Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-08-16

1
Brown admitted. No one knew his
pet failing any better than himself.
"Silent Charlie-that's what they
call him. Guy informed the others de-
I, lightedly.
"You don't mind, Sir George?" The
American turned inquiringly to Sir
George Wagstaff.
scented good-naturedly. "As you said,
this is only a private tea party"
''Then please dor' Georgy insisted.
eff you don't, Guy willr' She dearly
loved to rag her devoted admirer.
Away Brown acclaimed in mock
satisfaction at being able to scatter
his opinions broadcast. "Well. I'll tell
you. While most of you Londoners
have been wondering whether the
Irish are going to start civil war, or
whether Gunboat Smith did foul Car
! pentier, I've been digging up some in
side dope. and. believe me, there's GO
| ing to be a merry old bust-up. Rus
STA, know, is modifying; and so is
Germany"
But can Russia, with her internal
conditions, afford to fight?" Streetman
asked him.
II don't know whether she can af-
ford to or not" Charlie Brown said.
But l believe she is going to"
81 take it you are not particularly
Informed on Russia" Sreetman re-
torted. somewhat acidly.
"Oh, yes l amv' the undaunted Yam
kee replied. 81 know it's awfully cold
there, and that they drink vodka, and
have revolutions, and send their pris-
oners to Siberia, and apart from that
I'm pretty darned sure Russia's goirg
TO fight" Words habitually flowed
from Charlie Browns mouth without
the slightest effort 1t is so with
bores. But Mr.. Brown was far from
being bore. What saved him was
the fact that he always said something
well worth listening to.
Guy Falconer did not allow the con-
versation 10 interrupt his ministry to
the inner man. He stepped up to Eth
els table and took a sandwich off a
plate. But before he RECALLED himself
with it he paused long enough to say:
you know, think Charles right"
go on. Mr.. Brown Georgy said.
impatient at the interruption.
Don't you think Germany can de
feat both France and Russia p Street
man demanded.
"Maybe-maybew Charlie Brown
said. "But with England on their
side"
streetman did not wait for him to
finish.
England, with civil war in Ulster
on her hands, wouldn't dare" he be
gan heatedly.
And then Mr.. Brown interrupted
him. He had not the slightest inten-
ton of being browbeaten by anybody.
And there was vague antagonism in
Streetman's manner toward him that
reused him nightly.
civil war; he exclaimed. "why.
if England has a scrap with Germany.
that Ulster trouble will stop in ten
minutes; and every Irishman that goes
to the front will lick three Germans
maybe four. . I've seen the Irish
mix things up in New York"
Streetman subsidized. for the moment,
beneath that avalanche of words.
"And you think Germany is quite
prepared to face those odds?'' Ethel
Willoughby asked the American.
mot Intentionally" he replied "The
Germans have got everything down so
pat in theory that nothing can stop
them; but God help 'em if their theo-
ries don't work" There was no mis-
taking where Browns sympathies lay.
For, though he had not by words ex-
pressed his real feelings in the mat
ter at ISSUE there was a fervent ring
in his voice that sufficiently betrayed
his sentiments.
Meanwhile Henry Streetmap re-
garded him with extreme disfavor.
Perhaps for the moment, among all
those enemies, he momentarily forgot
that his interests required that he
should by no means appear TO hold any
opinions that one might not expect in
the most insular of the English.
1T seems a pity" he said, but Ger
many is the Onlv nation in the world
that s ready-absolutely ready. She
is the only nation that can risk war
with any chance of victory"
His compa Mons looked at him in as
constituent. And Sir George Wagstaff
even was stirred out of the attitude
of apathy that he was wont to assume.
"You talk strangely, sir. for al Eng
lishman," he told Streetman. But his
manifest reproof seemed lost upon
that gentleman.
"My nationality does not blind me
to the facts" the spy said hastily.
81 admire the Germans in lots of
ways" Charlie Brown continued, In
what was really only a futile effort to
appear neutral "At all the arts and
sciences they're wonders. And it's n
cinch they've got great military ma
chine
THE most marvellous in the world,"
Streetman agreed with him heartily.
Charlie Brown set his empty teacup
on the table.
You're dead right therer' he as
sented. why, back in New York
know a waiter at Luechow's-bulIy
German placei-who was telling me
one day how Germany had everything
doped out If war came he'd chase
back to his home town-go to his ar