The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-01-12

enemy Is approaching.
"Hurt?" he cried. Hurt? You
don't know 'em. They came
into my house and, nasty as you
please, wanted food My old woman
started to argue with 'em. She wasn't
scared then, and one Of 'em took hold
of her by the arm. Maybe he didn't
mean anything; but she didn't under
stand, and she threw dipper of cold
water in his face like any decent wom-
an woodland they shot her. They
shot her for that! Civilian assaulting
an officer, they called it, was
out in the fields. The neighbors came
and told me. And l hurried home to
find her dead-her that hadn't done
nothing-dead! And l leaned
out Of the window-and l shot two Of
'em-and then l ran. How l ran!
And they didn't get me-and they
won't get me" The half-crazed peas
ant rushed off then, shouting to right
and left, wherever he saw head stuck
out of a window, or figure in door
way, The Germans are coming! The
Germans are comingw And after
him poured the scurrying mob, all cry
ing the same dread warning.
Charlie Brown was getting all the
color the most ambitious reporter
could have coveted. He turned a So
Der face to old Christophe.
This is going to be bad, old manw
he said.
Its like some hideous nightmare"
Ethel exclaimed.
Eyes, madame-and this Is but the
beginning" Christophe informed her
gravely.
Charlie Brown remembered then
that Madame de Lorde as she wished
to be known, still fingered there. And
he did not ike the thought Of her fac
ing that oncoming German horde.
IF you'll go to your room, I'll come
TO you if you want me-if there's any
need he said.
"Yes-yes! And oh! these poor, poor
people, she cried.
Hadn't you better close the doors?"
Charlie asked the innk8eper.
why, m'sieu 1 shall only have to
open them" Christophe replied. 81 am
not afraid, m'sieu"
Il wish l had your nerve" Charlie
told him, "All this has certainly got
my goat. It's the limit"
Christophe, by a quick, sibilant
sound, enjoined caution.
"Msieu, they are here.' he warned
him.
He had scarcely spoken when the
nrst or the gray-clad invaders was mo-
mentarily framed in the open window.
lie rode bicycle-that forerunner of
destruction. And a fine, clean-looking
youngster he was, one Of the pick of
the kaiser's first-line troops. Cool,
alert, businesslike, he pedaled deliber-
ately on as If unconscious Of the black
looks that met his coming. And as he
passed the inn he turned his sunburned
race so that he might seize a quick
but comprehensive glance at its int.
rior. Cumbered with full fighting kit
8E he was, he showed none of the ia,
tSue that had all but overcome Charlie
Eeown before he arrived at the Lior
dor. On the contrary, he looked fl
as a prizefghter, trained to the min
ute. And behind him rode another al
like him as second pea out of thu
same pod.
Charlie Brown gazed at them breath
lessly. He was conscious of mighty
admiration for those two infinitesima
cogs In the great German military ma
chine. And he said to Christophe il
an awed whisper:
Gosh! They're not afraid, are they
Anyone might pot them from a win
dow" The thing might happen an.
moment
Perhaps they are not afraid because
they know If they are killed they will
be well avenged" Christophe an
swered. And then he said, Really
m'sieu, do not speak English. ash
you to go. 1t may be easier for me
Please, m'sieu, quicklyw
The American reluctantly left the
@yipdCW, He did not want to miss a