The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-09-22

OF nNiHS Wltu ueT. III Ing Her dCfOss
the breakfast table. for instance. put
vague fear into him. Up to the pres
ent time. however, he had always sue
ceeded in Kidding himself Of such mis-
givings.
And who do you think Is going to
win. Mr.. BrownY 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 I'm their midst.
Before Charlie Brown could reply.
the spy Streetman threw himself into
the conversational gap.
"I'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
the interruption. He may have
thought Steetman cad-a lobster,
he would probably have termed him.
But whatever his feelings might have
been. he concealed them admirably.
well, I'll tell you" he said, as ne
turned his back squarely upon Street
man and faced Sir George. "When I
was drinking Munich beer. I was rath-
er pro-German. But now that I'm
switched to tea. I've sort OF swung
over to the allies"
A burst OF laughter, punctuated
with cries OF Bravo greeted the an
swer.
Turning to them oil again, "You
see," he explained. II like the English
AZ individuals. and I like a lot Of
their general ways, too. I admire the
easy-going fashion In which they do
| business. l commend the fact that
they won't talk shop over luncheon.
l like their afternoon tea" He smiled
ut Miss Willoughby as he said that.
81 like the fact that knights and ladies',
clerks and shopgirls take their half
hour off for II. like the way they
respect their own laws--when they de-
eide to- make one they decide at the
same time to keep 1t. But, collectively,
the English irritate me. because they're
so blamed sure they're a little bit SUI
perlor 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 a
year before they realize they have
war-they really are slow, you know
but once they wake up to Ii they'll
raise the deuce, and l 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 seal OF appreciation upon
J Charlie Browns views.
"Please Cod, you're rightw Sir
George Wagstaff cried fcrvently, with
show of emotion that was. for him,
most unusual.
"Please God, he Isl Mrs. Falconer
agreed.
IL do hope so! The Germans are so
aggressivew Ethel Willoushby OBJ
served.
And so rude,' Georgy added. She
could not forget--much less forgive
having been shoudered off a sidewalk
in Berlin by the kaiser's Daughty Off
GERS.
"Ah! But fancy that pride in ones
country is universal trait In every
nation" her more moderate fa ther said.
Exactly! And as Mr.. Brown has
pointed out, we English have Il 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.
"Well, l hope there isn't any war;"
Guy Falconer said fervently. IF there
is, you can bet your boots I'm not
going near II"
Guy" Sir George turned upon him
with incredibly writ large upon his
fine face.
ooh. I mean 1t. Sir George" Guy
insisted shameessly. IF it comes to
war, this will be war Of millions.
IL there are thousand men killed in
battle or only nine hundred and
ninety-nine. what difference does 1t
make except to the thousandth man?
None! But IL | happened to
be he, it'd represent deuce OF a 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
IL 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.
"Of course he So said Georgy. "I
| never saw man who thought as
much Of his own precious hide-so
much more than anyone else thinks Of
itw
eff you're quite in earnest, Guy, I
am positively ashamed Of you" Sir
George Wagstaff told him. AS man