Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-10-27

colossal
According to his stories. his prov
ess at the head OF the Lost Children
had been unequaled. With few
other leaders like himself the war
would have been ended long before
Nine Dutailly listened eagerly to
his blatant stories. her husband APP
plauded them enviously: Mile. Ger
trude alone proved Indifferent. AS
for the poor little corporal, paler and
more timid looking than ever. In his
coat which was three sizes too large
and. moreover. suffering from a bad
cold In the head. which always
makes man ridiculous. he seemed
completely crushed by his over
towering neighbor.
AS soon as dinner was over I In
vented an excuse to leave the house.
bored by the graceless lies OF the
vulgar Captain. TO whom ] fer
vently hoped had said farewell for
ever.
But this hope was doomed TO q
bitter disappointment. The follow
ing Sunday found him in the same
place, again on Thursday. Finally
his place was regularly spread
The Dutaillys were completely fas-
cinated. Madame because the tender
gallantry shown her by Robillard
never fails TO affect ladies OF her
age. and Papa Dutailly because OF
the interest the dashing Captain
took In his warlike predictions. Ana
tole. his cold worse than ever. lost
ground visibly.
One day the corporal was wound
ed and was obliged to keep TO his
bed, and for several weeks he was
absent from our repast. During this
time the Captain boldly made known
his aspirations for the hand of Mile.
Gertrude, and his advances were not
re2ulsed by her parents.
The day Anatole. convalescent and
thin as a pipestem, returned to our
weekly dinners IL seemed to me that
the young lady's pretty eyes were
red. and that there must have been
some dispute during the day be-
tween her and her mother. now com
pletely infatuated with her Iobil-
lard felt that the time had come
to interfere in the interest OF these
poor children. IT happened to be the
last Sunday in the year. and natur-
ally we fell to talking of New Years
Day. which we were TO spend to
gether.
Upon my word. dear mada me,
cried the Captain. 81 must prepare
some surprise with which to offer
you my good wishes for the New
Year"
1t was this remark that gave me
the idea Of my own.
On the 1st of January Dutailly re
ceived us with open arms. glo-
rious victory had been foretold by
his favorite paper, and the obstinate
petriot was delighted
Anatols brought with him a rab-
bit. which he had trapped himself
AS for the Captain. he presented to
Nine. Dutailly a large bag of mar
rons glaces. encased in a German
helmet.
What" she exclaimed, almost
speechless with admiration Did
you kill him?"
Expressly for your fair sake" re-
piled Robillard, striking an attitude:
expressly and entirely that his he'll
met might serve as a box for your
bonbons,"
Dear me-" said I. Il am not so
bold as to try to rival such a man
as the Captain, but /, too. have pre-
pared little surprise"
Il wonder what it can be-" cried
Nine. Dutailly. as the servant
brought in a large package.
1T is bombshell," dear ma
dame" | replied "Dutailly has told
me several times that he would like
to have one, a real one. and at my
request ROLAND, commanding the
battery. sent me one" AS | spoke /
removed the paper and the shell APP
pepared, black, sinister and menac-
ing.
Gracious" objected my hostess
what if Il should exploded"
DO not be uneasy" FASTENED 10
say "Of course. ROLAND would not
have sent me any but an empty
she'll Besides, here is his letter."
| opened a note which lay beside
the bomb but as | read it my face
must have expressed surprise and
then CONSERVATION, for my friends
exclaimed anxiously:
is anything the matter?"
Gracious powers, why-but lis
ten," and | read:
Dear Friend-Here is the bomb
shell you asked for. II has been inn
possible for me just now to get hold
of an armorer TO empty It. but If you
will take 1t to the Avenue de rOpera
the man there can do II. Let me
warn you to use the greatest precau-
ton, the slightest shock or Jar will
cause the shell TO explode Yours.
r."
A shrek of fright filed the room
Take it away" screamed Nine
Dutailly. 1T is frightful, A bomb
she'll In my parlori Horribe,"
The man who brought 1t has
gone" said the servant. his red
checks white.