The midland journal., 1916-10-13

Of living with her. facing her across
the breakfast table, for instance, put
vague fear into him. Up to the pres
ent time, however he had always sue
ceeded In ridding himself of such mis-
givings.
"And who do you think is going to
win, Mr.. Brown" Sir George put the
question abruptly. He, as well as
Streetman, perceived that their some
what bizarre guest from the other side
of the Atlantic had gathered unto him
self surprising fund of information
during his short stay in their midst
Before Charlie Brown could reply,
the spy Streetman threw himself into
the conversational gap.
'T'm sure from what Mr.. Brown has
said he agrees with me that the Ger
mans have the best chance" he inter-
posed.
Mr.. Brown himself merely smiled at
thought Streetman cad-a lobster,
he would probably have termed him.
But whatever his feelings might have
been, he concealed them admirably.
swell, I'll tell you" he said, as he
turned his back squarely upon Street
man and faced Sir George. "When I
was drinking Munich beer, was rath-
er pro-German. But now that I'm
switched to tea, I've sort of swung
over to the allies"
A hurst of laughter, punctuated
with cries of "Bravow greeted the an
gwer.
Turning to them all again, you
see,'' he explained, II like the English
as individuals, and like a lot Of
their general ways, too. admire the
easy-going fashion in which they do
| business. I commend the fact that
| they won't talk shop over a luncheon.
like their afternoon tea" He smiled
at Miss Willoughby as he said that
II like the fact that knights and ladies,
clerks and shopgirls take their half
hour of for It. like the way they
respect their own laws-when they de-
eide to make one they decide at the
same time to keep It. But, collectively,
1 the English irritate me, because they're
so blamed sure they're little bit su-
perior to all the rest of the world.
That's annoying, personally, but can
/ and do admire 1t as great racial
| quality that's made 'em win out a
| thousand times. If England goes to
| war, it'll take the English about q
year before they realize they have a
war-they really are slow, you know
but once they wake up to it they'll
raise the deuce, and think they'll
win"
Sage holdings Of various heads and
the exchange Of approving glances on
the part of the members of the little
party-or Of all but Henry Streetman
set a seal Of appreciation upon
Charlie Browns views.
"Please God, you're right" Sir
George Wagstaff cried fervently, with
a show of emotion that was, for him,
most unusual.
"Please God, he isv' Mrs. Falconer
agreed.
81 do hope so! The Germans are so
aggressivew Ethel Willoughby OBJ
served.
And so rudew Georgy added. She
could not forget-much less forgive
having been shouldered off a sidewalk
in Berlin by the kaiser's naughty Off
! GERS
"Ah! But fancy that pride in ones
country Is a universal trait in every
nation" her more moderate father said.
Exactly! And as Mr.. Brown has
pointed out, we English have tenden-
cy to be somewhat superior Also" AS
he spoke, Streetman rose. He was be-
coming restless under the CALLING Of
that one-sided discussion of the merits
Of the nations.
"Welb hope there isn't any warv'
Guy Falconer said fervently. "If there
is, you can bet your boots Pm not
| going near It."
"Guyw Sir George turned upon him
with incredulity writ large upon his
fine face.
"Oh, I mean it, Sir George" Guy
insisted shamelessly. "If 1t comes to
war, this will be war Of millions.
If there are a thousand men killed in
| q OuLllC Ok OAAJ A1AC uuuuLCQ dAu
ninety-nine, what difference does it
make except to the thousandth man?
/. None! But il l happened to
be he, it'd represent deuce of lot
to me, and, with my luck, I'd be the
first man shot anyhow. No.
sir! Military service Is not compul-
sorry in England, thank heaven! And
If there is war, I'm going to sit
home at my club and discuss very
harshly the mistakes of the war Office :"
Guys mother regarded him with no
less amazement than did Sir George
"My son-you're not serious?" she
exclaimed, scarcely believing what she
heard.
"0f course he is!' said Georgy. "I
never saw a man who thought as
much of his own precious hide-so
much more than anyone else thinks Of
itr'
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