The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-11-24


emit time, however, he had always sue
ceeded in Kidding himself of such mis-
givings.
"And who do you think is going to
win, Mr.. Brown" Sir George put the
question abruptly. He, as well as
Streetman, perceived that their some-
what bizarre guest from the other side
of the Atlantic had gathered unto him
self surprising fund of Information
during his short stay in their midst.
Before Charlie Brown could reply,
the spy Streetman threw himself into
the conversational gap.
"I'm sure from what Mr.. Brown has
said he agrees with me that the Ger
mans have the best chance he inter-
posed.
Mr.. Brown himself merely smiled at
the interruption. He may have
thought Streetman a cad--a lobster,
he would probably have termed him.
But whatever his feelings might have
been, he concealed them admirably.
"Well, I'll tell you" he said, as be
turned his back squarely upon Street
man and faced Sir George. when
was drinking Munich beer, / was rafll-
er pro-German But now that I'm
switched to tea, I've sort of swung
over to the allies"
A burst of laughter, punctuated
with cries of "Bravow greeted the an
swer.
Turning to them all again, lyon
see," he explained, II like the English
as individuals, and / like lot Of
their general ways, too. ! admire the
easy-going fashion in which they do
business. I commend the fact that
they won't talk shop over luncheon.
l like their afternoon tea" He smiled
at Miss Willoughby as he said that.
~ like the fact that knights and ladies',
clerks and shopgirls take their half
hour off for it. l like the way they
respect their own laws-when they de-
eide to make one they decide at the
same time to keep it. But, collectively,
the English irritate me, because they're
so blamed sure they're little bit SUI
perior to all the rest of the world.
That's annoying, personally, but can
and l do admire it as a great racial
quality that's made 'em win out a
thousand times. If England goes to
war, it'll take the English about a
year before they realize they have a
war-they really are slow, you know /
but once they wake up to 1t they Y
raise the deuce, and l think they
win"
Sage holdings of various heads and
the exchange of approving glances on
the part of the members Of the little
party-or of all but Henry Streetnlan
set a seal of appreciation upon
Charlie Browns views.
please God, you're right" Sir
George Wagstaff cried feryently, with
show Of emotion that was, for him,
most unusual
f"Please God, he isr' Mrs. Falconer
agreed. *
} II do hope so! The German a.ara u
aggressive" Ethel Willoughby 81.
served.
"And go rudev Georgy added. she
could not forget-much less forgive1-
having been shouldered off a sidewalk
in Berlin by the kaiser's naughty Off
GERS.
"Ah! But fancy that pride in ones
country is universal trait in every
nation" her more moderate father said.
Exactly! And as Mr.. Brown has
pointed out, we English have a tenden-
cy to be somewhat superior Also" AS
he spoke, Streetman rose. He was be-
coming restless under the CALLING OF
that one-sided discussion of the merits
Of the nations. 81
"Well, I hope there isn't any wars
Guy Falconer said fervently. "If there
is, you can bet your boots Pm NOT
going near it."
"Guy" Sir George turned upon him
with incredulity writ large upon his
fine face.
'Oh, I mean 1t. Sir George" Guy
insisted shamelessly. eff it comes to
war, this will be a war of millions.
If there are thousand men killed in
battle or only nine hundred and
ninety-nine, what difference does 1t
make except to the thousandth man?
+. None! But if l happened to
be he, it'd represent a deuce of lot
to me, and, with my luck, I'd be the
first man shot anyhow. No,
sir! Military service is not compul-
sorry in England. thank heaven! And
if there is war, I'm going to sit
home at my club and discuss very
harshly the mistakes Of the war office"
Guys mother regarded him with no
less amazement than did Sir George.
"My son--you're not seriousy" she
exclaimed, scarcely believing what she
heard.
"Of course he Isl" said Georgy. IT
never saw man who thought as
much of his own precious hide-so
much more than anyone else thinks Of
itr
"If you're quite in earnest, Guy,
am positively ashamed of you" Sir
George Wagstaff told him. AS man
who was high In the councils OF his
country, Sir George did indeed hear
the young mans declaration with
something bordering upon alarm, as
well as mere disapprovaI. IL other