Evening star., 1917-12-09

that once posed as the Discobulus in
a tableau vivant?
What's that" demanded Joos.
'Dairoy hesitated. Neither his French
nor German was equal TO the transla-
tion.
"a quot thrower," suggested Irene.
"Quoits." shifted the miller. "I'll take
YOU on at that game any day you like
for 20 francs every ringer.
II was safe offer. Old Joos was a
noted player. He gave details OF his
prowess Dalroy. though modesly de,
Ginning contest. led him on. ana
steered the conversation clear or rocks
Thenceforth. for a whole day. Irene
manner stiffened perceptibly. and Dali
roy was miserable. inexperienced in
the ways of the sex, he little drea ned
that Irene felt she had been literally
thrown at his head.
Bu. grayer issues soon dispersed that
small cloud. On Saturday, 10th Au-
gust. the thunder of the guns lessened
and died down. being replaced by the
far more distant and fitful barking or
field batteries. But the rumble on the
cobbles of the main road continued
What need 10 ask what had happened?
Around Liege lay the silence OF death
Late that afternoon woman brought
a note to Dalroy. II bore no address.
She merely handed it 10 him. and hur-
ried OF. with the furtive air OF one
afraid of being asked for an expiana
tion. 1t ran:
others Lose not a moment. | have
seen handbill. A big reward is Of
fered. NV advice is. go west sepa-
rately. The messenger l employ is a
Christian. but ] doubt the faith OF
many MAY God guard you, shall
accompany you in my thoughts and
prayers. f. G
Dalroy found Joos instantly.
What is our cures bapt.smal name"
ne inquired.
"F.douard monsieur
"ue has sent us marching orders.
Read that"
The miller's wizened face blanched.
He had counted on remaining in Yer
viers till the war was over. AT that
date no self-respect ing Belgian could
bring himself to believe that the fight
ing would continue into the winter. The
first comparative successes OF the small
Belgian army. combined with the me-
teoric French advance into Alsace.
seemed 10 assure speed victory by the
allies He swore roundlv. but decided
to follow the priests bidding in every
reSDect save one.
I'VE can't split up he declared We
are all named in the laisser passer.
You understand what dull pigs these
Germans are. They'll count heads. If
IS missing. or there's one too
MANY, theyll inquire about II for
week"
Sound common sense and no small
kno,vledge Of Teuton character lDrked
in the bld wars comment. NJ. GARNER.
Of course. had not been told why this
uueerlv assorted group clupg together,
nor was he aware Of The exact cause
of their flight from Wise. Proba bly, the
handful he mentioned was explicit in
names and descriDtions. At any rate.
he must have the strongest reasons
for supnosing that Nerv:ers longer
provided a safe retreat.
Jan Msertz was summoned. He made
good suggestion. The direct road to
Andenne. via Liege and Huy, was i'm
practicable. being crowded with troops
and transports. why not use the
country lanes from Pepinster through
i.onveigne. Hanoir and Maffe? 1t was
a htlly country. and probably clear of
soldiers. He would huy a dog team,
and thus save Nine. Joos the fatigue
of walking.
Dairoy agreed at once. Even though
Irene st.ll insisted on sharing his ef-
fort to cross the German lines. two
routes opened from Andenne. one to
Brussels and the west. the other to
Dinant and the soath. Moreover. he
counted on the allies occupying the
Mnrs-Charier rieroi-Namur terrain. and one
nights march from Andenne. with
Maertz as guide. should bring the three
of them through. as the zoos. family, in
all Likelihood. would elect to remain
with their relatives.
In a word. the orderliness OF Yer
viers had already re!egated the ex-
cesses OF Wise to the obscuritx- of an
eVil but ha1f-forgotten dream. The
horrors of Louvain. of Malines. Of the
whole Belgian valley of the Meuse, had
vet to come. An officer of the British
army simply could not allow his mind
TO conceive the purposeful Grim .nality
OF German methods. Lite did he i'm
agine that. on the very day the fugi-
tiVes set out for Andenne. Wise was
comp1etely sacked and burned by COM
mand OF the German authorities. And
why? Not because of any fault COM
mitted by the unfortunate inhabita nts,
who bad suffered so much at the out
hreek of hostilities This second ava
Ianche was let loose out of sheer spite.
BY this time the enemy was commence
ing to estimate the fearful toll which
the Belgian army had taken of the
uhlans who Leovided the famous cav