New-York tribune., 1916-07-16

irsni ,.
~" II, had been well-to-do man. Now
~u' al stripped him of everything, he had
Hc srsst wines in his cellar. They had
' ',n all Of them. Only yesterday the
s"~ .rs had drunk his champagne up like
.rd had then stood him off with their
-. will be investigated. If what you
!" ,rue YOU can recover damages"
g Monsieur le Capitaine would only
), 50 srsciOus-
yov it comes to light why the Frenchmsn
w" fr;endly. He wanted TO get promise
va .bs officer. But even at that he is not
I ~,r satisfied with the success of his
III rises from the table and asks for his
- A, first the Frenchman refuses to
y. ..-,s anything. But when the lieutenant
o@. ,.., on paving, the host demands an eX-
"s,s s...., sum. which Prehl scornfully throws
On the table .,
p.fore he leaves the house he hears still
,rbmpering entreaties Will he not see
~, ~ The host gets his rights and is compen-
'..,3 '. for his lost property?
nr.,ber is so unhappy, and there are many
thing: to make him so besides his own
losses
nj tprns around in astonishment. Be-
~. in the narrow entrance hall, stands
..,ikngly pretty girl, piquant brunette.
%. ,,kss her big. white cap from her head
- ,r,iles coouettishly at him. She makes
- cOncealment Of the fact that his appear
sn,e pleases her.
y. attempts TO pass her with curt greet
rg
ave all Germans ofish with women?' she
-. ~Vbv are YOU more afraid of us than
vou are Of our men folk?'
afraid? Ridiculousl But we have now
,s,vs something else TO do than to bother
ourselves about women"
eNo man in our country would be so un-
gallant" -,
But what good is gallantry these days!
believe it is better, while the war iasS' 10
send gallantry TO the devil
eCauantrv. maybe. But how about feel
,rs that are warmer than gallantry?"
prebl is startled. He is accustomed tc
badness of speech. But this adroitness
surprises him as much as does the beautilul
French which she speaks. He takes sharp
:r look at the girl.
She seems TO be scarcely eighteen. Her
dark ewes are very intelligent They CLEAN
q. min, from under long, dark eyelashes'
There is an almost tigerish expression IN
,bsm Under mis- frank gaze they sink a
little and become softer. The full, round
mouth is lustful, already little brutalzed'
rs anmality is emphasized by the heaviness
Of the nose.
VIII he allow himself to become infatu-
sted?
Again he bows as if to take leave, and
again some one stands in the way. This time
i is a German under-officer, who wants 10
make use Of him as an intermediary Inc
intruder's superiors, one of whom had been
chartered at the inn, prefer to pass the night
together in a neighboring house. He has
been instructed to get third hed' ou'
doesn't know how to ask for IT.
As Prehl translates this request scorn1ul
smile fits across the face of the young
Frenchwoman. In a low tone she asks the
lieutenant: "Are all Germans SO cowardly!
Are they all afraid of us, of the old and the
crippled, Of women and children"
They may simply be good comrades, who
wish to sit up over a glass Of wine or to DO
some work together. Later on they will not
want TO disturb anybody"
Would you also hunt around for mems
company if you stayed overnight here?"
Is it only scorn which gives her face so
evil an expression, or is it something else?
The temptress accidentally brushes so close
to Preh that he feels the roundness OF her
arm and the firm contour of her breast The
devil take these women. They know how to
make one uneasy!
At the telephone booth no message has
come yet for Prehl. Why should they leave
him thus inactive? AS a respite? Merely
because he has lain for a couple OF days un-
der fire? As if all did not thirst, as he old'
to come to grips again with the enemy!
At the front things were going we'll Iha'
was plain from the endless trains winch kept
carrying forward food and munitions Fur
thermore, the thunder of the cannonade was
dying away and infantry fire could no longer
be heard. Hour after hour passed. Finally
Preh was called to the telephone station.
They no longer needed his regiment. 1t
was to bivouac in its old position. Mean
while he was to remain in the immediate