The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-03-05

drink before them. And then-would
wonders never cease?-these Ger
mans had actually paid-even over
paid. ma foi-for one of them flung q
golden half 'ouis on the counter and
stalked from the place. refusing
change.
OF course at the Hotel de Vile the
invaders behaved differently. There
the mayor was called upon for one
million francs-war indemnity But
that was a matter for the city's con
Germ and not the individual Madame
still had that golden half louis and
would show it If we cared to see Gold
was scarce and exceedingly precious
The sight Of it was good
unanimity Of the War.
Now the Germans were gone
forced out, grace Dieu. so the good
citizens no longer lived in the cellars.
They were ;.gain in their places at the
Lion dor, slipping vermouth and offer.
Ing gratitude to the military regime
that had the decency to allow cafes
open until eight o'clock. Outside the
night was cold and fine drizzle beat
against the windows. Several new
corners shivered and remarked that 1t
must be terrible in the trenches But
the electric lights, the clinking glasses
on the marble tables, the rafting
coins soon brought them into the gen.
eral line Of speculation on how long 1t
would take to drive the Germans from
| France.
For hundred years the cafes have
been the forum of France. The Lion
dor had for that entire period been
the scene of fierce verbal encounters
between members of more political and
religious faiths than exist in any other
nation of the world. Every Frenchman
no matter how humble in position or
purse has decided opinions about
something. But now the voices in the
Lion dor arose only In appellations
concerning les Boches. There was
unanimity of opinion on the absorbing
subject of the war. ri. v..
The members of the American am
bulance column sat at table near
the door Our khaki always brought
looks of friendly interest. Almost
everyone thought US to be English
and those who learned the truth were
always distinctly pleased. We finished
the aperitif and consulted about din
ner. We were off duty-we might
either return for the army mess OF
buy our own meal at the restaurant
We paid the garcon and decided upon
the restaurants few doors away
Several Of the men were struggling
into their rubber coats. told them
that would follow shortly. had
just caught sentence that thrilled
me. 1t held a note of mystery-or
tragedy. 1t brought life out of the
commonplace normality of the aperitil
hour at the Lion dor.
Where the Tragedy Comes.
The speakers were two Frenchmen
of middle age-fat and bearded They
were dressed in ordinary black. but
wore it with ceremonial rather than
conventional manner. The atmosphere
of the city did not seem upon them
They might rather be the butcher and
the grocer of small town One oil
the pair had sat alone for some time
before the second arrived had no
ticed him. He seemed to have nc
acquaintance in the place-which
was unusual. He drank two cognacs
in rapid succession-which was still
more unusual One drink always sat
Isles q Frenchman at the aperitii
hour-and IL Is very seldom ccgnac.
When the second man entered the
other started from his seat and held
out both hands eagerly. $50 you got
out safer" were the words heard. bu'
our crowd was hurrytng toward the
door. and | lost the actual greeting
ordered another verrhouth anC
waited
The two men were seated opposite
each other. The first man nervously
motioned to the waiter and the new
conner gave his order 1t was piaiI
that they were both excited but the
table adjoining was unoccupied. Sc
they caused no attention. The noisy
waiter, Shaping bottles on the table
drowned out the next few sentences
Then | heard the second man: so
got out first, but you managed to ge
here yesterday--a day in advance.
, The other replied: 81 was lucky
J enough to get a horse They wer,
Smelling the market place when | left,
, The second man gulped his drink ant
! plucked neryously at the other,
! sleeve. MY wife is at the hotel" Ia,