Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-11-16

even was stirred out Of the attitude
of apathy that he was wont to assume.
you talk strangely, sir. for an Eng
Hshman," he told Streetman. But his
manifest reproof seemed lost upon
that gentleman.
My nationality does not blind me
to the facts" the spy said hastily.
Il admire the Germans in lots of
ways" Charlie Brown continued, in
what was really only q futile effort to
appear neutral cat all the arts and
sciences they're wonders. And it's a
cinch they've got great military ma
chine"
The most marvellous in the W0rldr'
STeetman agreed with him heartily.
Charlie Brown set his empty teacup
on the table.
you're dead right theren he as
scented. why, back ia New York I
know a waiter at Luechow' s-buIly
German pIace!-who was telling me
one day how Germany had everything
doped out. If war came he'd chase
back to his home tOwn-gO to his ar
moTy. and in his locker, number 256
he'd lind his uniform, his shoes, his
gun properly oiled, some Of that dried
pea soup, fresh water in his canteen,
They've been putting fresh water in
those canteens every day for two
years past. In fact, everything a SOL
der needs would be there waiting for
him. Then he'd march down to the
station and in a couple Of hours he and
hundreds of thousands like him would
be off to the front. Now, you've
got to hand it to a country that's got
it all planned out like that"
''By George, you haver said Guy
Falconer. He had listened, like the
others, with increasing wonder as the
American told his story.
If England were only prepared, too,
along similar lines-''< Ethel Will
lOughby said. She did not finish her
remark. There was no need of that,
for the vain wish that lay behind her
words was only too evident to them
all.
"But she isn't prepared-not the
! lie Brown turned to the member of the
British admiralty as a man who could
easily back up his statement in an au-
| thoritative fashion.
| Sir George Wagstaff v0uchsafed an
'enigmatic smile. He was, to be sure,
vitality interested in everything the
| newspaper man had said But he had
no intention of allowing himself to be
startled into making any ingenious
! admission.
eff YOU don't mind. sir. I should pre-
fer merely TO listen,' he said quietly.
Il get you" Brown replied, with a
quick nod of understanding. Force
of habit makes me ask questions. I
guess I thought I was interviewing
| YOU" And, taking out his cigarette
| case. he asked EtheTs permission to
| smoke. Always an enthusiast he had
thrown every ounce of his nervous en-.
| ergy into the discussion. War was q
subject that, in those days, was ever
| present in his mind.
preparation such as Cermany's il
often the surest guaranty of peace,
Streetman remarked, reluctant tt
quit the topic that most interested him
He hoped, too. in the course of the te5
party. to gather information of some
sort that might prove of value to him
He had been quick to perceive that the
American was uncommonly well in
formed upon conditions Throughout
Europe.
"Ordinarily such preparation make
for peace Brown admitted But no
with Germany! She's been itching 70
a chance to demonstrate her theories
but the trouble is, she guesses wrong
automatically, ever since old Georg
". Bismarck died. she's never beer
right. And just now she's guessing
she can lick France, Russia and Eng
land with the rest Of the world thrown
! in"
And perhaps she's right" Henri!
Streetman could not refrain from add