Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-06
CHAPTER VIH-tContinued)

CHAPTER NIII-(COntinued)
ITTOMEN seldom err when they sum up
w the characteristics of the men Of a race,
and the women Of every other civilized nation
were united in their dislike Of German
men long before the first week in August
1914. Irene Beresrord had yer to peer
into the foulest depths Of Teutonic "degra-
dation"; but SHE had sensed IT as a latent
menace, and found in its stark records
only the fulhument Of her vague fears.
DaIrov read into her words much that
she had left unsaid. AT best it's terrible
necessity" he replied "at worst IT'S what
we have seen and heard Of during the last
twenty-four hours. / shall never under
stand why people which pridcd itself on
being above all else intellectual should
imagine that atrocity is means toward
conquest such theory is so untrue his
torically that Germany might have learnt
it's folly"
Joos grew uneasy when his English
friends spoke in their own language The
suspicious temperament of the peasant IL
always doubtful OF things outside its COM
prehension. lie would have been astounded
il told they were discussing the ethics Of
warfare.
well. have you two settled where we're
TO go?" he demanded gruffly In my opin-
ion the Meuse is the best place for the lot
of us"
In with you, then" agreed Dalroy but
hand over your money to madame before
YOU take the dip. LeOntine and Jan may
need il later to start the mill running"
Maertz laughed. Tho joke appealed
strongly.
Madame Joos turned on her husband.
"How YOU do chatter, Henrl" she said. We
all owe our lives TO this gentleman, yet
YOU aren't satisfied. The Meuse, indeed
What will you be saying neNt2'
How far is Argenteau?' put in Dalroy.
That's it, where the house is on fire.
said the miller pointing,
About a kilometer, | take IT.
Something like that
Have you friends there?"
"Ay. scores, II they're alive"
Il hear no shooting In that direction.
Moreover, an army corps Is passing through
Let us go there. Something may turn up.
We shall be safer Cmong thousands of Ger
mans than here"
They walked on. The Englishmans air
of decision was a tonic in itself.
The fire on the promontory was now at
it's height but a curve in the river hid the
fugitives from possible observation. Dalroy
was confident as to two favorable factors
the men of the marching column would
not search far along the way they had
come, and their commander would recall
them when the wood yielded no trace or
it's supposed occupants.
There had been fighting along the right
bank Of the Meuse during the previous day
German helmets red and yellow Belgian
cans. portions Of accoutrements and broken
weapons Uttered the towpath. But no bodies
were in evidence The river had claimed
the dead and the wounded Belgans, the
enemy's wounded had been transferred to
AiX-la- -Chapelle.
Nearing Argenteau they heard a feeble
cry They stopped and listened. Again it
came. clearly this time ELSA Elsa !"
It was a mans voice and the name was
that of a German woman, Maertz searched
in a thicket and found a young German Of
ficer lying there. He was delirious, calling
for the help Of one powerless 10 aid.
He seemed TO become aware of the pres
ence of some human being, Perhaps his
atrophied senses retained enough vitality to
hear the passing footsteps
Elisa =" he moanod again, give me
water, for Gods sake 20
He's done for" reported Maertz TO the
waiting group. Hes covered with blood"
For all that he may prove our saliva
ton" said Dalroy quickly. SHARP, now
pitch our firearms and ammunition into the
river We must lift a gate Off its hinges
and carry that fellow into Argenteau."
Joos grinned. He saw the astuteness OF
the scheme A number Of Belgian peasants
bringing a wounded officer TO the ambulance
would probably be allowed TO proceed scot
free But he was loath 10 part with the
precious fork on which the blood OF that
fat Busch" was congealing. He thrust II
into a ditch. and II ever he was able TO re-
trieve Il no more valued souvenir Of the
great war viii adorn his dwelling They
possessed neither wine nor water but a
| tiny rivlllet flowing into the Meuse under
> nsighboring bridge supplied the latter and