The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1916-09-27
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
Lose-A War;
A stranger-unmistakably American
-pedaled decrepit bicycle up to the
very threshold Of the Lion dor before
he threw a leg wearily over the rear
wheel and stood there, leaning heavily
upon the handle bars and saddle. It
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 we'll. Dust lay thick upon his
shoes. And now he gazed mournfully
into the inn, somewhat as a thirst
parched wanderer in a desert might
have looked upon an oasis, with it's
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
"Nusseer le proprietor!'
It was like music in the innkeeper's
ears.
"A customer, and an Americana he
exclaimed under his breath. "Oui,
monsieur!" he responded delightedly.
II am very tired" Charlie explained
though he scarcely needed to dilate
upon that obvious fact. II desire
chamber with-a bed, Immediately"
"Oui, monsieur-I have a very good
room, on the mezzanine floor-excel-
lent for monsieur! Ten francs
a day!'
"Ten?" said Charlie. "Cheap enough!
Go to it!'
And while little Jeanne went to pre-
pare the room for him, he threw him
self into chair and cast a paper par
cel-his sole baggage the table
in front Of him. Beyond a few fresh
collars its contents were negligible.
II want to go 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 Belgian inn
keeper in country town could by no
manner or means comprehend him.
"Oh, how the devil do you say Il want
to 60 to my room in French?" he
groaned.
"But speak English, SIR" the Inn
| keeper interposed. he had decided
| accent, It was true. But to Charlie
Browns ears the words were as CRATE
full as the sound Of ripping brook
upon hot summers day.
"You do? Why didn't you say so?"
| he demanded.
"Pardon me, STRIP the polite Inn
keeper begged him. "But SO many
Americans like to exhibit their knowl-
edge Of French that I have found it
wisest never to speak English to an
American until am asked"
"Say-how did you know 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
Yankee, no matter where he went.
"Oh! could tell at once. :.
The voice, the manner. Oh! 1
| cannot explain. It is a some
thing" Christophe groped, IAN air
one can never mistake it,
Mr.. Brown grinned at him.
Fright there with that French 'gaff,'
aren't you?" he said.
Henri Christophe smiled.
"Ah, m'sieu, I 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 war around here?" he asked.
mo, sirr'
"Neither have IT, Charlie volun-
teered. "And I've been looking for it
for a week."
"Oh, there will be no war here"
Chrtstophe assured him. 1T is always
like this-jGst our peaceful little VIII
lage! We harvest our crops; we brew
some beer; we make a little wine
good wine. Monsieur shall sample 1t
and see,"' he added parenthetically.
We 60 to church on Sunday. we live
and die in the quiet sunshine. {.
| There will be no war here"
Charlie Blown did not like to break
rudely in upon the good mans placid
! dream. But at the same time he saw
no reason for assembling. II trouble
We're comlng-as he believed-he con-
sidered 1t as well that ~ innkeeper