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

CT1HF Z IN NltlS-SOHliHbCGs
A peasant, haIf-mad, has stopped at
she inn to warn it's people that the
enemy Is approaching.
"Hurt?" he cried. Hurt? You
don't know 'em. They came
unto 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 woodland they shot her. They
shot her for that! Civilian assaulting
an officer, they called it. I was
out in the fields. The neighbors came
and told me. And l hurried home to
find her dead-her that hadn't done
nothing-dead! And l leaned
out Of the window-and l shot two Of
@em-and then 1 ran. How 1 ran!
And they didn't get me-and they
won't get me-" The half-crazed peas
ant rushed off then, shouting to right
and left wherever he saw a head stuck
out of a window, or a figure in a door
way, "The Germans are coming! The
Germans are comingw And after
MIN poured the scurrying mob, all cry
ang the same dread warning.
Charlie Brown was getting all the
could nave coveted. He turned a So
Der face to old Christophe.
"This is going to be bad, old manw
ne said.
ats like some hideous nightmare"
Ethel exclaimed.
Eyes, madame-and this is but the
beginning" Christophe informed her
gTavely.
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
ang that oncoming German horde
"If you'll go to your room, I'll come
% you If you want me-if there's any
need" he said.
"Yes-yes! And oh! these poor, poor
people" she cried.
Hadn't you better close the doors?"
Charlie asked the innkeeper.
"Why, msieu, I shall only have to
open them" Christophe replied. 81 am
not afraid, m'sieu."
Il wish l had your nerve" Charlie
told him. GAIL this has certainly got
any goat It's the limit"
Christophe by a quick, sibilant
sound, enjoined caution.
"M'sieu, they are herev he warned
MIN.
He had scarcely spoken when the
hrst of the gray-clad invaders was mo-
mentarily framed in the open window.
lie rode bicycle-that forerunner of
destruction. And a fine, clean-looking
youngster he was, one of the pick of
the kaisers first-line troops. Cool,
alert, businesslike, he pedaled deliber-
ately on as If 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 quick
but comprehensive glance at its inte-
Fior Cumbered with full fighting kit,
as he was, he showed none of the ia.
hgue that had all but overcome Charlie
Brown before he arrived at the Lion
dOr. On the contrary, he looked fiji
as prizefghter, 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
Iessly. He was conscious of a mighty
admiration for those two infnitesimal
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" Chrlstophe an
swered. And then he said, Really
m'sleu, do not speak English. | ask
you to GO 1t may be easier for me
Please, m'sieu, quicklyW
The American reluctantly left the
window he did not want to miss @