Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-09-09
CHAPTER XII.
Lost--A Wari

Lost-A Warl
A tranger-unmistakab American
-pedaled a decrepit bicycle up to the
very threshold of the Lion d Or before
he threw a leg YEARLY over the rear
wheel and stood there, leaning heavily
upon the handle bars and saddle 1t
was Charlie Brown. though his best
friend might not have recognized him
without some difficulty. He was both
dirty and disheveled and hot and tired
as well. Dust lay thick upon his
shoes. And now he gazed mournfully
| into the inn. somewhat as a thirst
parched wanderer in desert might
have looked upon an oasis, with its
promise of shade and cooling water.
Henri Christophe did not see him at
first, for his broad back was toward
the street. But he sprang up quickly
as Mr.. Brown called to him in very
bad French
"Musseer lie proprietor"
1t was like music in the innkeeper's
ears.
"A customer, and an Americanl" he
exclaimed under his breath. "Oui,
monsieur" he responded delightedly
81 am very tired" Charlie explained
though he scarcely needed to dilate
upon that obvious fact. II desire
chamber with-a bed, Immediately"
"Oui, monsieur have very good
room, on the mezzanine floor-excel-
lent for monsieur! Ten francs
a day.
TEMP" said Charlie Cheap enoughl
Go to itr'
And while little Jeanne went to pre-
pare the room for him, he threw him
self into a chair and cast a paper par
cel-his sole baggage-upon the table
in front of him. Beyond few fresh
collars its contents were negligible
II want to 90 to my room now"
Charlie Informed his host I'm dead
to the world" Unconsciously he had
lapsed into his own vernacular And
then he realized that a Belgian inn
keeper in country town could by no
manner or means comprehend him
"Oh. how the devil do you say 4 want
to go to my room in French?' he
groaned.
"But I speak English, sir" the inn
keeper interposed. He had n decided
accent, it was true But to Charlie
Browns ears the words we're as CRATE
full as the sound Of a ripping brook
upon a hot summers day.
"You do? Why didn't you say so?"
be demanded.
Pardon me, sirw the polite inn
keeper begged him. But so many
Americans like TO exhibit their knowl-
edge Of French that / have found it
wisest never to speak English to an
American until I am asked"
"Say-how did you know l was an
Americana" Charlie asked him with
sudden suspicion. He would have liked
to know just what it was about his ap-
pearance that seemed to stamp him as
a Yankee, no matter where he went.
oh | could tell at once.
The voice. the manner. On I
cannot explain. It is a some
thing" Christophe CROPPED, IAN air
one can never mistake it,"
Mr. Brown erinned Mt him
Right there with that French 'gafT
aren't youf" he said
Henri Christophe smiled.
All, m'sieu, | understand" he ex-
claimed, nodding his head sagely But
you do me an injustice / do not fat
ter. speak the truth"
All at once the American remem-
bered that he was newspaper man
well then, have you seen anything
OF a war around here:" he asked
NO, sir.
Neither have T." Charlie volun-
teered. And I've been looking for il
for a week"
ooh. there viii be no war here
Christophe assured him IT is always
Ike ths-just our peaceful little vii
lage. We harvest our crops; We brew
some beer; we make a little wine
good wine Monsieur shall sample #
apd See" be added parentheticaiiv
we 20 to church on Sunday, We 1--WE
and de IN the quiet sunshine
There will be no war here"
Charlie B=own did not ike 70 breaE
rudeIy in upon the good mans p'ae.l
dream But AT the same time b. sarF
no reason for descending # rrouth'
were co-ainc-as he hal.cTet -ha caa
silered Il IS we'll thaJ ths inakeeper