Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-10
CHAPTER X-(ContinuedD

IRENE was Irene" to Dalroy ever since
L that night in the wood at Argnteau, and
the girl herself accepted the development
with the deftness which is every wOman's
legacy from Mother Eve.
IT you make free with my Christian
name I must retort by using yours" she
said one day on coming down to breakfast
so Good morning. Arthur Where did
you get that hat?"
The hat in question was purchase n
wde-brimmed felt such as is common In
Flanders. Its Apache slouch, in conjunc-
tion with Jan Maertz's oldest clothes and
weeks stubble Of beard made Dalroy quite
villainous-loolkin Except in the details OF
height and physique, It would indeed, be
difficult for any stranger to associate this
loose-limbed Belgian laborer with the we'll
groomcd cavalry officer who entered the
Friedrich Strasse Station in Berlin on the
night Of Sd August. That was as it should
be- though the alteration was none the less
displeaslng to its victim. Irene adopted
a huge sunbonnet and compromised as to
boots by wearing sabots en- CUR, or clogs
Slnguarly enough, whte-haired Monsieur
GARNER nearly brought matters TO climax
as between these two.
on the Wednesday evening, when the
last forts OF Liege were crumblinE Madame
Joos was reported convaescent and asleep
SO both girls came TO the little salon for a
supper fsstewcd veal.
Naturally the war was discussed first, but
the priest was learning to agree with his
English friend about its main features, In
sheer dismay at the black outlook before his
country, he suddenly turned the tax INTO
more intimate channel.
What plans have you youngsters nader
he asked. Monsieur Joos and | can only
look back through the years, The places we
know and love are abodes of ghosts. The
milestones are tombstones We can surely
count more friends dead than living For
you It Is different The world VIII go on
war or no war; but Nerviers VIII not be-
come your residence, take it.
"Jan and | mean 10 join our respective
armies as soon as Monsieur Joos and the
ladies are taken care of, and that means,
suppose, safely lodged in England said
| Dalroy.
"If Leontine likes 70 marry me first, I'm
| agreeable" ." put in Maertz promptly.
1t was a naive confession, and every one
| laugSned except Joos.
"Icontine marres neither you nor any
| other hulking loafer while there Is one Ger
man hoof left in Belgium" vowed the little
| man warmly
The priest smiled He knew where the
| sboe plnched Maertz, IL no loafer, was not
| what is vulgarly described as "a good
| catch"
1--WE lost my parish" he said jestingy,
land. being an inveterete matchmaker am
nm the qui vive for job. But II father
| saws NO we must wait till mother has
word. Now for the other pair-what or
| your"
Irene blushed scarlet and dropped her SER
viette; Dalroy though fabbergasted, hap
| PLY hit on way out,
I'm surprised at you, monsieur!" he
| cried Look at mademoiselle, and then run
| your eye over me Did ever pretty mald
| wed such scarcecrow?
'I must refer that point to mademoiselle," ="
| retorted the priest Il don't think either OF
YOU would choose a book by the cover"
"Ah! At last know the worst" laughed
| Dalroy '"who would believe that / once
posed as the Discobulus in tableau vi
| Vant?"
whats that?" demanded Joos,
Dalroy hesitated. Neither his French nor
| German was equal to the translation.
| "a uuoit thrower," suggested Irene.
"ouoits!" shifted the miller. I'm take
YOU on that game any day you like for
| twenty francs every ringer"
| II was a safe offer. Old Joos was noted
| nIaver He gave details OF his prowess.
| Dairoy, though modestly declining a contest,
| led him on and steered the conversation
| clear Of rocks.
| Tbrnceforth. for a whole day Irene 5
manner stiffened perceptibly, and Dalroy
| was miserable. inexperienced in the ways
| OF the sex, he little dreamed that Irene felt
| she had been literally thrown at his head.
| Rut graVer issues soon dispersed that
| small cloud on Saturday, 18th August, the
| thunder Of guns lessened and died down
being replaced by the far more distant ant
! NtfuI barking of field batteries. But the
rumble on the cobbles Of the main road con-
| tinued What need to ask what had hap
pened? Around Liege lay the silence o.
death.
| Late that afternoon a woman brought {
| note TO Dalroy. 1t bore no address. Sh,
| merely handed II to him, and hurried off
with the furtive air Of one afraid Of beinl
| asked for an explanation. II ran:
"Dear Frend--Save yourself and the 9th
| ers Lose not a moment / have seen
| bandbill A big reward is offered, My ad
| vice is: go west separately. The messenge
| I employ is Christian, but / doubt tn
faith OF many. May God guard you
shall accompany you in my thoughts anc
| prayers.-E. G.
Dalroy found Joos instantly.
"What is our cures baptismal name" h
inquired.
"Edouard, monsieur"
"He has sent us marching orders. Rea
thatw
THE miIlers wizened face blanched H
had counted on remaining in Verviers III
the war was over. At that date no self
respecting Belgian could bring himself I
believe that the fighting would continue int
the winter. The first comparative successe
OF the small Belgian army, combined wit
the meteoric French advance into Alsac.
seemed 20 assure speedy victory by III
Allies. He swore roundiy. but decided I