Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-05
THE DAY OF WRATH
A STORY OF 1911
By Louis Tracy


was so shaken, that for few seconds he |
was tongue-ted, and Irene appeared in the
moonlit space before he stirred an inch. |
She came from an unexpected quarter, from
the west or Argenteau, side
The others said | was lunatc TO re-
turn" she explained simply but when l
came to my fun senses after being aroused
from sound sleep and told to fly at once
because the Germans were on us, ] realized
that you might have outwttcd them again,
and would be looking for us in vain. So,
here | ann"
He ran to her Now that they were to-
gethcr again he was swift in decision and
rcsolute AS ever Irene" he said, you're
dear. Where are our friends? Is there a
path? Can you guide mc?"
Take my hand" she replied. I'VE turn
by a big tree in the corner. I think Jan
Maertz followed me a little way when he
saw | was determined TO go back"
81 suppose l had unconscious faith in
you, Irene" he whispered, "and that is why
| cried your name But no more talking
now. Rapid silent movement alone can
save us"
They had not gone twenty yards beneath
the trees when some one Missed, Wise
"Liege, you lump" retortcd Dalroy.
Monsieur -"
shut up. Hold mademoiselle's hand, and
lead on"
lie did not ask whittier they were going.
The path led diagonally to the left. and that
was what he wanted-a way to flank.
Maertz. however, soon faltcred and stop
ped in his tracks.
Tho devil take all woods at nighttime"
he Erowled Give me the highroad and
wagon team, and I'll face anything
Are you lost?' asked Dalroy.
IT suppose so, monsieur. But they can't
be far told Jos
Jan Is that you?" cried LeontIne's voice
| trees"
"Silence now!" growled Dalroy impera-
lively. go ahead as quickly as possible
The semblance Of a path existed; even SO,
they stumbled over gnarled roots coilldeu
| with tree trunks which stood dlrectIy III
| the way, and had to fend many low
| branch off their faces. They created an
| appalling noise, but were favored by the
| fact that the footpath led to the west,
/ whereas the pursucrs must climb the cHl
on the east
Leont!ne however, led them with the
| quiet certainty of a country-born girl moN,
| ing in n familiar environment She cou'u
guess to a yard just where the track was
| diverted by some huge-limhed elm or iar-
! spreading chestnut and invariably picked
| up the right line again, for the eNceAehI
| reason no doubt that the dense under
| growth stood breast hlSh elsewhere At '""'
season OF the year.
After n walk that seemed much longer
| than it really was--the radius Of the WOOD
| from the hut being never more than TWO
| hundred yards in any dircction-the others
| heard her say anXiously, Are you there'
| father?"
"Wbere the deuce do you think I'd be?"
came the irrtated demand. "Do you
| Imagine that your mother and l are skip
ping down these rocks like a couple OF
weasels?" -, -,
1T Is quite safe" said the girl. 81 and
Marie Lafarge went down only last tmuls- ulaS
| day, Jules always goes that way to Argeh-
| teau. He has cut steps in the bad places.
| ian and I will lead. We can help mother
and you" .,.,
Are we near the towpath9" he asked.
"Oh, is that you, Monsieur rAnglais?
| cbpckIed the miller. Name of a pipe, !
was positive those sales Alboches had got
| Won twenty minutes since Yes, II you "TRIP
in the next few yards you'll find yourselt
on the towpath after falling sixty teet
| go on Leontine," commanded DaHoF
! what Won and your friend did for amuse-
| ment we can surely do to save our lEeS
| But there should be moonlight on TINS slue
Have any clouds come up?' ~.
These are frs in front monsieur once
| clear of them, we can see
"verv we'll Don't lose another second
| OnIv before beginning the descent, make
certain that the river bank holds no Her'
mans" r, H.,
Joos grumbled, but his wife silenced him
That good lady, II appehIeu' Hau b' SH -
hone when the struggle broke out IN th'
Kitchen She had been snatched from th'
iays Of death by a seeming miracle, ana re
garded Dalroy as very Falaulh % %on'
| attributed her rescue entirety 10 hli az,
,,,as almost inclined TO be skeptcal or Joos
seneatIonal story about the killing OF Busch
"There never was such a man for argu'
,rs " she said sharply. 81 do believe you'c
contradict an archbishop, DO as the gen
tleman bids you. lie knows best
Now seeing that madame herselt' altel
one look had refused pointblank TO tackl'
the sunposed path, and had even Insisted
on retreatng to the cover OF the WOOD Joo'
vas entitled TO protest, Being cholcrl'
little man, he would assuredly have don'
so fully and freely had not red llght II
lumined the tree tops while the crackie
| a fire was distinctly audible The German
had reached the top OF the quarry, and, II
, order 10 disslpate the impenetrable gloom
! bad converted the hut into a beacon.
"Misericorde 20 he muttered. They ar
burning our provisions and may set tn
I forest ablaZe = -
vegetation was dry. as no rain had falle
e for many a day. The shavings and stor
e of logs in the hut burned like tindeI
) promptly creating raging furnace who'll
r beyond the control Of the unthinking dolt
5 who started IT, The breeze which ha
q snrung up earlier became a roaring tornad
I among the trees and some acres Of wood
E land were soon in flames. The light OF tina
{ ERE was seen over an area of hundreds c
miles. Spectators in Holland wrongly al
tributed 1t TO the burning Of Wise, whic
| was. however, only an intelligent anticipa
lion OF events. because the delightful oil
Il town was completely destroyed a week late
a in revenge for the defeats inflicted on th
\ invaders at Tirlemont and St rrond dul
) ing the nrst advance on Antwerp.
i once embarked on somewhat perlloS