Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-18

mander- in-chief at Liege. was given
most precious time to garrison that
strong fortress, construct wire entan-
elements. lay mines and destroy roads
and railways. which again meant that
Won Emmtch's sledge-hammer blows
whelm Lege in accordance with the
dastardly plan drawn up by the Ger
man star.
Dalroy, though he might not realise
the marvellous fact then, was In truth
spectator Of serious German de-
feat. Even In the conditions. he was
aglow with admiration for the pluck of
the Belgians In standing up SO valiant
ly against the n1erciless might Of Ger
many. The window was dust-1aden as
the outcome of earlier gundre, and he
was actually on the point Of opening
1t when Irene stopped him.
Those men below may catch sight OF
you." she said.
age-carts had been brought into the
yard, and preparations were being
made to load them with oats and hay.
A mountaineering sergeant actually
dow. But he could not see through the
dimmed panes. and was only estimating
the mills probable contents.
Dalroy laughed constrainedly. You
are the better soldier of the two" he
said. 1T nearly b1undered. Still. 1 wish
the window was open. I want to size
up the chances of the Belgians. Those
are bigger guns which are answering.
and duel between big guns and little
ones can have only one result"
Seemingly, the German battery of
quick -frers had located its opponents.
because the din now became terrific
As though in response to Dalroy's de-
sire. three panes of glass fell out, ow-
ing to atmospheric conclusion, and the
watchers in the loft could follow with
ease the central phase of the struggle
The noise of the battle was redoubled
by the accident to the window, and the
air-splitting snarl of the high-explo-
sive shells fred by the SOS in the ef
fort to destroy the Belgian guns was
specially deafening. That sound, more
than any other. seemed to affect frene's
Dalroy's arm. and he, with no other
intent than to reassure her, drew her
trembling form close.
1t was evident that the assailants
were suffering heavy losses Scores Of
men fell every few minutes among the
frequent among the troops lining the
auays. Events on the Belgian side of
the river were not 10 marked; but
even Irene could make out the precise
ened. and the line Of pontoons began
to reach out again toward the farther
shore.
Are the poor Belsians beaten. thenr'
shs ass ssowe wh how 1nnad, Ss es
mated her own troubles in comparison
with the agony of whole nation.
II think not" said Dalroy. II I'M
agine they have changed tho position
of some. at least. of their guns. and
will knock that bridge to smithereens
again just as soon as it nears compile
tion."
The forase-carts rumbled out of the
ward. Dalroy noticed that the soldiers
ha
snowy Pickel-hauben. though the reKt-
ments he had seen in A!x-la-Chapelle
swaggered through the streets in their
ordinary helmets. This was another in
stance of German thoroughness. The
invisibility of the gray-green uniform
was not so patent when the Picket
haube lent its CLINT. but no sooner had
the troops crossed the frontier than the
masses of men became almost merged
In the browns and greens OF the land
scape.
The two were 30 absorbed in the
drama being fought out before their
series Of knocks on the boarded floor.
Dalroy crept 10 the trap door and lis
tened. Then, during an interval be-
tween the salvoes of artillery, he heard
L l,,a,nt;,.r. voice. Monsieur! Made
He pulled up the trap. Beneath stood
Leontine. with q long pole in her hands.
Beside her. on the noor. was laden
tray.
rive brought you something to seat"
she said. 'Father thinks you had bet
ter remain there at present. The Ger
mans say they will soon cross the river,
Not until they had eaten some ex-
cellent rolls and butter, with boiled
eggs, and drunk two cups of hot coffee,
did they realize how ravenously hun
cry they were. Then Dalroy persuad-
ed Irene to lie down on a pile of sacks,
and, amid all the racket of a fierce en-
Eagement, she slept the sleep of sheer
exhaustion e. !. Thus he was LET. on guard.
more demolished.
After that he, too, euried up against
the wall and slept. The sound of rifle
hrst care was for the girl. but she lay
motionless. Then he looked out. There
was renewed excitement in tha main
road, but only a few feet of 1t was yis-
~ hA 80 fN -