； and when two days passed and I heard nothing； today I was scared； so I cabled Gouvey to look after you； and also to Wheeler。 I went to the Brompton Oratory today； which is the second most important church here （the cardinal lives at Westminster） and burned the BIGGEST CANDLE they had for you and the 〃blessing。〃 A big woman all in black was kneeling in the little chapel and when I could not get the candle to stand up； she beckoned to one of the priests； and he ran and fixed it。 Then she went on praying。 And WHO do you think she was？ Queen Amelie