Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-06-15


ly. He knew the character of General
Crandall-the phlegmatic conservatism
of the man, which would not easily be
Jared out of an accustomed line of
thought and action. The general
would be slow to leap at an accusation
brought against n wearing the stripes
of service, and, though he might rea-
sonably attempt to test Captain Wood
house, one such as Woodhouse, chosen
by the Wilhelmstrasse to accomplish
so great a mission, would surely have
the wit to parry suspicion.
Yes, he must be put on his guard.
The nimble mind of Herr Almer shook
and leaped to the exigency of the mo-
ment. Calling his head waiter to keep
warm the chair behind the desk, AL
mel retired to his room and there was
exceedingly busy for half al hour.
The hour of parade during wartime
on Gibraltar was l o'clock. At that
time, six days a week, the half Of the
garrison not actually in fighting posi-
ton behind the great guns of the de-
Tense marched to the parade grounds
down by the race track and there
went through the grilling regimen that
meant perfection and the maintenance
of a hair trigger state of efficiency.
Mr.. Henry J. Sherman stood with his
wife, Kitty and Willy Kimball-Kim-
bah had developed a surprising inter
est in one Of these home folks at least
under the shade of the row of plane
trees fringing the parade grounds.
They tried to persuade themselves that
they we're seeing something worth
while. This pleasing fiction wore thin
with Mr.. Sherman before fifteen min
utes had passed.
"Shucks, mother! The boys at the
national guard encampment down to
Galesburg fair last year made a bet
ter showing than this" He pursed out
his lips and regarded a passing bat
talon with a critical eye.
l-Ther patrfot stopped short In his re-
view of the continents delinquencies
to wave his hat at Lady Crandall and
Jane Gerson, who were trundling down
under the avenue of planes in a smart
dogcart. Lady Crandall answered his
hail with a flourish of her whip, turn
ed her horse off the road and brought
her conveyance to a stop by b group
of exiles. Hearty greetings passed
around. The governors wife showed
her unaffected pleasure at the meet
ing.
81 thought you wouldn't miss the pa
rade," she called down from her high
seat. "Only thing that moves on the
Rock-these daily reviews. Brought
Miss Gerson down here so when b
gets back to New York she can say
she's seen the defenders of Gibraltar,
If not in action at least doing their
hard training for it."
"Well, l don't mind tellin' you,"
Sherman began defiantly, II think the
national guard of Illynoy can run cir
cles around these Englishmen when 1t
comes to putin up a show. Now,
Kitty, don't you try to drive a plug in
your dads sentiments again. Mrs.
Crandall's all right-one of u.s." A
shocked look from his daughter. "Oh,
there l go again, forgettin. Lady
Crandall, l mean. Excuse me, ma'am."
Don't you dare apologize the gov
ernor's wife playfully threatened Mr..
Sherman with her whip. II love the
sound of good, old fashioned Mrs
Just imagine-married five years and
nobody has called me Mrs. Crandall'
until you did just now! Welded, but
Not a Mrs Wouldn't that be a per-
fectly gorgeous title for a Laura Jean
novel? Miss Gerson, let's-hop out and
join these home folks. They're my
kind"
The burst of laughter that greeted
Lady Crandall's sally was not over be-
fore she had leaped nimbly from her
high perch, Henry j. CALAMITY assist
ing. Jane followed, and the coachman
from his little bob seat In the back
drove the dog cart over the road to
wait his mistress pleasure. The scat
tered blocks of olive gray on the field
had coalesced into a solid regiment
now, and the long, double rank OF
men was sweeping forward like the
cutting arm Of a giant mower. The
party of Americans Joined the sparse
crowd of spectators at the edge of the
field, the better to see. Jane Gerson
found herself chatting with Willy Kim
ball and Kitty Sherman a little apart
from the others. A light touch fell on
her elbow. She turned to find Almer,
the hotel keeper, smiling d~eferentially.
"Pardon-a thousand pardons for the
Intrusion, lady. / am Almer OF the
Hotel Splendide."
"You haven't remembered something
more 1 owe your" Jane challenged
brusquely.
ooh, no, lady!' Almer spread out
his hands. g" happened to see you
here watching the parade, and l re-
membered a trivial duty 1 have which,
If I may be so bold as to ask, you may