Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-07

/ cel--his sole baggage-up0n the table
/ in front Of him. Beyond few fresh
( collars its contents were negligible.
Il want to go to my room now"
/ Charlie Informed his host. I'm dead
| to the world" I'nconsciously he had
lapsed into his own vernacuar. And
+ then he realized that a Belgian inn
keeper in a country town could by no
manner or means comprehend him.
"Oh, how the devil do you say I want
to go to my room in French?' he
gr0aned.
but speak English. sir" the inn
keeper interposed He had decided
accent. it was true. But to Charlie
Browns ears the words were as CRATE
ful as the sound of ripping brook
upon hot summers day.
You do? Why didn't you say so?'
he demanded.
Pardon me. sir" the polite inn
keeper begged him. But so many
Americans like to exhibit their knowl-
edge Of French that | have found it
wisest never to speak English to an
American until | am asked"
"Say-how did you know was an
/ Americana" Charlie asked him with
sudden suspicion. He would have liked
to know just what 1t was about his APP
pearance that seemed to stamp him as
+ Yankee, no matter where he went.
ooh. | could tell ut once.
The voice. the manner Oh. |
cannot explain. ~. 1t Is some
thing Christophe CROPPED. IAN air
one can never mistake it,
Mr.. Brown grinned at him.
Fright there with that French 'gaff,
aren't you?" he said.
Henri Christophe smiled
"Ah, msieu. | understand he ex-
claimed nodding his head sagely. but
vow do me an injustice. do not fiat
ter. speak the truth"
All at once the American remem-
bered that he was newspaper man.
well, then, have you seen anything
of a war around here?" he asked
mo, sir.'
Neither have r. Charlie volun-
tered And I've been looking for it
for a week"
oh there will he no war here"
Christophe assured him. 1T Is always
like thls--just our peaceful little VII
lage. We harvest our crops; we brew
some beer; we make n little wine
good Wine Monsieur shall sample 1t
and see." he added parenthetically.
ave go to church on Sunday. we live
and die in the quiet sunshine. .
There will be no war here"
Charlie Brown did not like to break
rudely in upon the good mans placid
dream. But at the same time he saw
no reason for assembling. If trouble
were comlng-as he believed--he con-
sidered 1t as well that the lnnkeeper
should be prepared for it as well as
might be.
''But they say the Germans are com
ing through Belgium" he ventured.
Henri Christophe picked up the
checkcrboard that the two peasants
had used to amuse themselves, and
placed it upon the counter.
"Ah, no, m'sieu. And even should
they, our people are good people. They
will not touch US" he said as optimis-
tically as he could.
"Well--I hope not" Charlie agreed.
"But at least I'd like to see some Of
the beggars. It's id irritating to
look for war and not be able TO
find it." He rose stitily from his chair
and strolled to the cigar counter. got
anything to smoker he asked, leaning
over the glass case The innkeeper
fumhed inside the showcase and laid
his wares out for his guests inspcc-
ton.
Gosh, Peter" Mr.. Brown exclaimed
in delight "And Il real cigar counter,
too. Where on earth did You get
that?"
"Oh, | was in New York" the other
told him proudly. Il educated my
daughter there, was a waiter ut
the Beaux Arts
Charlie Brown stuck his hand out.
The Benux Arts was one of his special
weaknesses.
Greetings" he exclaimed. And you
brought this with YOU" lie looked al
most lovingly upon that familiar con
triyance of oak, glass and nickel.
~ had wished to Introduce here a
little of the Amprlcan--what You call
itf--cuterprise And this year had
hoped TO purchase n book TO reglstrn-
tior II, and little boxes behind for the
letters ana the keys" Chrlstophc add.
cd. but business has not been good"
He sighed
you're Il good sort. old mani" Char
lie told him. Il hope If they do come,
they'll leave you alone"
II hope So m'sicu." the innkeepcr
answered And he breathed a silent
prayer that the Germans would not
come that way.
At that moment n lady IN white
4 entered from the street and started
across the room toward door that
led to the chambers above
"Bonjour nlNdame," Chrlstophe
said politely. II was his mysterious
i,a..at. a1a since she paid we'll