The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-09-08

Since you're a newspaper man you
must know everything" said GeOrgy
Wagstaff. She quite fancied the
stranger; and she wanted to know
him better.
"Well, at least try to convince my
editor Of that" he replied.
Then tell US about the war! We're
very ignorant. We only read the head
lines" she said. Father won't talk.
It'd be- breach of-somethlng or
other"
do tell us your opinion, Mr.. Brown!"
Ethel urged. "We're all SO very In
terested."
II suppose l can talk where Sir
George can't-and / do love to talk"
Brown admitted. No one knew his
pet failing any better than himself.
'Sllent Charlie-that's what they
call himw Guy informed the others de-
lightedly.
"You don't mind, Sir George?" The
American turned inquiringly to Sir
George Wagstaff.
Naturally notv' the older man as
sented good-naturedly "As you said,
this is only private tea party"
"Then please do" Georgy insisted.
"If you don't, Guy willw She dearly
loved to rag her devoted admirer.
"Awayw Brown detained in mock
satisfaction atebelng able to scatter
his opinions broadcast. swell, 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
sla, know, is mobilizing; and SO is
Germany"
But can Russia, with her internal
conditions, afford to fightT Streetman
asked him.
81 don't know whether she can az
ford to or not" Charlie Brown said.
"But l believe she is going to-"
IL take 1t you are not particularly
informed on Russia" Streetman re-
torted, somewhat acldly.
"Oh, yes am" the undaunted Yam
kee replied. Il 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 going
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 a bore. What saved him was
the fact that he always said something
well worth listening to.
Guy Falconer did not allow the con-
versation to interrupt his ministry to
the inner man. He stepped up to Eth
els table and took sandwich Off a
plate. But before he RECALLED himself
with 1t he paused long enough to say:
you know, l think Charles right"
go on, Mr.. Brown" Georgy said.
impatient at the interruption.
Don't you think Germany can de-
feat both France and Russian" Street
man demanded.
"Maybe-maybe!' Charlie Brown
said. but with England on their
side"
streetman did not wait for him to
finish.
England, with a 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.
"Clvil war; he exclaimed. "Why, |
IL England has 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.
sand you think Germany is quite
prepared to face those odds?" Ethel
Willoughby asked the American.
"Not Intentionally" he replied. "The.
Germans have got everything down so
pat In theory that nothing can stop
them; but God help 'em IL 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
bis sentiments.
Meanwhile Henry Streetman 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. hut Ger
many is the only nation in the world
that is ready-absolutely ready. She
IS the only nation that can risk a war
with any chance Of victory"
His companions looked at him in as
And Sir George Wagstaff
even was stirred out Of the attitude
Il apathy that be was wont 10 assume. !