New Ulm review., 1913-10-08

ciated the novelty. Never had ne Wit.
messed anything 60 mournfully depress-
ing as the first gray tints that crept up
to mock him In bis vigil. Never had
be seen anything SO CHASTITY as the soft
red glow that suffused the morning
sky.
''Pll sleep all day II ever get into
that d-d bed" he said to himself. BIT
terry wistful
The customs officers had eyed him sus.
piciousIy ut the border. They had evi-
IDENTIFY been told Of his strange mad
ness in refusing to occupy the berth
he had paid for. Their examination Of
bis effects was more thorough than
usual. 1t may have entered theft heads
that he was standing guard over the
-repose Of fair accomplice They ask
ed 20 many embarrassing and discon-
certing questions that he was ,dev0utly
relieved when they passed on. still sus
picious.
The train was late, and at o'clock
he was desperately combating an I'M
pulse to leave it at Strassburg, 6nd
lodging in hotel and then, refreshed,
set out for London to have 1t out with
the malevolent Medcroft. The disem-
barking of the venerable mourners,
however, restored him to degree Of
his peace of mind. After all. he re-
viewed. 1t would be cowardly and base
to desert a trusting wife. He pictured
her as asleep and securely confident in
his stanchness. No. he would have 1t
out with Medcroft at some later day.
He was congratulating himself on
the acquisition of bed-although It
might possess the odor Of bed Of
tuberoses-when all of his pleasant
calculations were upset by the appear.
ance Of a German burgher and bis
family. 1t was then that he learned
that these people had booked le COM
partement from Strassburg to Mu
mich.
Brock resumed bis window seat and
despondently awaited the call to break
fast He fell sound asleep with his
monocle in position. nor did it matter
to him that his hat dropped through
the window and went scuttling OF
across the green Rhenish fields. When
next he looked at his watch it was 8
O'Clock. A small boy was standing at
the end Of the passage staring wide
eyed at him. Two little girls came
piling, half dressed. from compart.
ment, evidently in response to the
youngsters whispered command to
hurry out and see the funny man.
Brock scowled darkly. and the trio
darted swiftly into the compartment
he dragged his sti6 legs into the
dining car at Stuttgart and showed
them under a table. The car was
quite empty. AS he was staring blank.
" at the menu the conducteur from
his car hurried In with the word that
madam would not breakfast until 8.
She was still very sleepy. Would M.
Medcroft be good enough to order her
coffee and rolls brought to her COM
partment at that hour? And would he
mind seeing that the maid saw to 1t
that Raggles surely had his biscuit and
a walk at the next station?
"Raggles7" queried Brock, passing
his hand over his brow. The other
shrugged his shoulders and looked
askance. "Oh, yes; I understand" l."
murmured the puzzled one. recovering
himself. For the next ten minutes he
wondered who Raggles could be.
He had eaten his strawberries and
was waiting for the eggs and conee,
resentfully eying the early risers who
were now coming in for their coffee
and rolls. They had slept He could
tell by the complacent manner In which
their hair was combed and by the in
terest they found in the scenery which
he had come, by tedious familiarity
to loathe and scorn.
The actions of two young women
near the door attracted his attention.
From their actions he suddenly gather
ed that they were discussing him-and
in a more or less facetious fashion at
that. They whispered and looked shy
and grinned in a most disconcerting
manner. He turned red about the ears
and began to wonder fiercely why bis
eggs and coffee were so slow In COM
ing. Then, to his CONSERVATION, the
young women, plainly Of the serving
class. bore down upon him with abash-
ed smiles. He noticed for the first
| time that one Of them was carrying a
very small child in her arms. As she
came alongside. grinning sheepishly.
she extended the small one toward the
astounded Brock, and said in excellent
old English:
"Good morning. Mr.. Medcroft." Then.
with a rare inspiration. Baby, kis1
papa-come, now"
She pushed the infant almost into
Brooks face He did not observe that
it was q beautiful child and that 1t
had look of terror in its eyes. He
only knew that he was glaring wildly
at the f1endish nurse, the truth slowly
beating its way into his be-addled
brain. For full minute he stared as
If petrifed. Then, administering a
Sickly grin. he sought to bring his wits