Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-10-04
CHAPTER XIV.
Ethel Makes an impression.

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Those German infantrymen were a
formidable-looking company to descend
upon peace-loving innkeeper such as
Henri Christophe. 1t was, indeed, no
wonder that he viewed them with APP
prehension, as they stood there at pa
rade rest and stared stolidly into his
startled face. 1t seemed to him that
wherever he looked he met the deter
mined, impersOnal, almost inhuman
blue eyes of one of those businesslike
Germans. And there was something
sinister in the very way they crowded
his hosiery. Henri Christophe could
not help feeling that even so they
would crowd every house in Belgium.
To him they seemed like locusts sent
by a displeased God to swarm over
the land until it should be filed to
overlooking. And always, he
told himself, there would be count
less throngs to fill the slightest ga in
their grim ranks.
While Christophe viewed them with
mingled alarm and amazement, a tele-
phone sergeant joined those gray
ghosts from beyond the Rhine. He
carried gun slung over his back and
field telephone in his hands. Placing
the instrument on one of ChrIstophe's
tables. he proceeded to run a wire
through the doorway to the street
1.-The major is comingr' he an
nounced to his friend the corporal, who
at once commanded his men to present
arms. So they stood. posed like stat
ues. when Major Won Brenig entered.
saluted the flag. and then cast a quick
glance of satisfaction about the room.
Just before him another figure had
slipped inside the door, and returned
the salute of the corporal; and now he
stood impassively looking on, much as
If the proceeding were merely an ev-
eryday occurrence with him. But
however unconcerned he appeared. he
was far from disinterested. However
much he appeared at ease in his uni
form of a German captain, he felt any
thing but at home in it. There was, in
truth, TO uniform that suited Larry
Redmond so well as that Of his own
Irish Guards.
This is goodw Major Won Brenig
told his corporal. And it was evident
that Lieutenant Baum and Sergeant
Schmidt, who had arrived simultane-
ously with him, shared his sentiments
heartily. Can we not spend the
night here?" the major asked.
Then he proceeded to avail him
self of the aids that the foresight of
the general staff had long ago devised
for just such an emergency.
Baum" he said. turning to the lieu
tenant. "have you the papers and the
map from the Wilhelmstrasse?
Lieutenant Baum saluted. and at
once he handed some documents to his
superior officer. who scanned them
quickly.
"'Lion d'Orr" he read aloud
Proprietor, Henri Christopher =.
Bring Henri Christophe," he ordered.
At that the innkeeper himself
stepped forward.
81 am Henri Christophe," he an
nounced in a quavering voice, even as
Sergeant Schmidt was starting to
search for him.
"Oh, you speak Englishw the major
said
Yes, m'sieur Christophe did not
know why he had committed that
breach of policy. But he was too
frightened even to reproach himself for
the inadyertence.
You are the proprietor of this inn?"
the officer demanded.
Yes. m'sieur'
Major Won Brenig barked out an or
der TO his men. And straightway they
closed both the shutters and the great
door that gave upon the street Mean
while the major examined his papers
further.
you have a daughter" he an
nounced at length. Jeanne Marie
Christophe, and a servant Louis?''
Henri Christophe told him that the
facts were so.
Where are theyT' The officer asked
him then.
THE servant fed with the Others"
Christophe replied. my daughter is
in her room, m'sieu'' He turned
toward the door through which little
Jeanne mad sought asylum. But Major
Won Brenig stopped him.
''No, l shall do that" he informed
him. Ard at his bidding Sergeant
Schmidt sprang forward to find the
girl. Her father simply pointed toward
the proper door. And his heart sank as
be realized the fright that would seize
the timid little thing at such a sum