The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-02-02

ignominy with which was treated, OF
my subsequent delight on being taken
into a dimly-lii room at this guard
house, which, by the way, was sn i'm
provsed one. II being in reality forest
hotel. so situated on the frontier as 10
have been at once requisitioned by the
military on the declaration OF war.
On being ushered into the dreary
apartment to which have referred,
two guards were placed in special at
tendance on me by "mv friend the en-
emy." or, rather. the sergeant, to whom
| now seemed somehow to cling as be.
ing the only one (not knowing a word
of Germany with whom | could, how
ever imperfect my French, discuss the
situations; indeed, went so far as TO
feel that Fritz might not be proof
against dexirousy administ cred two
franc piece, which slipped In his hand
unseen.
Monsieur" he said his features re-
laxing into broad grin, 81 shaft have
the honor tonight of drinking the
health of his majesty, the king and, if
his loyalty could be accounted for by
the color OF his nose, be must have been
n patriot indeed. With this he, as sup
posed, departed for the night, but it
appeared afterwards it was only TO
make arrangements for my safe Gus
lody, for he presently returned with
marching orders. This lime was taken
down a long corridor, at the extremity
Of which | was conducted, closely fol-
lowed by my vllainous looking escort,
TO a veranda, where rows of empty
tables and tip-tilted chairs betokened
the hotels departed luXuriance. This
place had now quite sinister aspect, TO
which the Black Forest Immediately be-
yond gave an additional gloom One
table, however, at the end of he veran-
da. was occupied by a group Of four,
who, by the light of a small lamp placed
thereon, discovered. to my delight, TO
be ordinary travellers. who, as / later
on ascerlained, were only awaiting re-
miitances expected the following
morning, 10 make rapid tracks from
the scene Of coming hostlities: fer the
rest the place was now "guardh1 use"
pure and simple the sergeant appear
ing TO have taken over the entire con-
troll OF the wel-stocked cellars. from
which, he informed me, could. on pay
ing war prices, have whatever refresh
ment pleased Nor was he long in
supplying my wants in this respect at
an eXorbiiant charge-brandy, seltzer
and cigars being placed by him on the
table, as. filing himself bumper o
begin with. he raised II high in air. eX-
with the utmost gravity: 81
drink, monsieur, TO the health If his
majesty the king
Feeling it would be polite to join
him in loyal but uninvited libations, I
helped myself from the decanter, and
was going to say something courteous
about King William. when Fritz polite
ly, but firmly, seizing my glass, said;
"Oh, monsieur one moment, beg,
how terribly remiss of me in drinking
10 the king; forgot the Fatherland;
long live the Fatherland!" and with
this he drained my glass to the dregs
made a profound bow. and left me in
custody of my two guards, who with
fixed bayonets, were in immediGte at
tendance. Cursing the evil fate, as I
which had placed me in such
a quandary, | was sitting nursing my
wrath to keep it warm, as Burns puts
it, when kindly voice with a nasal
twang hailed me through the gloom.
so you're the prisoner of war, are
you? Wal, as we happen TO be all neu-
trail at this table. | don't see why you
shouldn't leave that patriot sergeant to
finish your cognac with those two hun
guards of yours, and join
us for half an hour before you go o the
ireary dungeon assigned to you. Suf-
fee it TO say. this was an arrangement
10 which Fritz. on his return, readily as
,ented. | was MS much in custody AS
,ver and escape was impossible; while
le, with his two grim compaIriots,
,ould, in the meantime do full justice
70 the health Of "his majesty the king"
The American gentleman to whom
was indebted for this kindly suggt stion
introduced me TO his |
wife, and her brother and sister, who
we're all much interested in my capture
md probable fate. They had noticed |
he ill-usage TO which had been sub
ecied by the villagers, who had been
lurling all the available rubbish they |
,ould lay hold OF at my unofrending |
lead on the way to the guardLouse;
ind |, moreover. made sure at glance
oh. such gance!) that at least one of
ny entertainers was convinced in her
'wn mind IL was case of mistaken
IDENTITY, that | was no spy. and sympa-