Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-10-13

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the inadvertence.
"You are the proprietor Of this inn?"
the officer demanded.
"Yes, m'sieup'
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 they?" 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 had sought asylum. But Major
Won Brenig stopped him.
mo, l shall do that" he informed
him. And at his bidding Sergeant
Schmidt sprang forward to find the
girl. Her father simply pointed toward
the proper door, And his heart sank as
he realized the fright that would seize
the timid little thing at such a sum-
mons. But he had not long to ponder
upon that; for Major Won Brenig
straightway resumed his catechism.
"You have six rooms" he continued.
1.-TWO of these will be occupied by my
self and officers for the night. You
will have them prepared at once, two
beds each. The other four rooms will
be shared by the infantry who will be
stationed here. For them you will
need make no preparations"
Henri Chrlstophe bowed obediently
"You have ground here-enough to
Craze two hundred horses" the mat
ter-of-fact major proceeded. "You
have three COWS. two horses, hay
stack, plenty Of chickens and pigs. Is
that not right?"
Eyes, m'sieu, quite right" the inn,
keeper replied. He was staggered
stupeGed, by that amazing and accu.
rate inventory.
GAIL these we shall take; but we
shall of course pay for them" the Off
Ger told him.
And then Sergeant Schmidt returned
with little Jeanne covering beside his
bulky figure. At the sight of her IA
Their she rushed across the room and
chung to him, piteous spectacle.
"Ah, mon pere, l am afraid an
afraid" she stammered.
He patted her gently.
There, there, Jeanne-they will MOI
hurt YOU" Henri Christophe said.
Major Won Brenig looked with some
slight perturbation upon the sight OF
the frightened girl shrinking agains
her natural protector, as if he still hat
power to shield her from all evil.
"No, my pretty little one, we are no
devils" he said. eve will not harm
you. l am a father myself"
"There-what did I tell you!" ex
claimed the relieved Henri
"You are quite safe, my child" the
major added-"so long as you obey"
Already the summer air vibratet
with the far-off boom of heavy guns
And now a bugle in the street outside
blared an order to the troops that were
filing past the Lion dor.
"Oh, papa" the little creature cried
But Henri Christophe knew that til,
situation must be faced.
"Now, Jeanne, will you prepare thu
rooms in four and six-two beds II
each? In the others these gentlemen
will sleep" He bent over her in ordel
to emphasize his words.
"But we have guests already" sh,
reminded him.
Her father turned a rueful face upo1
the major.
"Ah, m'sieu, had forgotten. W,
have two lodgers," he explained.
"Who are they?"
zone is an American gentleman
m'sieu; and the other Frenchwoman.
"Well, put them out of their rooms
We must occupy them"
"You hear, Jeanne?" Christophe said
"Oui, mon pere."
''Then hurry, my child" he urge
her.
Major Won Brenig gave her one las
order
"And tell those two-those guests
they shall report here to me at once.
! "Oui, m'sieu." Jeanne Christoph
} hurried away then.
"And now, m'sieu, I 90 to prepar
your dinner" her father told the officer
Just moment! You have here n
firearms of any description"
None, m'sieu"
You lave no telephone"
, "None, m'sieu"
Major Won Brenig wheeled abou
| then, and waved his hand at som
large placards which his men had al
ready fastened to the walls of tn
room.
"Now, my friend, you see those proc
lamationsY he inquired.
''Yes, m'sieu."
at is well that you heed them," tn
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