The Pulaskian., 1918-11-08
CHAPTER XIV.
a NinI1f of niseination.

a Might of Dissipation
During the first two days / spent
with Huylfger after I had FIRST arrived
in the big city, he had told me, among
other things, of moving picture show
in town which he said might have
chance to see while there.
cit is free every night in the week
except Saturdays and Sundays he
said, "and once you are inside you
would not be apt to be bothered by
anyone except when they come to take
your order for something to drink.
While there is no admission patrons
are. expected to eat or drink while en~
joying the pictures"
A day or two later, while walking
the streets at night in search for food,
[ had passed this place and was very
much tempted to go in and spend a
few, hours, particularly as 1t would
perhaps give me an opportunity to
buy something to eat, although I was
at a loss to know how | was going to
ask for what l wanted.
While trying to make up my mind
whether it was safe for me to go In 1
walked half block past the place, and
when / turned back again and reached
the entrance with my mind made up
that l would take the chance ran fuli
tilt into a German officer who was just
coming out.
That settled all my hankerings for
moving pictures that night. Where
you came from, my friend | figured,
@there must be more like you! [ guess
It is a good night for walking
The next day, however, in recalling.
the incident of the evening before, if-
seemed to me that I had been rather
foolish. What l needed more than
anything else at that time WAS conf
dence. Before 1 could get to the from
tier I would have to confront German
soldiers many times, because there
were more of them between this city
and Holland than in any section OF the
country through which / had SO far
travelled. Safety in these conting-
encies would depend largely upon the
calmness I displayed. 1t wouldn't do
to get all excited at the mere sight or
spiked helmet. The Belgians, ! had
noticed, while careful to obey the
orders of the Huns, showed no partic-
ular fear Of them, and it seemed TO
me the sooner I cultivated the sarn0
feeling of Indifference the better
would be able to carry off the part
was playing.
For this reason made up MY mind
then and there that, officers or no of
ficers, I would 20 to that show that
night and sit 1t through no matter
what happened. While people may
think that I had decided unwisely be-
cause of the unnecessary risk involved
in the adventure, it occurred 10 mo
that perhaps after all that theater was
about one of the safest places I could
attend because that was about the last.
place Germans would expect to find q
fugitive English officer in even If they
were searching for me.
AS soon as evening came, therefore,
I started out for the theatre. / liked
myself up as well as possible. had
on a fairly decent pair of pants which
Huyliger had given me and used q.
clean handkerchief as a collar
With my hair brushed up and my
beard trimmed as neatly as possible &
with q pair of rusty scissors which
had found in the house, while my APP
pearance was not exactly that OF o
Beau Brummel, don't think looked
much worse than the average Belgian.
In these days the average Belgian fs
very poorly dressed at best.
I can't say had no misgivings as I
made my way to the theatre; GER
tainly I was going there more for dis.
cipline than pleasure, but l had made
up my mind that was going there to
see it through.
The entrance to the theatre or beer
garden, for it was as much one as tho
other, was on the side Of the building
and was reached by way OF nh allag
which ran alongside. Near tho aoos
was a ticket-seller's booth. but as thE8
was one ofethe free nights there VAS
no one in the booth.
I marched slowly down the alleg
initiating as best l could the Inainer-
ent gait of the Beigians, and when
entered the theater endeavoreG 70 ace
as though had beea there many times
before. A hasty survey OF the layoDt
of the place was sufficient 10 enable
me to select my seat. 1t was carly and
there were rot more than half 1ozen
people in the place at that lime, 80
that 1 had my choice.
There was a raised platform. per-
haps two feet high, all around The
walls Of the place except al the end
where the stage was located. On this
platform tables were arranged md
there were tables on the door proper
as well.
CTo BE CONTINUITY