The Southern herald., 1916-11-17

were inexnicably interviewer. To and
Iro they swayed upon the parapet of
the German trench.
Professor DubOnnet, wholly forgetful
OF the signs of battle, worked busilv
at his problem. He had new solu.
uoh which had never occurred TO him
De1ore. If it was tangental to fixed
point on parabola, would not Epper-
mans formula solve the whole diff
Guilty?
Herr Muller, formerly professor at
Jena, had brilliant inspiration. The
relation of the radii must vary in in
verse relationship to the segment in
tersected by tne no, there he
mad got off the track. He bent frown-
ing, to his work. The body Of a dead
soldier dropped with thud into the
trench beside him. He shook his head
impatiently.
"A little less noise, please, gentle
men" he muttered. "Do not slam the
door when you go out, even if you dis
approve Of my exposition"
He had stood up as If in the class
room, and was now declaiming Violent
ly, the piece Of board in his hand. The
struggle had moved away from him.
and by luck none Of the flying bullets
came his way.
81 have itw shrieked Professor Du-
bonnet. "Epperman's formula has
solved the problem" He sprang to
his feet. "This means the opening Of
new era in mathematics he cried.
What wouldn't give to see that ass
Muller now, who thinks he has the
solutlon!"
At that moment, to his amazement,
he saw Muller's face across the inter-
vening space. He raised his fist and
shook 1t angrily. The movement
caught Muller's eye.
Gentlemen, please be less violent in
your disapproval," he said. II cannot
hope to carry conviction at the first
attempt. Copernicus, as you are
aware"
He paused and looked about him.
''But where am I?' he inquired,
"There seems to be some disturb
ance-"
At that instant he saw Dubonnet
running at full speed across the inter-
vening ground. Meanwhile the Ger
mans, repulsed from their trench, had
withdrawn, and the French were fol-
lowing them, firing and hurllng bombs.
ut is you, ScOundrelw screamed
Professor Muller, shaking his fist at
his enemy. "IS 1t not enough that you
should oppose the march of mathe-
matics, but you must also create a
disturbance in my classroom"
With a yell Dubonnet leaped into
the trench. "It's Epperman's formula" +"
he shouted. II tell you Eppermans
does it."
Nonsense. You can't solve it by a
formula" said Muller. "DOn't you see
it depends upon the relationship Of
ugh p
He rolled over, still clutching the
board as a spent bullet struck him in
the ribs.
At the same instant both men real
lied what had occurred. They were
in the midst of a battle. Dubonnet
leaned over the German.
"Muller! You must not die!" he
shouted. "Tell me your solution. Tell
me. Where are the police? The doc
tors?"
In an agony Of terror lest death
should rob him of his triumph he
raised Muller in his arms and began
to puff his way back toward the lines.
Once, when the weight became too
heavy, he stopped.
"Will you tell me your solution, or
shall I throw bayOnet-I mean a
bomb-at you" he demanded.
"No, no. I tell you," Muller
grunted.
ITO you, DubOnnet, for having saved
the life Of an enemy at the great risk
of your own, is awarded the Medal Of
Honor" said the commander in chief.
He kissed him on both cheeks and
pinned the ribbon upon his breast.
The medal was a circle, and the
loops of ribbon formed an isohedrous
triangle. DubOnnet stared at 1t.
"I knew the government would rec.
Ognize my work some day." he NUT
tered. Then, with supreme generosi-
ty, "With your permission, I shall be.
stow this upon Professor Muller"
The Devil BabV