Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-07
THE DAY OF WRATH
A STORY OF 1914
By Louis Tracy

amined the miller's laisser passer by the
light of an electric torch.
The commissariat officer changed his
tone when he saw the signature. The virtue
of military obedience becomes a groveling
servitudc in the German army. and a man
who was ready to act with the utmost un.
fairness if left to his own instincts grew
almost courteous at sight of the communi.
cations officers name. "Your case is diff.
ferent," he admitted grudgingly rs this
your party? The old man is Herr Schultz
| suppose. Which are you?"
I'm Georges Lambert Herr General"
And what 60 you want?"
We're all going to Andenne. It's on the
paper. This Internal fighting has smashed
up our place at Aubel, and the women are
footsore and frightened So is papa. Put
them in wagon. Dampier and | can leg
it."
The Prussian was becoming more civil
each moment He realized, too. that this
grun fellow who moved about the country
under such powerful protection was a ver-
table godsend to him and his tired men.
mo, no." he cried, grown suddenly COM
plaisant I'VE can do better than that
I'll dump a few trusses of hay, and put
you all in the same wagon, which can then
take the lead"
Then, by mere turn Of fortunes wheel.
the enemy was changed into friend and a
dangerous road made safe and comfort
giving Jan sat in front with the driver
and cracked jokes with him, while the
others nestled into a load of sweet-smellng
hay.
For the first time in my life" whispered
Dalroy to Irene, 81 understand the precise
significance Of Samson's riddle about the
honey extracted from the lions mouth. our
heavy-witted Jan has saved the situation.
We enter Nervers In triumph, and reach
he. laFt ~. -
slice of luck, and we cross the Meuse at
Andenne or elsewhere-it doesn't matter
where"
Irene had kicked Off those cruel sabots.
She bit her lip in the darkness to stiae a
sob before answering Coolly. shall we be
clear Of the Germans them"
hope so. Their armies dare not ad-
vance so long as we hear those guns"
The girl could not reason in the soldier's
way. She thought she would hear those
guns" during the rest of her life. Never
had she dreamed Of anything so horriflc as
that drumming Of cannon. She believed az
women do, that every shell tore hundreds of
human beings limb from limb In silent
revolt against the frenzy which seemed to
possess the world, she closed her eyes and
buried her head in the hay and once again
exhausted nature was its own best healer
When the convoy rumbled into Verviers in
the early morning, having followed a by
road through Julemont and Herve. Irene
had to be awaked out of deep sleep. Yet
the boom Of the guns continued! Liege
was still holding out. a paranoinc despot
was frantic with wrath, and civilized Eu-
rope had yet another day to prepare for the
caglng Of the beast which threatened its
very existence.
The leader of the convoy was greeted by
furious staff officer in such terms that
paIroy judged it expedient he and the
others should slip away quietly This they
contrived to do.
Maertz recommended an inn IN a side
street where they would be Welcomed II
accommodation We're available And it was.