Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-11-20


garded arrest as a part Of the days
routine. He sat down and watched
with interest what was going on.
French Officers Are Busy.
Maybe there were a dozen French
officers there" said he. "all smoking
cigarettes and talking. never did
hear SO much talk. They all talked
at once. But 1t looked as though they
were getting things done. at that. Sol
diers would come in and report to the
colonel and talk to all the other ON
GERS. And all the other officers would
talk to them. BY and by they got
their orders and went out. I don't
know anything about soldering. but /
could see that that little old cottage
was being run right"
Martin had cigars. So he and the
lieutenant sat in q corner and smoked
them. The lieutenant said he wasn't
anxious to bring Martin to the atten-
ton of the colonel until the cigars
were gone. No one paid any atten-
ton to them. There was no sugges-
ton Of anything serious in the air.
"All at once this ex-waiter from
Martins came in." said Martin. "A
soldier had him by each elbow. He
saluted the colonel. He had never
told me that he had been a soldier"
Martin planned to hail him when
he got the chance. But an instinct
Of caution restrained him. Evidently
this ex-waiter was I'm bad" The ON
GERS were regarding him silently. BY
and by they began to talk again. First
the soldiers who held the ex-waiter
told story and passed packet of
papers over to the colonel.
Colonel Asks Questions.
The colonel asked him some Ques-
tions," said Martin. "and then other
officers talked to him. They all
seemed friendly enough. No one made
any fuss. He answered some Ques-
lions and some he didn't BY and by
he asked for a cigarette and the lieu
tenant who had me handed him, one.
They bowed and smiled to each,
other"
The other officers talked to each
other. Evidently they were not talk
ing about the ex-waiter. The colonel
sat pulling at his thumb-size goatee.
Martins lieutenant took another of
Martins cigars and complimented
him on them. The ex-waiter looked
around the room for the first time.
Martin caught his eye and grinned
The ex-waiter looked him in the eye
and turned away.
WELL" said Martin to himself,
that's dickens Of note"
The colonel took another cigarette
from his dwindling case. The officers
sat with their elbows on their knees
and looked silently at the ex-waiter.
The colonel said something. The two
soldiers saluted and turned on their
heels. The ex-waiter whipped his
hand stifhy to his forehead, stood at
attention. and turned on his heel The
Officers relaxed somewhat and again
began talking. As the ex-waiter went
out he smiled in Martins direction
not to him-a queer. wistful sort of
smile.
1T sort Of got me going, for q min,
ute," said Martin.
Through the open doors. Of the cot
tage they heard the staccato COM
mands Of q drill sergeant. A squad
shuhled quickly by. They heard the
clicking Of gunlockR Martin turned
to his lieutenant:
Listen" said the lieutenant, hold
ing up one hand.
The colonel and the other officers
were citing quietly. IN attitudes Of
attention. There was the report Of
The sound of talk within
the room rose again. The colonel be-
gan to paw over his innumerable re-
ports. The lieutenant spoke to him.
and came back to Martin with the
word that he must leave the country
at once. The lieutenant said It was
for him. The peasants
might not understand him. Martin |
said he would.
But, say" said he to his friend |
the lieutenant, what was this shoot |
Ing just now?"
Did you not comprehend" asked |
the lieutenant. 1T was q SPY"