The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-12-28

With queStionnaires until all the short hairs on his head are trembling from nervousness. With each new paper he splutters and groans and requests to be let alone until he can gather his brains together and think. Then he collapses, and at that moment the soldier leads me up before M. le Gen eral. 2 Well, we11' he says in great irri- tation, what have you there?' t'i ? " He was arrested at the gate, Herr General'
 Take him away!" groans M. le General. The poor peasant in uni form knows nothing but to obey, so he makes aqright-about-face and goose steps to 8 waiting room, where he stands there on his wooden legs for hours watching me. It is not his fault that the Kaiser allows no brains in private soldiers
 After great while Herr Lieuten- ant comes in. He is amazed. He Is I outraged. sss~ast F
 = bolt! What are you doing there |? Why do you not show the prisoner. to the general ? - -sy- | S 9SA%SA eSA OQoOoIC0s If1O u CdhS 1 him away replies the poor clown. 1 {" Take him back to the general and get more definite orders, shouts the officer. The soldier says sJah,' sal utes, and back we goose step into the presence.
 l By this time the general is ready to weep from the wicked behavior of his nerves. 4 Z" Did I not tell you to take him Iaway?' he moans. | 2" 'Jah, Herr General. But Herr Lieutenant requests that you tell me where to take him.
 F How did he get here?'f .
 s He came in an automobile' | Did you see the automobile?'
 {" No, Herr General .4
 I q" Is the automobile here P I Z" No, Herr General
 | Then what do you mean by telling tme he came in an automobile r "Ry now I know it is time for me to plead my case. I am an advocate you see, and can not lose a good op- atportunity to talk.
 + Therefore speak to the general land tell him very gently that am, a peaceful citizen going about my bust tness; that the soldier is mistaken about the automobile; and that all l wish is to return to my family. l '"The general glares at the soldier
 .''Take him away!" he groans.
 .Jah, Herr General. Where shall l take him?' @Sc
 I 7" Take him anywhere. Take 1him Ito the station
 I 's"The private salutes, shoulders his musket and marches me away to the railroad station. As soon as I am there I do what can be done with Herman soldiers. have an air tres dmilitaire and say in a loud voice, Go back! Viola !? He goes like a mechan- Heal toy that has been turned around I The former Mayor of Colmar strok- ed his little gray beard and shot bright sparks from his round, black eyes.
 T thought the train. took would go right across the Swiss border. But 1t was war time, and the Germans were not making it easy for escaping s:Alsatians. About two miles from Switzerland we were taken off the train and left to walk.
 r q found in that place many Swiss working women, standing huddled to- gether, wondering how to get back to their homes. 'Marchons!' 1stold them. so we advanced together toward flee dom like little army. i* @--
 Ut was at the German outposts at tLeopoldshoehe that we met our last obstacle. In the very wall that marks the border of Switzerland stood a Ger; man Herr Lieutenant with sentries. s-
 "'Haltp We do so. ss.se..la5..s..s
 "'What business have you crossing the borders tn war time 2'--.-a <fz-s-1
 "The ladies helped greatly. by weep ing in a loud voice and begging to be permitted to join their husbands. and children, Again show the training of an advocate
 I! "'Herr Lieutenant say, these la dies must not be separated from theil families of neutral country. Neither should you hold from Switzerland ,ar .ayocat who was obliged this morninl
 fa3se =r SIS