Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-08-01


sent out of the besleged city except by
way of balloons. AS soon as I had
found lodgings l secured military
pass and accompanying It certificate
from Minister Washburn us to my na-
tivity and neutrality. These stood me
In good stead within the next week.
There were no doubt many German
Fpies in Paris, but the people greatly
exaggerated the number and were
ready to denounce any one not born
Frenchman. I had been taking my
meals at certain miserable restaurant
and paying the prices asked without
complaint when one evening the keeper
of the place. who was a surly old fell
low at best. attempted an extortion
that resented. We had some hot
words, and left m anger. and not
more than an hour had passed when
received a visit from n trio OF the ma
tional guard. | had been denounced by
the old man as a German spy. The
trio consisted of corporal and two
men, and when they had gained my
room the corporal saluted me and cour-
teously observed:
"Sorry to trouble monsieur just as he
is preparing for bed, but the fact Is
am ordered to take him out and shoot
him"
"For whatY' | asked.
"For being n spy In the employ Of
Bismarck. Come, monsieur. We have
others to shoot and cannot waste time
But you go n little fast, corporal"
protested one Of the men as ! looked
from one to the other and wondered II
II was joke. II think the orders were
to take monsieur before the provost
marshal for investigation"
"Say you so, Francois? Well, what's
the odds to him whether he Is shot to-
night or tomorrow? 1t Will come to
shooting anyhow, and we have three
other places to visit before we can go
back. Be reasonable, monsieur"
For answer showed him my passes,
named the headquarters to which !
had been attached and then related the
cause of my dispute with the owner Of
the restaurant.
"Ah, / see," replied the corporal as
he scratched his head and smiled. at
was the old mans little way OF set
tling n 8 franc dispute, and he Ia prob
ably making merry over 1t. Monsieur
American, you are all X. o., as believe
they say In your country, and 1t will
give me pleasure to do little business
with monsieur OF the cafe. Attention,
squad Right face and forward march,
We came for n spy, but found one who
had fought with US. Good night, mon
sieur."
went around to the restaurant next
morning. 1t had been turned wrong
side out and number OF children were
looking for scraps Of food. Whether
the old man had been shot or driven
nway ] know not, but his occupation
had departed. | saw the commune
forming and realized what II meant,
and kept away from the crowds as
much as possible and had little to say
to any one. AS soon AZ the commune
got fairly under way and the national
guards went over 70 they began to
Dress men into the ranks to defend
Paris. had three or fsuT earro~ es-
eapes from being prssssd sat nnally
took up my lodGlngs 70 vsssst house
on n side street called Lnbanc. There
were with me n Russian adventurer, a
German machinist and chap who
claimed to be Corslcan, and who ac-
knowledged that he was deserter
from the army; strange company, but
those were strange times, and we were
all moved by the same obJect-to keep
clear OF the muss. The German was
square and honest and had been living
In Paris for seven years previous 10
tho war. We made common purse
and did our OWE cooking and II was
seldom thnt any OF us left our retreat
except under cover OF darkness. One
afternoon. when the regular govern
mcnt troops had begun to attack the
communists and the city was sccthing
and bubbling with excitement, n wom-
an gave our hiding place away TO the
authorities. We were all asleep In n
back room when the front door was
broken open and ten men under the
orders OF a lieutenant came pouncing
In upon us.
And 80, my slecpers, you would
shirk your duty" exclaimed the officer
ns he Inspected each one In turn. well.
we can decide II In n word VIII you
fight with us or against usr
None OF NJ replied. Like me, the
others seemed too surprised to answer
plain question.