The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-03-06


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 a
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 one
forced out, grace a Dieu,, so the good
citizens no longer lived in the cellars.
They were i.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 a fine drizzle beat
against the windows. Several new
corners shivered and remarked hat it
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 it
would take to drive the Germans from
France.
For a 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
uhanimity of opinion on the absorbing
subject of the war.
The members of the American am
bulance column sat at a 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 we're
always distinctly pleased. We finished
the aperitif and consulted about din.
ner. We were off duty-we might
either return for the army mess or
ht1U Ortn nuyn pono1 OF fhn rncto,rap NJ
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 l would follow shortly. | had
just caught a sentence that thrilled
me. 1t held a note of mystery-or
tragedy. 1t brought life out of the
commonplace normality of the aperitii
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
VI IL Wy diu nv oCSbh upOi NiShA
They might rather be the butcher and
the grocer of a small town. One o.
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-whicf
was unusual. He drank two cognacs
in rapid succession-which was still
more unusual. One drink always sat
isles a Frenchman at the aperitit
hour-and it is very seldom cognac.
When the second man entered the
other started from his seat and held
out both hands eagerly. so you goi
out safe?" were the words heard, blu
our crowd was hurrying toward the
door, and / lost the actual greeting
l ordered another vermouth anC
waited.
Tae two men we're seated opposite
each other. The first man n%ervously
motloned to the waiter and the new
confer gave his order. 1t was plaiI
tina. they were both excited, but the
table adjoining vas u~noccupied, Sc
they caused no attention. The noisy
waiter, slapping bottles on the table
drowned out the next few sentences
Then | heard the second man; $50
got out first, but you managed to gel
here y~esterday-a day in advance.
The other replied: 1T was lucky
enough to get a horse. They were
Smelling the market place when | left.
The second man gulped his drink and
plucked ~nervously at the other'i
sleeve. MY wife is at the hotel" hi
! almost mumbled the words. Il mus