The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-11-17

GtAci WihouShpy Oustrfcu. oH IL rs
more than interested in Guys } Int
friend. His sort was new to her And
though his breeziness might not have
been considered quite good forInfn an
EngIishman, it was a quality which
the British find both refreshing and
entertaining in an American.
st is interesting" Charlie Brown
told her. But you sound as If YOU
were going to interview me; and for
the love of Mike-don'tp'
"Who is Mike?" Sir George inquired
innocently, in his endeavor to CRISP
the intricacies of Mr.. Browns CONFER
sation.
'Oh, he's an Irishman we Americans
swear by" the newspaper man replied.
Fancy that! How odd!" Mrs. fal
coner exclaimed. She did not know
that Mr.. Brown was-spoofing now.
"Since you're newspaper nan kou
must know everything" said Geofgy
| Wagstaff. She quite fancied the
stranger; and she wanted to know
him better.
swell, at least I try to convince my
editor of that" he replied.
Then tell us about the war! We're
very ignorant. We only read the head
lines" she said. Father won't talk.
It'd be a breach of-somethinrdeor
other" Mp
do tell US your opinion, Mr.. BHeRnr'
Ethel urged. Were all so ffol11in-
terested."
Il suppose I can talk vi sir
| George can't-and I do love to talk"
Brown admitted. No one knew his
pet failing any better than himself.
silent Charlie-that's what they
cali him!' Guy informed the others de-
lightedly.
you don't mind, Sir George?" The
American turned inquiringly to Sir
George Wagstaff
Naturally notv' the older man as
sented good-naturedly. "As you Said
this is only private tea party
"Then please dor Georgy insisted
"If you don't, Guy will" She dearly
loved to rag her devoted admirer.
"Awayw Brown detained in mock
satisfaction at being able to scatter
his opinions broadcast "Well, I'll tell
you. While most of you Londoners
have been wondering whether the
Irish are going to start civil war, OF
whether Gunboat Smith did foul Carl
pentier, I've been digging up some Inf.
side dope, and, believe me, there's go-
ing to be merry old bust-up. RUS
STA, l know, is modifying; and SO Iis
Germany"
But can Russia, with her internal
conditions, afford to fightT' Streetman
asked him.
Il don't know whether she can dr.
ford to or not" Charlie Brown said.
"But / believe she is going to-"
Il take 1t you are not particularly
informed on Russia" Streetman he-
torted, somewhat acidly. ltr
"Oh, yes amv' the undauntp6n " ers,
FKee repded. II know fits awfuily a .li
there, and that they drink vodka and
have revolutions, and send their pris-
oners to Siberia, and apart from that
I'm pretty darned sure Russia's going
to fight" Words habituaIly flowed
from Charlie Browns mouth without
the slightest effort. 1t is 50 with
bores. But Mr.. Brown was far from
being a bore. What saved him was
the fact that he always said something
we'll worth listening to.
Guy Falconer did not allow the CON
versation to interrupt his ministry to
the inner man. He stepped uI to Eth
els table and took a sandwich Off a
plate. But before he RECALLED himself
with 1t he paused long enough to say:
"You know, think Charles right.''
go on, Mr.. Brown" Georgy said.
impatient at the interruption.
Don't you think Germany can de-
feat both France and Russian Street
man demanded.
"Maybe-maybem Charlie Brown
said. "But with England on their
side"
Streetman did not wait for him to
finish.
England, with civil war In Ulster
on her hands, wouldn't dare" he BID.
gan heatedly.
And then Mr.. Brown interr1pted
him. He had not the slightest inten-
ton of being browbeaten by anybody.
And there was vague antagonism IN
Streetman's manner toward him that
reused him nightly.
Civil war!" he exclaimed. "Whv.
if England has scrap with GERMANY
that Ulster trouble will stop in tel,
minutes; and every Irishman that goes
to the front will lick three Germans
maybe four. I've seen the Irish
mix things up in New York"
Streetman subsidized, for the moment
beneath that avalanche of words.
And you think Germany is quite
prepared to face those odds? Ethel
Willoughby asked the American.
Not Intentionally" he replied. "Tba
Germans have got everything down sd
pat in theory that nothing can stop
them; but God help 'em if their theo-
ries don't work" There was no mis-
taking where Browns sympathies Law.
For, though he had not by words ex.
pressed his real feelings in the mat.