The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-11-03

friend might not have recognized him
without some difficulty. lie was both
dirty ana dlsheveled, and hot and tired
as well. Dust lay thick upon his
shoes. And now he gazed mournfully
Into The inn, somewhat as thirst
parchcl wanlerer in a desert might
have looked upon an oasis, with its
promise Of shade and cooling water
Henri Chrstophe did not see him at
first, for his broad buck was toward
the street. But he spraug mp quickly
as Mr. Brown called TO him In very
bad French
"Musscer le proprietor
II was like music in the iunkecper's
ears.
"a customer. and nm Amerlcan!" he
exclaimed under his breath "Oui.
monsieur" he responded deljghledly.
81 am very tired" Charlie explained
though he scarcely needed TO dilate
upon that obvious fact Il desire n
chamber wlth-a bed, Immediately"
"Oui mousieur-I have n very good
room, on the mezzaniue noor-exce-
lent for monsieur! Ten francs
Il day.
"TcnT" said Charlie. Cheap enough
Go to IT,,
And while little Jeanne went to pre-,
pare the room for him. he threw him
self into chair and cast a paper par
cel-his sole baggage upon the table
Ia erDNt ,C hgy, unva.pJ d, fovv fwngh
collars It's contents were negligible
81 want to 20 10 my room now
Charlie Informed his host. I'm dead
TO the world" Unconsciously he had
lapscd into his own vernacular. And
then he realized that a Belgian inn
keeper in q country town could by no
manner or means comprehend him.
"Oh. how the devil do you say I want
10 go to my room in FrenchY' he
gOaned.
"But | speak English. sir" the inn
keeper interpOSed. lie had decided
accent, II was true But TO Charlie
Browns ears the words were as CRATE
ful ms the sound Of a rippling brook
upon n hot summers day.
''You do? Why didn't you say sop
he demanded.
Pardon me, sir" the polite inn
keeper begged him. But so many
Americans like to exhibit their knowl-
edge Of French that | have found it
wisest never to speak English to an
American until | am asked"
"Say-how did you know was an
Amerlcan? Charlie asked him with
sudden suspicion. He would have liked
to know just what it was about his ap.
pearance that seemed to stamp him as
a Yankee. no matter where he went.
"Oh | could tell at once. E.
The voice the manner. oh!
cannot explain. It is a some
thing" Christophe groped, IAN air
one can never mistake it,"
Mr.. Brown grinned at him.
Fright there with that French 'gaff,
aren't you?" he said.
Henri Chrlstophe smiled.
"Ah. m'sieu | understand" he ex-
claimed. noddng his head sagely. But
you do me an injustice. do not flat
ter. speak the truth"
All at once the American remem-
bered that he was newspaper man
"Well. then, have you seen anything
Of war around here?" he asked
NO, sir
Neither have r. Charlie vOlun-
teered. "And I've been looking for it
for week"
"Oh. there will he no war here"
Christophe assured him. ut is always
like this-iUst our peaceful little vii
iage! We harvest our crops: we brew
some beer; we make a little wine
good wine Monsieur shall sample 1t
and see," he added parenthetically.
We go to church on Sunday, We live
and die in the quiet sunshine.
There will be no war here
Charlie Brown did not like TO break
rudely in upon the good mans placid
dream. But at the same time he saw
no reason for assembling. If trouble
were cOming--as he believed-he con
sidered it as well that the innkeeper
should be prepared for it as well as
might be.
But they say the Germans are com
ing through Belgium" be ventured.
Henri Christophe picked up the
that the two peasants
had used to amuse themselves, and
placed 1t upon the counter.
"Ah, no. m'sieu! And even should
they, our people are good people. They
will not touch u.s." he said as optimis-
tically as he could.
"Well--I hope not" Charlie agreed.
"But at least I'd like to see some of
the beggars. It's d-d irritating to
look for war and not be able to
find it," He rose stifiiy from his chair
and strolled to the cigar counter. Got
anything to smoke?" he asked. leaning
over the glass case The innkeeper
inside the showcase and laid |
his wares out for his guests inspec-
ion.
Gosh. Peterr' Mr.. Brown exclaimed |
n delight "And a real cigar counter. |
90! Where on earth did you get
hatE
"Oh, was in New York" the other
old him proudly. Il educated my |
laughter there. was waiter at !
he Beaux Arts"
Charlie Brown stuck his hand out.
rhe Beaux Arts was one of his special
"Greetingsr he exclaimed. "And you
brought this with you?" He looked al
most lovingly upon that familiar con-
rivance of oak, glass and nickel
81 had wished TO introduce here a
title of the American-what you call
I ta-nn tnrrrisn And this unar I had |