El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-04
The HeraId's Daily
Short Story

, coming nation. who are to rule the
I whole world
Wilhelm has studied these books
When he was a boy and remembers now
they intoxicated him more than pig
glass of "schnaps" He has not the
slightest doubt that these little fellows
are equally drunk with the thought OF
I the national glory. At any rate. one
thing IS certain, that II you were 70
open the heart of anyone Of these
schoOlbOys. you would find within IT
I the image Of Bismarck. the rather OF
the German empire. The old soldier
chuckles at the thought that these
young boys hearts tremble with delight
when they pass the statue Of the great
Iron Chancellor.
And Wilhelm thinks Of mis- lonely
nights on sentry duty in the snow
covered fields, Of the magic splendor OF
these nights when the northern lights
I broke through the darkness Yes, men
were suffering in those days, but II was
glorious TO march behind this chief who
changed the map of Europe to suit his
plans.
Wilhelm feels a longing to see right
away the hero OF his memories; he can
not await the coming OF the morning.
he gets Up in the dark. straps on his
wooden leg, and nmps out Now he Is
outside in the square.
GOOD LOrdn'
Now. It cannot be possible 1t must
De a hallcination. Half OF the lamps IN
the square have been put out and the
light OF the young moon Is so deceptive
He must wait for daylight which must
surely dtssipate this horrible night
mare he returns to his room, but Is
100 excited TO go to bed He stays at
TIE window until the first faint light
Of dawn
Then he goes out He closes his eyes
as nc walks towards the statue and
bows his head until he reaches the
railing Already he raises his hand to
salute his hero in military manner and
looks UP.
For q moment he totters like a sill
III q -n~-e- IL
Etis race Is bloodless and his hand falls
down Imply.
The readful thing. he thought only
q 0iShtmare, really Is there. But a man
who wears on his breast the iron cross
Of bonCr does not faint away.
lie turns about and starts for the
-Ca2tsln.' he says to the chief. "a
caStardly crime against the majesty OF
germany has been committed in the
Against whom"
Ian YOU guess
he cannot even pronounce the name
or his outraged divinity.
lltd you see the crime committed p
No. II must have been committed
just after midnight"
Let us so and have a look at It"
gathered around the statue
Excited. furious the people discuss
the outrage In group Wilhelm discOv-
ers the ''Fransose" talking and ges-
ticulating. His face is radiant with
Joy.
I tell you. there has been no crime, %
he says. Look at it, Any engineer
viii tell you it is true what I am
saying"
The police chief has the same thought
in mind. but sends for an expert.
The man climbs up the plint and
starts his examination He taps the
bronze like a surgeon sounding a
wound The crowd awaits his verdict
in respectful silence
At last the engineer turns round. He
shakes his head and with his hands he
BILE"
There has been no crime" he says.
NO human agency IS 10 blame for
this uncanny accident"
The crowd remains silent an OPP
presslve OminOus silence. You imagine
you hear their very heartbreaks. Then
somebody is heard sobbing, somebody
who sees In this. the hand Of destiny.
Now. this tale is no invention of my
brain intended to fill the hearts OF
superstitOus Germans with fear of
the future.
On September /. 1911. on the ami
Fersary of the battle OF Sedan. the in
horror stricken looking at the gigantic
statue Of Bismarck, the pride of their
town.
On the ground at the foot Of the
monument they found the arm of the
iron Chancellor The weight Of the
outstretched sword had been too much
and. had torn II off at the shoulder
Broken into fragments, both lay on the
ground.