The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-10-17


food than all the drinks In the world.
The item refer to was "Dubbel Ger.
stein de Fiesch (Niichaux)." A double
portion Of anything would have been
mighty welcome to me, but ! would
have been content with a single "ger-
sten" II I had only had the courage
to ask for 1t.
To keep myself as composed as DOS
slble devoted q lot Of attention to
that bill-of-fare, and I think by the
time the walter came around almost
knew It by heart. One drink that al.
most made me laugh aloud was listed
| as "Lemonades gazeuses," but I might
as well have introduced myself to the
German officers by my right name and
rank as attempt to pronounce It.
When the waiter came to me. there
fore, I said "Bock" as casually as I
could, and felt somewhat relieved
that had gotten through that part of
the ordeal 30 easily.
While the waiter was away I had
chance to examine the bill.of-fare and
observed that a glass Of beer cost 81
centimes. The smallest change had
was q two-mark paper bill.
Apparently the German officers were
similarly fixed and when they offered
their bill to the walter. he handed It
back to them with a remark which i
took to mean that he couldn't make
change.
Right there I was in q quandary. To
offer him my bill after he had just
told the officers he didn't have change
would have seemed strange. and yet l
couldn't explain to him that was In
the same boat and he would have to
come to me again later. The only
thing to do. therefore. was to offer
him the bill as though I hadn't heard
or noticed what had happened with
the Germans. and I did 30. he said
the same thing to me as he had said
to the officers. perhaps a little more
sharply. and gave me back the BILL
Later on. he returned to the table with
handful Of change and we closed the
transaction. l gave him rs centimes
as a tip-I had never yet been to a
place where 1t was necessary to talk
to do that.
During my FIRST half hour in that
theatre. to say I was on pins and
needles Il to express my feelings
mildly. The truth of the matter IL
was never 20 uneasy In my life. Every
minute seemed like an hour. and
dozen times was on the point Of get
ting up and leaving. There were al
together too many soldiers in the place
to suit me, and when the German OF
] ncers seated themselves right ut mJ
J table I thought that was about oil
I could stand. Az It was. however. thu
: lights went out shortly afterwards ant
In the dark felt considerably easier
After the nrst picture. when th'
, lights went up again. I had regainet
my composure considerably and I tool
advantage Of the opportunity to stud!
the various types Of people In tn
7 place.
From my seat I had Q splendit
. chance to see them all. At one tabl'
? there was q German medical corps OF
fcer with three Red Cross nurses
That was the only time had eve
I seen q German nurse. for when wa
In the hospital had seen only mel
! orderlies. Nurses didn't work 90 nea
. the first line trenches.
The German soldiers at the differen
D tables were very quiet and orderly
They drank book beer and converse
among themselves. but there was n
hilarity or rough-housing Of any kind
As I sat there. within arms reac
Of those German officers and realize
what they would have given to knON
!, what q chance they had to capture a
escaped British officer. could hardl
help smiling to myself. but when
. thought of the big risk was taking
more or less unnecessarily. began I
: wonder whether had not acted foo
!. ishly In undertaking 1t.
= Nevertheless. the evening passed o
uneventfully and when the show wa
= over ! mixed with the crowd and dii
= appeared. feeling very proud Of myse
= and with a good deal more confidenc
= than I had enjoyed at the start.
y had passed night which will liv
!" in my life as long as I live. The bi
"a of fare and program and n "throy
,. away" bill advertising the name {
'. the attraction which was to be pr
'e sented the following week which We
"a handed to me as / came out. / sti
4. have and they are among the mo-
valued souvenirs Of my adventure.
ID