Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-02
CONTINUED FROM LAST SUNDAY

CONTINUED fhO1h 1-<A0i
Dalroy went forward to spy out the
conditions column of infantry was
passing. These fellows were silent
and therefore sinister They marched
like tired men, and their shutting feet
raised a cloud of dust
An officer lighted 4 cigarette. THOSE
suzzling Prussians would empty the
Aeuse IL it ran with wine." he growIed.
evidently in response to remarH
from a companion.
"Our brigadier was very angry about
the broken bottles in the streets OF
Argenteau," said the other Two tires
were ruined before the chauffeur real
lied that the place was Uttered with
glass"
These were Saxons. cleaner-minded'
manJier fellows than the Prussians.
Behind them Dalroy heard the rumble
Of commissariat wagons. He failed
utterly to understand the why ana
wherefore of the direction the troops
were taking. According TO his reck-
oning, they should have been going
the opposite way. But that was no
concern of his at the moment. He
knew the Saxon by repute, and hurried
back to the two men and three women
erouching under a hedge. having al
ready noted a little mound on the left
of the crossroads where cover was
available He explained what they
were to do-steal forward, one by one.
hide behind the mound, and dart across
when a longer space than usual sepa-
rated one wagon from another. as the
mounted escort would probably De
grouped in front and in rear of the
convoy.
"Ah. that is the calvary said Joos.
Tt stands on a rock by the roadside
1T Is hard to distinguish anything.
owing to mist and dust" said palroy-
"Of course. the darkness is all to the
good. II you ladies do not scream.
whatever happens, and You run quick
~ when I give the word. 1 don't thin x
there will be any real danger
In the event they were able to cross
the road in a body, and without need
less haste. A horse stumbled and fell,
and had to be embarrassed before be-
ing got on to its feet again. The incl
dent held up the column during some
minutes. so Dalroy was not compelled
10 abandon the rifle. which it would
have been foolish in the extreme to
carry If there was the slightest chance
of being seen.
Thenceforth progress was safe.
though slow and difficult. because the
gloom beneath the trees was that of a
vault. Even the miller perforce yield
ed place to Leontine's young eyes and
sureness of foot There were times.
during the ascent of one side of the
quarry. when whispered directions
were necessary, while Nine. Joos had
to be hauled up a few awkward places
bodily.
loEger's shed, but n veritable haven
for people SO manifestly in peril. They
were weary, too. No member of the
zoos household had slept throughout
the whole of Tuesday night. and the
women especially were tagging under
the strain.
The little cabin held an abundant
store of shavings, because its normal
tenant rough-hewed his logs into sa-
bots. Here. then. was soft, warm
took command. He forbade talking
even in whispers Maertz. who prom
ised to keep awake. was put on guard
outside till the moon rose.
The wisdom of preventing excited
conservation was shown by the fac,
that the five people huddled together
the shavingS were soon asleep
There was nothing strange in this
Humanity, when surfeited with emo
fion. becomes calm. almost phlegmatic
Were it otherwise. after a week OF
war soldiers would not be sane men
but maniacs.
Dalroy resolved to sleep for two
hours. About IL o'clock he got up
Maertz seated on the ground, his back
propped against the wall. and his heat
sunk on his breast. AS a consequence
he was snoring melodiously.
He woke quickly enough when the
Englishman's hand was clapped ovel
his mouth and held there until his tor.
Did wits were sufficiently clear that ht
should understand the stern word,
muttered in his ear.
Pardon. monsieur" he said, shame
facedly. Il thought there was no harm
in sitting down. I listened to tn.
guns. and began counting them.
counted one hundred and ninety-nin<
shots. think. and them
And then you risked six lives, Leon
tines among them
Monsieur. I have no excuse"
Yet you have been a soldier. I sup
pose? And you gable of serving you
country"
TT will not happen again monsieur.
Dalroy pretended an anger he did no
really feel. He wanted this stole
Walloon to remain awake now, at an!
-ate. 30 turned away with an ejacula
hon of contempt.
Maertz rose. He endured an eIoquen
silence for nearly a minute. Then H.
murmured. Monsieur. ] shall not of
lend second time. Counting guns i
worse than watching sheep jumping
fence"
The moon had risen. revealing
cleared space in front of the hut. ]
dozen yards away a thin fringe o
orushwood and small trees marked tn
edge of the quarry. while the wood
cutters path was discernible on tn
left. slight breeze had called int
being the myriad Tongues of the wood
and Dalroy realized that the unceasin;
cannonade. joined TO the rustling o
the leaves. would drown any sound O
an approaching enemy until il was to
Iste to retreat. He knew that vo
Halwig. not TO mention the miIitar
authorities at Wise, would spare no eff
fort to hunt ont and destroy the ma
who had dared to f1out the might o
Germany. SO he was far from Statistic
with the apparent safety of even thi
secluded refuge
Have YOU piece of string in you
pockefs?" he demanded. erutf1y
Trust a carter to carry string. stron,
stun warranted to mend Temporarily
broken slap Maertz gave him a ouan
tity.
Il am going TO the cross road" h
continued. Keep n close watch til
return When you hear any movement
is J. l shall answer Iiege.' Do 70
understand"
Perfectly. monsieur \ chaliene
ana q countersign"
Dalroy believed the man might h
trusted now. Taking the rife, he mad
on along the path, treading as softI
as the cumbrous sabots would perm.
dreaded the lameness which might re
SUIT from thorn or sharp rock. A
suitable place. halfway down tn
steep path by the side of the QUAR-,
ne tied pistol to a stout saplinx, an,
hd'ihH fastened a cord to the trigge
arranged IT. in such fashion that
must catch the feet of any one comm