The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-11-24
CHAPTER xIII.-contlnued.

CHAPTER xIll.-ccntlnued.
A peasant, half-mad, has stopped at
the Inn to warn It's people that the
enemy 10 approaching.
"Hurt?" he cried. Hurt? You
into my house and, nasty as you
please, wanted food. My old woman
started to argue with 'em. She wasn't
scared then, and one Of 'em took hold
OF her by the arm. Maybe he didn't
mean anything; but she didn't under
stand, and she threw a dipper Of cold
water in his face like any decent wom-
an would they shot her. They
shot her for that! Civilian assaulting
an officer, they called it. =. was
out in the fields. The neighbors came
and told me. And I hurried home to
ind her dead-her that hadn't done
nothing-dead! /. And l leaned
out Of the window-and l shot two Of
'em-and then ran. How ran!
And they didn't get me- and they
won't get mel" The half-crazed peas
ant rushed of then, shouting to right
and left, wherever he saw head stuck
out of window, or figure In door
way, 1.-THE Germans are coming! The
Germans are comingv' And after
him poured the scurrying mob, all cry
Ing the same dread warning.
Charlie Brown was getting all the
color the most ambitious reporter
could have coveted. He turned a So
Der face to old Christophe.
'aThis is going to be bad, old mang'
he said.
"It's like some hideous nightmare"
Ethel exclaimed.
eyes. madame-and this is but the
beginning" Christophe informed her
gravely.
Charlie Brown remembered then
that Madame de Lorde, as she wished
to be known, still fingered there. And
he did not like the thought of her fac
ing that oncoming German horde.
IF you'll go to your room, I'll come
to you if you want me-if there's any
need" he said.
y
people," she cried.
Hadn't you better close the doors"
Charlie asked the innkeeper.
why, m'sieu, shall only have to
open Them" Christophe replied. II am
not afraid. m'sieu."
II wish l had your nerve" Charlie
told him. "All this has certainly got
my goat. It's the limit"
Christophe, by a quick, sibilant
sound, enjoined caution.
"M'sieu. they are here! he warned
him.
He had scarcely spoken when the
first of the gray-clad invaders was mo-
mentarily framed in the open window.
He rode bicycle-that forerunner Of
destruction. And fine, clean-looking
youngster he was, one OF the pick Of
the kaiser's first-line troops. Cool.
alert, businesslike, he pedaled deIiber-
ately on as IL unconscious OF the black
looks that met his coming. And as he
passed the inn he turned his sunburned
face SO that he might seize a quick
but comprehensive glance at its inte-
rior. Cumbered with full fighting kit,
as he was, he showed none of the ia
dgue that had all but overcome Charlie
Brown before he arrived at the Lion
dor. On the contrary, he looked At
as q prizehghter, trained to the min
ute. And behind him rode another as
like him as second pea out Of the
same pod.
Charlie Brown gazed at them breath
lessly. He was conscious of mighty
admiration for those two infinitesimal
cogs in the great German military ma
chine. And he said to Christophe in
an awed whisper:
Gosh! They're not afraid. are they
ANYONE might pot them from a win
dow" The thing might happen any
moment
Perhaps they are not afraid because
they know If they are killed they will
be well avenged" Christophe an
swered. And then he said, Really.
m'sieu, do not speak English. ask
you to go. 1t may be easier for me.
Please. m'sieu. quicklvr'
The American reluctantly left tha
win'ow ne did not want TO miss q