The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1914-12-04

think!" Minna retorted, and held out
her hand carelessly as If it pleased
her to humor him.
He was rather graceful, despite his
size, as he touched his lips to her fin
gers. Just as he raised his head a
burst of cheering rose from the yard.
$50 you've found that we have gone,
you brilliant intellects!" he shouted,
and glared at the wall Of the house in
the direction of the cheers.
Quick! You have no time to lose!"
Minna warned him.
Quick! quick!" cried Marta.
Stransky paid no attention to the
urgings. He had something more to
say to Minna.
I'm going to keep thinking Of you
and seeing your face-the face of a
good woman-while fight. And when
the war Is over. may come to cell?"
he asked.
His feet were so resolutely planted
on the flags that apparently the only
way to move them was to consent.
Eyes, yes!" said Minna. "Now,
hurry!"
"Say, but you make me happy!
Watch me poke it into the Grays for
you!" he cried and bolted.
Within the kitchen Mrs. Galland
was already slumbering soundly in
her chair. Overhead Marta heard the
exclamations Of male voices and the
tread Of what was literally the heel
Of the conqueror-guests that had
come without asking! Intruders that
had entered without any process of
law! Would they overrun the house.
her mothers room, her own room?
Indignation brought fresh strength
as she started up the stairs. The
head Of the fight gave on to a dark
part Of the hall. There she paused,
held by the scene that a score or
more Gray soldiers, who had riotcusly
crowded into the dining-room, were
enacting. They were members Of
Fracasse's company of the Gtays
whom Marta had seen from her win
dow the night before rushing across
the road into the garden.
When, finally, they burst into the
redoubt after it was found that the
Browns had gone, all, even the judges
son, were the war demons own. The
veneer had been warped and twisted
and burned off down to the raw ami
NAL flesh. Their brains had the fever
itch of callouses forming. Not a sign
of brown there in the yard; not sign
of any tribute after all they had en-
dured! They had not been able to lay
hands on the murderous throwers of
hand-grenades. Far away now was
barrack-room geniality; in oblivion
were the ethics of an inherited civili-
zation taught by mothers, teachers and
church.
But here was a house-a house of
the Browns; big, fine house! They
would see what they had won-this
was the privilege Of baf1ed victory.
What they had won was theirs! To
"he victor the spoils: Pell-mell they
crowded into the dining.room, Hugo
with the rest, feeling himself a straw
on the crest Of a wave, and Pilzer,
most bitter, most ugly Of all, his short,
strong teeth and gums showing and
his liver patch red, lumpy, and trem-
bling. In crossing the threshold Of
privacy they committed the act that
leaves the deepest wound Of wars in
heritance, to go on from generation
to generation in the history of fami-.
lies.
"A swell dining-room! l like the
chandeliers!" roared Pilzer.
With his bayonet he smashed the
only globe left intact by the shell fire.
There was a laugh as a shower Of
glass fell on the floor. Even the
judges son, the son of the tribune of
law, Joined in. Pilzer then ripped up
the leather seat Of a chair. This in
troductory havoc whetted his appetite
for other worlds Of conquest, as the
self-chosen leader Of the increasing
crowd that poured through the door
way.
Maybe there's food!" he shouted.
Maybe there's wine!" ..
Food and wine!"
"Yes, wine! We're thirsty"
"And maybe womenl I'd like to kiss
pretty maid servant" Pilzer added,
starting toward the hall. IT..
"Stop!" cried Hugo, forcing his way
in front Of Pilzer.
He was like no one of the Hugos of
the many parts that his comrades had
seen him play. His blue eyes had be-
come an infexible gray. He was stand
ing half on tiptoe. his quivering
muscles in tune with the Quivering
pitch Of his voice:
i"We have no right in here! This is
a private housed"
"Out Of the way, you white-livered
little rat!" cried Pilzer. cor I'll prick
the tummy OF mamma's darlingl"
What happened then was so sudden
and unexpected that all were vague
about details. They saw Hugo In a