Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-10
ACHARMING ICVESIDM
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INSIDE IT
ByEAMDmBGGB -y Observation-Disclosures
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Copyright, The Bobbs. Merrill Cos
CHAPTER VII.
The Hotel SnIendide.
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Copyright, The Bobbs- Merrill Coz
CHAPTER VII.
The Hotel Splendide. 3
The sergeant turned and gave di.
lrections to the guard. They tramped
swinging door by the side
Of the desk while the Shermans, par.
ents and daughter alike, looked on,
with round eyes. In less than a min
ute, the lei in khaki returned, es-
corting q quaking mar in white jack
ct. The barger, greatly f1ustered, pro-
tested in English strongly reminiscent
Of his ~fatherland.
"Orders to take you, Fritz" the
sergeant explained not unkindly.
But hat done nothing" the bar
Der cried. For ten years l hat shaw
ed you You know I am a harmless
old German" The sergeant shrugged.
IT fancy they think you are work
Ing for the Wilhelmstrasse, Fritz, and
they van to have you where they can
Keep their eyes on you. Sorry, you
know"
The free-born instincts of Henry J.
sherman would not be downed longer.
He had witnessed the little tragedy OF
the German barber with growing ire,
now he stepped up to the SER
geant truculently.
Seems to me you're not giving
to know what I think" he clustered.
Now, In my country" The SER
geant turned on him sharply.
Who are you-and what are you
doing In Gib?" he snapped. A moan
from Mrs. Sherman, who threw her.
self In her daughters arms.
Kitty, your fathers gone and got
himself arrested again!"
Who am L?" Sherman echoed with
dignity. my name, young fellow, ie
Henry ]. Sherman, and I live in Ke-
vance. 1llynoy. I'm an American
citizen, and you can't" h.
Your passports-quick!" The SER
geant held out his hand imperiously.
oh, that's all right, young fellow;
I've got 'em, all right" Kewanee's
leading light began to tumble In the
spacious breast pocket Of his long
tailed coat, AS he CROPPED through a
packet of papers and letters, he kept
up 9 running fire of comment and ex-
position: 's
Had 'em this afternoon, all right.
Here; no, that's my letter of credit.
It would buy Main Street at home,
but ! can't get a ham sandwich on 1t
here. This is-no; that's my only
sons little girl, Emmaline, taken the
day she was four years old, Fancy
little girl. Ell? Now, that's funny I
can't-here's that list Of geegaws I
was to buy for my partner in the En-
pire Mills. -four and buckwheat.
Guess he'll have to whistle for 'em.
Now don't get impatient, young fell
low. This-Land's sakes, mother,
that letter you gave me to mail. in
Algy-kiras- All, here you are, all
proper and scientific enough as pass
ports go, ] guess"
The sergeant whisked the heavily
creased document from sherman's
hand, scanned it hastily, and gave 1T
back. without aSSword: The outraged
American tucked up his chin and gave
the sergeant glare for glare.
IF you ever come to Kewanee,
young fellow" he snorted, "Iil be
happy to show you our new pail,
Close in! March, commanded
the sergeant. The guard surrounded
the hapless barber and wheeled
through the door, their guns hedging
his white packet about inexorably.
sherman's hands spread his coat tails
wide apart, and he rocked back and
forth on heels and toes, his eyes smol-
.dering.
Come on, father"-Kitty had slip
ped her hand through her dads arm,
and was imparting direct strategy in
a low voice-"we'Il take mother down
the street to look at the shops and
make her forget our troubles. They've
got some wonderful Moroccan bazaars
in town; Baedeker says So"
+ Shops, did you say?" Mrs. Sher-
mar perked up at once, forgetting her
grief under the superior lure.
yes. mother. Come on, let's go
down and look ,em over" Sherman's
good humor was quite restored. He
pinched Kitty's arm In compliment
for her. guile. Maybe they'll let us
look at their stuff without charging
anything; but we couldn't buy a post
age stamp, remember"
They sailed out into the crowded
street and lost themselves amid the
scourings of Africa and south Europe.
Almer was alone in the office.
The proprietor fdgeted. He walk
ed to the door and looked down the
street in the direction Of the quays.
pulled his watch from his pocket
and compared 1t with the blue face
of the Dutch clock on the wall. His
pudgy hands clasped and unc1asped
themselves behind his back nervously.
An Arab hotel porter and runner at
the docks came swinging through the
front door with a small steamer trunk
on his shoulders. and Almer started
forward expectantfy. Behind the por-
ter came a tall well-knit man, dress
ed in quiet travelling suit--the Captain
Woodhouse who had sailed from
Alexandria as a passenger aboard the
Princess Mary"
He paused for an instant as his eyes
met those of the proprietor. Almer
bowed and fastened behind the desk.
Woodhouse stepped up to the register
and scanned 1t casually.
IA room, sir?" 1Almer held out a
pen invitingly.
"For the night, yes" Woodhouse
answered shortly, and he signed the
register. Almer's ewes followed the
strokes Of the pen eagerly
aAh, from Egypt, CAPTAIN? You
|then?"
From Alexandria. yes. Show me
room. please, Beastly tired
The Arab porter darted forward,
and Woodhouse was turning to follow
him when he nearly collided with a
man just entering the street door. II
was Mr.. Billy Capper.
Both recoiled as their eyes met.
Just the faintest Kicker OF surprise,
muscles of the captains jaws. He
murmured q beg pardon and start
sd to pass. Capper deliberately. set
himself in the Others path and, with
a wry smile, held his hand,
Captain Woodhouse, believe"
Capper put a tang OF sarcasm. corrod-
Ing az acid, into the words. He was
still smiling. The other man drew
back and eyed him colby.
II do not know you. Some mis-
take" Woodhouse said.
Almer was moving around from be-
hind the desk with the soft tread OF
q cat, his eyes fixed on the hard bitten
face of Capper.
.Hah! Don't recognize the second