The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

sweep Of shoulder and bony, corded
hands told OF a strength which was un-
sapped by age. His arms were folded
across his arching chest and his
mouth was set in fixed smile.
Pray do not trouble yourself to look
for your weapons" he said. as the Prus-
sian cast a swift glance at the empty
chair In which they had been laid
You have been. IL you will allow me to
say so. little ipdiscreet to make your
self 50 much at home in a house every
wall of which is honeycoubed with Sc
cret passages. You Will be amused to
hear that forty men were watching
you at your supper. AhI what then7"
Captain Baumgarten had taken a
step forward with clenched fists. The
Frenchman held UP the revolver which
he grasped in his right hand. while
with the left he hurled the German
back into his chair.
Pray keep your seat" said he. you
have no cause to trouble about your
men. They have already been provided
for. 1t is astonishing with these stone
floors how little one can hear what goes
on beneath. You have been relieved or
your command, and have now only to
think of yourself. May ask what your
name is?"
II am Captain Baumgarten OF the
Twenty-fourth Posen Regiment"
you know, doubtless, who it is who
addresses you
"The Count of Chateau Noir."
Precisely. 1t would have been
misfortune if you had visited my cha
teau and 1 had been unable to have a
word with you. I have had to do with
many German soldiers, but never with
an officer before. 1 have much to talk
to you about"
Captain Baumgarten sat still In his
chair. Brave as he was, there was
something in this mans manner which
made his skin creep with apprehen-
sion. His eyes glanced to right and to
left, but his weapons were gone, and
In a struggle he saw that he was but
a child to this gigantic adversary. The
Count had picked up the claret bottle
and held it to the light.
Tut tut!" said he. And was this
the best that Pierre could do for you?
1 am ashamed to look you in the face.
Captain Baumgarten. We must i'm
prove upon this"
He blew call upon whistle which
hung from his shooting jacket. The
old man servant was in the room in
an instant.
"Chambertin, from bin 1872 he cried.
and a minute later a gray bottle,
streaked with cobwebs, was carried In
as a nurse bears an infant. The Count
filled two glasses to the brim.
Drink said he. "It is the best In
my cellars, and not to be matched be-
tween Rouen and Paris. Drink, sir,
and be happy There are cold joints
below. There are two Holsters fresh
from Honf1eur. Will you not venture
upon a second and more savory sup
PERI"
The German officer shock his head
He drained the glass, however, and his
host filed 1t once more, pressing him
to give an order for this or that dainty
"There is nothing in my house which
is not at your disposal. You have but
to say the word. Well, then, you will
allow me to tell you story while you
drink your wine. have so longed to
tell it to some German officer. 1t is
about my son, my only child, Eustance,
who was taken and died in escaping.
1t is a curious little story. and I think
that 1 can promise you that you will
never forget it.
You must know, then, that my boy
was in the artillery. a fine young fellow,
Captain Baumgarten, and the pride OF
his mother. She died within week of
the news of his death reaching US. 1t
was brought by brother officer, who
was at his side throughout, and who es-
caped while my lad died. ! want to
tell you all that he told me.
"Eustace was taken at Weissenburg
on the 4th of August. The prisoners
were broken up into parties and sent
back into Germany by different routes.
Eustace was taken upon the 9th to
village called Lauterburg, where he
met with kindness from the German
officer in command. This good colonel
had the hungry lad to supper, offered
him the best he had, opened a bottle
of good wine as have tried to do for
you, and gave him cigar from his
own case. Might I entreat you to
take one from mine?"
The German again shook his head.
His horror of his companion had in
creased as he sat watching the lips
that smiled and the eyes that glared.
The colonel. as say, was good to
my boy. But, unluckily, the prisoners
were moved next day across the
Rhine to Ettlinger. They were not
equally fortunate there. The officer
who guarded them was ruffian and a
villain, Captain Baumgarten. He took
a pleasure in humiliating and ill-treat-
ing the brave men who had fallen into