The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-11-03

around sharply; ana he saw that they
were no longer alone, II was the inn
keeper, Henri ChrIstophc, who had
come back 10 serve his lelsurey pat
ron.
"Ah. gentlemen! Something 20
drink" Chrlstophe asked them. rub
bling his hands m anticipation Of the
feel Of GOOD coin IN them,
NO, thank you! My friend Is leav-
Ing now" the Frenchmnn said.
"But | will be back soon" Larry
promised And with that Henri Chris
'ophe had 10 bc content
Again the lrdemtlgablc newspaper
reader returned 10 his fnvorite pas
time. while Henri Christophe regarded
him with mild pcnsiveneSs. The fell
low had loafpd much I'm his inn during
the past two days; but he had been al
together too ahstcmious 20 suit the pro-
prIptor's notions Of what was due him
from guest And then nll ut once old
Icnrl's face turned happy once more,
at the sight Of Il quaint little creature
who tripped into the room and called
TO bin;
"Ah. father, You are home again.
What news of the war;"
"NothIng, ma petite" he said.
Nothing. DO not he alarmed"
"Rut an say the Germans are com
Ing through Belgium" she told him
paintivCly.
Hos ,..,t,,., rI, so.,,n1 O., ovoenoro "a
him. What with poor business, aud
the worry Of the laSt few days-for
Henri Christophe did not entirely share
the compaccncy of his more placid
patrons REGARDING rumOrs that were In
the air-what with those things to
trouble him his patience had become
Nnespm. The good God knew that he
did not desire war 20 sweep over his
fatherland. lie hoped pasSionately that
il might escape TINT calamity. And
droadinC it rs he dil he took occasion.
whenever the possibility was men
toned. to denomce the contingency
as being beyond reason. Somehow he
derived comfort simply from asserting
his disbelief in such thing.
"AIl say IT. he repeated after her
with an irritation which was strange
IN him. $50 always il is with you
women-you eXaggerate every rumor"
he cried. Il tell you-your father-we
are a neutral country. All the big ma
tlons they have promised us that our
land Is safe from invasion. II is near
~ a hundred years since they gave Us
their word and always they have kept
IT,"
But still an frightened" his
daughter reailirmcd. She was, in truth
timid little thing-iust the sort to
be thrown into n twitter of excitement
over mOusc-Or war II mattcrcd
not what one might tell her to calm
her. She would Still he alarmed. And
now Jeanne looked up at her father
with such fear IN her great dark eyes
rhat he forgot his anger in his attempt
80 SoOthe her
But why?" he asked her more
gently. "They did not come through
our conntry in 1870 in the Franco
Prussian war. Why should they now?
The Germans make much money from
us and we from them. They are our
friends. No. ma petite. thanks
to God we need fear nothing"
Il hope, father you may be right"
she said. albeit somewhat doubtful
still.
You shall see! You shall seer' he
reassured her. He made his way TO the
cigar counter and busted himself set
ting things to rights there what
worries me far more than the Ger
mans. my little one" he went on.
what worries me is that we have so
few Americans automobiling this sum
mer. Always in August there are
many; and they pay we'll"
perhaps 1t Is the Germans who
keep them away" she ventured unhap
PLY.
"Will you ceasc?" he cried angrily,
always you talk Of the Germans.
Soon you will have me nervous like
you" he complained, as if he were not
already that.
II am sorry mon pere." she said in
filial repentance.
There, therew he exclaimed. as II
ashamed that he had chided her. 81
did not mean to be cross. Come! For
get your fears and pray to your saints |
that business will be better, To think |
that in August we have only that one |
lady lodger"
At his remark the French spy |
glanced up quickly from his newspa
per. He had not known that there was
a lady staying in the house. And he
wondered whether she might not prove
TO be the pevson for whom he was on
the lookout.
"And what de you suppose she Is do
ing here in Couryosier?" little Jeanne
asked her father. It was not quite the
usual thing for a fOreign-or any other
lady to stay in an inn without an es
cort
THAT do not know-nor do care,
ma petite" Henri Christophe said.
"She Is not French as she says. One
may ten from her accent" the girl re-
marked. 1t was patent that her wOm-
ans curiosity had been aroused by
their feminine guest
But she pays, my little one-and
she minds her own business" her ia
her responded. Let us do likewise.
Wipe off the table yonder!" he
directed Jeanne, as If he would give
Ter something to think of that would
AXE her mind off such idle thoughts.
Little Jeanne took the CLOTH from a
nearby hook and proceeded to polish
he table top at which the two peas
lrts had lately sat. And while she
vas thus engaged their foo frugaI