The Washington times., 1913-12-25
THE HOUR OF CONFLICT
By A. HamiIton-Gibb By Frank MgHssy
Auior
Scopyright lsls. by Frank A. Mun.ey Co,

II
J her hand into the flappIng net. ant
caught the bird by its feet. ITO b'
| dressed by my own hands, cooked to |
| turn, and eaten by fine young Eng
| lish, sir, What poetry, All! do no
struggle SO. stupid one; Imbecile! Yol
In the most expert manner madame
delivered the coupe de grace. watched
mournfully by all its companions, and
tucking the bird into the chest piecs
! Of her apron. slowly and carefully de
scended the creaking rungs o; the lad
der.
The scratching dog leaped on his chair
and wagged his stump of tail once
more. This time he was rewarded by q
pat Then madame g.anced momen,
anxiously at the weather and went
again through the back door and closed
1t behind her.
Her anxiety was not misplaced. The
, wind veered round late in the afternoon
and with an uncanny swiftness great
clouds of mist rolled up from the sea
The Cafe Tardot, disappeared at the
some instant as the most expensive Ho-
tel Imperial. A moment later the
road, the links and the clubhouse were
all blotted out The soft, wet sea fog
enveloped everything.
The country was like woman VINO
hides her face behind a thick veil.
noise which made your soul shudder
began to come at intervals from the far
distances prolonged wall. an agonizeo
CRY for those in danger upon the sea.
When Leyden sat down to dinner in
the salon the fog-siren was still send
ing forth it's sorrowful cries, and the
searchlight of Griz Nez-in clear
weather a great white arm sweeping
in circles on sea and Iand-had become
mere feeble glinmer. The noise
shut up. and was exceedingly grateful
for the fire which the servant, on Nine.
Tardot's Instructions, had lit.
''Will monsieur have coffee tonight?
asked the girl
as soon as the door was shut and
smoothed his hair in front of the big
mirror with the unfortunate crack.
The collar was all right, but the tie
He tore it off with an exclamation.
pulled open the wardrobe BY the light
Of a candle he routed about in a bundle
OF ties, finally selecting a mauve with
white spots. He did 1t into a butterfly
with extreme care, filled his case with
cigarettes. and went downstairs and
out into the street.
The fog was still thick, and the lights
Of the cafe made faint yellow blurs.
In addition to the cry of the siren.
which came internationally, Leyden was
sound like the rattle of trucks ny
draulically pulled in stone quarry.
He wondered whether a boat was
ashore. or whether some factory
mile or so away was doing overtime,
For some minutes he could not place 1t
that madame had explained how 1he
frogs sang in the marshland outside her
house in sign Of good weather.
Meanwhile. ne made his way along in
the direction Of WimereuX until more
yellow blurs in he midst appeared at
n 20 10
the window and peered in. Through a
chink in the blinds he could make out
TIA counter of = cafe bar. green painted
walls with pictures of Quinquina and
nuoJnTct, a sarGed floor with spittoons
here and there uDGer the two or three
tables
-.eyGen pushed cyeh the door and wenr
in. IT that small drinking house the
rather elaborate Young Englishman with
pl2S ered hair arc bow tic seemed
C"-'ovaly iDconSruous as he peered
70 nd quickly viii. d touch Of excite
ncni. Looks lihc coffee stall on the
l'.H bsnkhent,' lie thought. probably
Fancy her living nerc,'
He shut the :lo"~ noisly and advanced
10 Inc bar. rhere came the scfape OF
d ch;iir from an inside room, the door
le2d.n" to The rest of the house was
funS o0en. and the patron. HippoIytc
So this was hcr father. thought Lev
der. looking at tho lGrge. bearded man
= lth the tWinxiEng eyes and touselcd
hair. Everywhere he was fat-hauds
arms. face, neck and body-hut the ex-
p!cssion IN the eyes was SIMPLE and
hottest.
NJ. Gucrchard bowed profoundly
. Oh evening. monsieur he said.
NiT:ereuE IS treating you TO one of
r." p"tulant moods tonight He pulled
out a chair from Gre of the little tables
anC placed it FOR his guest.
'.ejoen's eyes moved from the man IN
The ooor by which he had entered. was
and sal down.
"Wtil you join nc in coffce-and- cog
Uar. monsieur" he asked '7
Guerchard bowed again and spread
,iE i.aEds.
Monster is too charming" he said
III will Ic pleasure TO take coffee
with you. EUt cognac alas. no. lie
indicated himself with tragic gesture.
1T IL difficult 10 rid myself of all this
supeTfluity, even though instead of
-ognac ] GrinIi vinegar
rs Tin"Sar any .oou?" asked Lev
ier.
Guerchard threw up both hands and
UaggeG his he'd. ut is now a week
.ince ] ldse been trying il. The result
IS not rs perceptible as l would have
wished. i.or is the liquid to my taste.
courase-is it not so?"
he we3i behind the counter and pro-
iuced two cups and saucers and a small
ray pile1 Up with slabs of sugar. which
ne placed ny LeyGen's elbow. Then he
ilied a glass Of cosnsc and brought
hat across. All the time he poured
'orth a tale of the woes of obesity, gave
al imitation OF how he skipped in the
9arIv morning. which made the entire
ioo7 CULVER and the cup clatter in its
Iaucer. and went into roars of laughter
II his own description. |
Lcydsh was highly amused at this |
liant bsby, who revealed his innermost |
secrets With such delightful ingenious