Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-16

CONTINUED FROM LAST SUNDAY,

CONTINUED FROM LAST Sunday
They crossed the river on pontoons.
Tho Germans were already rebuilding
the stone bridge. They seemed to have
men to spare for everything. That the
bridge was being actually rebuilt, ana
not made practicable by timber-work
only. impressed Dalroy more forcibiy
than any other fact CLEANED during his
odyssey In a Belgium under German
rule. There was no thought of reiin-
gushing the occupied territory. no hint
OF doubt that 1t might be wrested from
their clutch in the near future. he
noticed that the post ONCE. the railway
station. the parcels vans, even Ine
street names, were German'Aeo.
learned subsequently that the scno4.s
had been taken over by German te1cn-
srs. while the mere sound of French IN
a shop or public place was scowleo at
If not absolutely forbidden
There were not many troops on the
roads. but crowded troop trains passed
ON both sides of the Meuse. and ever In
the same direction. Two long hospIta,
trains came from the southwest, ana
Dalroy knew what that meant. An
other long train OF closed Wagons
titled. perplexed him. however. he
spoke of it to Maertz, the three being
on the road in company as they cilmnea
the hill to Heron, and the carter.
promptly sought information from
farmer.
The man eyed them carefully. where
are you from?" he demanded in true
Flemish.
what has that to do with it," grin
ned Maertz. in the same pateis-
ierked thumb toward the French
frontier. Dead uns!" he said. They're
killing Germans like flies down yonder.
s.They can't bury them--haven't time
so they tile the oorpses together, sling
ing four on pole for easy handiin9'
ship them to Germany, and chuck them
into furnaces"
80" guffawed Maertz. the swine
know where they are going. them!
To Dalroy's secret amaEement, Irene.
who understood each word, laughed
with the others. Campaigning had not
coarsened. but it had undeniably hard
would have shuddered at sight Of these
dun trucks. with their CHASTITY freight.
Now, so long as they only contained
Germans. she surveyed them with in
te-est.
"Allowing forty bodies to one wag-
on" she said, there are over a thou
sand dead men in that train alone
The farmer spat approval I've been
busy. and have missed some; but thats
the tenth lot which has gone east TINS
morning" he remarked, cheerfully.
as the road to Nivelles fairly open?"
Dairoy ventured to inquire.
"One never knows. Anyhow, always
give the next village as your destina-
ton II doubtful, travel by night.
This counsel was well meant In the
silent bitterness of hours yet to come.
Dalroy recalled it. and wished he had
profited by it.
Roughly speaking, they had set out
on a ffty-mile tramp, which the men
could have tackled in two days, or less.
But the presence of Irene lowered the
scale. and Dalroy apportioned matters
program, with, as the entrepreneurs
say. power to increase or curtail. Thus.
that first afternoon. the date being
September 2, they pulled up at Gem
bloux. quite small place, finding sup
per and beds in a farm. beyond the viii
laEe.
Next day they pushed ahead through
Niveiles. and entered the forest OF
Soignies. that undulating woodland on
which Wellington depended for the
the unavoidable retreat to the coast II
Napoleon had beaten the British army
at Waterloo
Dalroy explained the iron dukes
strategy to Irene as they paced road
which provides an ideal walking tour.
That general was not worth his
salt who did not secure the track OF
his army II defeated was one of his
never depart from 1t. and his DISPOSE
tions at Waterloo were based on 1t. In
fact. his solicitude in that respect
nearly caused row between him and
Blucher"
Let me see" unused the girl aloud.
THE Germans have never fought the
British in modern times until this war"
That 10 correct"
And how far away 10 Monss'
Dalroy smiled at the thought which
had evidently occurred to her.
I'VE are now just halfway between
Mons and Waterloo Each is about ten
miles distant
I'VE were allied then with the Bel
the French. Now we have Joined the
Beigians, French and Russians against
the Germans 1t sounds like counting
in game of cribbage. A hundred
be with the Belgians, GERMANS and
French against the Russians"
you mustn't even hint treason
against our present allies" he laughed.
What are allies? OF what avail are
tfeaties7 You men have mismanaged
things woefuiIy. 1t is high time wom-
en- took a lead in governing"
Awful. do verify believe you are
a suffragette-"
II am. During what periods has Eng
Elizabeth and Victoria"
why leave out poor Queen Amer
"She was a very excellent woman. As
soon as she came to the throne she de-
clared her resolution not to follow the
example of her predecessors in making
use of a few of her subjects to Cypress
the rest. The common people don't
err in their estimate of rulers. and they
knew what they were about in chris
tening her Good Queen Anne"
Now I'm sure"
Sure of what?'
You have never told me what you
were doing In Berlin
You haven't asked me-" she broke in
Did it matter L"
harmless chatter had swung round with
lightning rapidity to a personal issue.
Sad to relate, she had not washed her
face or hands for eleven days, so a
blush told no tales: but she interrupted
again rather nervously. What is 1t
YOU are sure off,"
You must have been a governess-
nosition. ! can foresee a trying future
] must brush up my dates, or lose
caste forever. Isn't there q doRRarel
Jingle beginning:
in hfty 1--we and fifty four
Came Caesar DER 10 Rritafn's shore.
IF I learn IL. II may save me many a
trip"
Here. YOU two" growled Jan Maertz,
talk language a fellow can under
stand"
The road was deserted save for them
selves. and the others had unconscious
ly spoken English. Dalroy turned to
apologize to their rough but trusty
friend. and thus missed the quixzical
and ahectionate glance which Irene