St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-05-07
being Greek Easter, the bridge was

being Greek Easter, the bridge was
decorated with various Greek flags
For some unknown reason it entered
the medicus' head to capture one OF
these flags, and on imparting his idea
to the young Hungarian the latter inn
proved on it by suggesting that the flag
pole be placed in the middle of the
plaza or esplanade, between the fort
and the St. George hotel, and where the
troops drilled every day. So these two
started to break off the light fiagpole,
and as they were in the middle of it
there came the sharp challenge of the
sentry and the rattle of arms
discretion was the better part of
valor, and without asking questions the
Belgian captain and | joined in the
100-yard dash for the st. George hotel
The sentry turned out the guard, and
the sergeant, under the impression that
an assassination or some other little
pastime of that sort had been commit
ted, commanded the guard to load Their
darkness was in our favor, and the bull
lets went wild, SO then the guard, with
bayonets fixed, came after us in full
pursuit. We sprinted for our lines. and
thundered on the hotel door, The sleepy
porter drew the bolts, and throwing
him aside in three bounds we were up
the flight of stairs and making for our
rooms. A moment later the hotel was
surrounded by soldiers. The sergeant
was for searching the hotel at once.
but gendarme, stepping up, said that
such thing could only be done by
.proces du roi,' and his counsel pre-
vailed, though the sergeant swore that
he would have his sentinels about the
hotel all night long and examine every
one who went in or came out. We went
10 our rooms and, not lighting the can
dies. looked through the blinds at the
soldiers and nearly split our sides with
laughter.
''Then we paid visit to our Belgian
friend, and knocking on his door, he de-
manded who was there. Les police.
answered we, and there was a quick
shuf1iiEg of feet as he FASTENED to obey
the summons. When he saw us he swore
in several different languages-when
we saw him we gave a shout and went
into sort of convulsions.
You diables of garcons,' said he, in
explanation, when / leave you in the
race, it eez because my toe / strike on
one stone, and i, how you call it, skate
along on my face for ten yard and he
wiped off some more blood from face
that was simply in tatters.
THE next morning there was the
deuce to pay, and the medicus and
trembled in our boots, thanked our
stars that we had not registered u. S. |
n and hoped the Greek doctor would |
not give us away. BY breakfast the
story was over the hotel, and as the |
medicus entered the dining-r room there |
was litter and all eyes were turned |
on him. Blushingly he took his honors
while |, well, | nearly sneezed my head
off when caught sight of the Belgian's
face.
THAT day the commandant of police
started in on his investigation. First |
ne called the porter, but we had attend
ed to his case as well as that of the pro-
prietor, SO the porter replied that he
was so dead with sleep when aroused
that it would be absolutely impossible
for him to identify the persons who
had entered the hotel so unceremoni-
'usly. NJ. lie Proprietaire regretted ex-
tremely to inform the NJ. le Command
ant of Police that it was party OF
French gentlemen, who had sailed on
he steamer that morning. About our
friend the Greek doctor we were wor-
led, because it was known that he was
Indirectly connected with the affair,
md the colonel at the fort was after
blood, for what he termed the indig-
lity' to the Greek nation. Luck was
With him. however, for the coloneI's
wife was taken very i'll, and the doctor
vas SO assiduous in his attentions, so
lind and thoughtful, that as soon as she
recovered she would hear of nothing
Use except his coming to dine as a
.uest of honor, whereat the colonel
.rowled and the incident was closed"
The major paused here, and it was
title suspicious, so Williams kicked the
enior watch under the table, and the
after, in a foghorn voice, said:
"Heave away, major; you're not at
he end of your course yet"
The major said: "Well, there's moth
1g more to say, except that there was
Greek man-of-war in the harbor, and
he next morning we were honored
nth the tender OF the services Of her !
oat to our passenger steamer-an un-
sual compliment, assure you.''
MAJOR" said Williams, and his tone
as most sarcastic, ''is it usually COM
limentary to insist on your accepting
boat to leave place two days before
ou are ready to go?'
The major grew wrathy ard splut-
red. The answer might not have been
was lost in the explosion
an overcharged bottle of champagne.
N v Sun