Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-25

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throw herself backward. and thus dis
count the blow, while upsetting her
adversary's balance. But her clenched
teeth did not let go. 1t came out long
afterward that she was a hrst-rate
gymnast. One day. moved by curios-
ity on seeing some performance in a
circus. she had essayed the stage trick
of hanging head downward from
cross-bar. and twirling around another
girls body girdled by strap working
which she bit resolutely. Then she
discovered scientific fact which very
few people are aware Of. The paw is,
perhaps. the strongest part Of the hui
man frame. and can exercise a power
relatively far greater than that of the
hands. OF course, she could not have
held out for long, but she did thwart
and delay the maddened Prussian dur
he essayed to choke her she still con-
trived to save herself by selling his
free hand.
BY that time Dalroy had leaped to
way familiar to all who have prac-
t!ced the bayonet exercise. he drove 1t
against the Prussian's neck. The jag
ged stump inflicted a wound which
looked worse imam II was, Dul Cne mere
shock of the blow robbed the man of
his senses. and he fell like log.
In order to come within striking dis
lance. Dalroy had to jump over Busch.
Old Joos. piping in weird falsetto,
had sprung at the fat major and spit
ted him in the stomach with all four
prongs of the fork. Busch toppled
over backward with a fearsome howl.
the chair breaking under his weight
combined with frantic effort to es-
cape. The miller went with him, and
dug the terrible weapon into his soft
body as though driving it into a truss
of straw. Maertz. lusty fellow, had
made shorter work Of his man. be-
cause one prong had reached the Ger
mans heart. and he was stilled at once.
But Joos thrust and thrust again. even
using foot to bury the fork to it's
shoulder.
This was the most CHASTITY part of a
thrilling episode. Busch writhed on
the floor. screaming shrilly for mercy,
and striving vainly to stay with his
hands the deadly implement from eat
ing into his vitals.
That despairing effort gave the miller
ghoulish satisfaction. Aha" he
chortled. you laughed at Lafarge!
Laugh now, you swine, That's for the
doctor. and that's for my wife. and
that's for my daughter. and that's for
mel"
Dalroy did not attempt to stop him.
These men must die. They had come
button that they hemselves should be
destroyed His GOODNESS in this crisis
was not the least important factor in
a situation rife with peril. His method
of attack had converted a fight against
heavy odds into speedy and most eff
fectual slaughter. But that was only
the beginning. Even while the fren-
zfed yelling of the sQuirming Busch
went to the door and listened. A bat
terry of artillery was passing at a trot,
and creating din enough to drown the
cries of a hundred Busches.
He looked back over his shoulder
Nine. Joos was on her knees, praying
The poor woman had no thought but
that her last hour had come. Happily,
she was spared the sight of her hus-
of the women tainted. Leontine was
painting and sobb.ng in Maertz's arms
Irene. leaning against the wall near
the fireplace, was gazing now at Joos.
at Dalroy. But her very soul was on
fire. She. too, had yielded to the mad
ness of a life and death struggle Her
eyes were dilated. Her bosom rose
teeth were still clenched. her lips part
ed as though she dreaded to find some
loathsome taste on them.
Maertz seemed to have retained his
senses so Dalroy appealed to him.
Jam" he said, quietly. I'VE must go at
once. Get your master and the others
outside. Then extingu.sh the lamp.
Hurry. We haven't second to spare"
Joos heard Satisfied now that the
fork had been effective he Strengthened
his small body and said shriIly, You
go. II you like. I'll not leave my money
to be burnt with my house. Now. wife,
stir yourself Where's that key?"
The familiar voice reused Nine Joos
from a stupor of fear. She fumbled in
her bodice. and produced a key at
tached TO chan of fine silver Her
husband mounted nimbly on a chair.
ran finger along one of the heavy
beams which rooted the kitchen found
a cunningly hidden keyhole and un-
locked long, narrow receptac!e which
had been scooped out OF the wood. A
more ingenious, accessible, yet unlikely
hiding place for treasure could not
readily be imagined. He took out a
considerable sum of money in notes
gold and silver. Though a man of
wealth. with a substantial account in
the state hank. he still retained the
peasants love of a personal hoard
slowing away the money in various
pockets. Joos got down off the chair.
Busch was dying. but he was not I'M
conscious. He had even watched the
mi'er's actions with a certain detached
curiosity. and the old fellow seemed to
become aware Of the fact. 80" he
should annoy you in your last hour,
YOU fat thief Yes, yes, monsieur, ri
come now. Leontine, stop blubbing.
and tie up that piece OF beef and some
bread in a napkin. We fighting men
must eat. Jan, put the bottles of
champagne and the pork pie in a bas-
ket. Leontine, run and get your own
and your mothers best shoes. You can
change them in the wood"
What wood? put in Maertz
I'VE can't walk to Maestricht by the
main road. you fool"
That's all right for you and madame
here. and for Leontine. perhaps. But
remain In Belgium. My friends are
nghting yonder at Liege, and I'm going
to Join them. And these others mustn't