Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-19

LIE HAD just entered the cafe and was
= standing at the door, looking about him.
] felt sudden pang of unea siness at the sight
OF him, for 7 remembered his cross -examna-
ton of meat Goch. But I could not escape
without paying my bill besides. he blocked
the way
He settled my doubts and fears by walking
straight over to my table
Good evening. Herr Doktor," he said in
German, with his pleasant smile. This in
|. deed is an unexpected pleasure So you are
seeing how we poor Germans are amusing
ourselves in wartime. You must admit that
we do not take our pleasures sadly. You
permit me?'
Without waiting for my reply, he sat down
at my table and ordered glass OF beer.
Il wish you had appeared sooner" I eN-
claimed in as friendly tone as could
muster, for I am just going. I have had
long and firing Journey and am anxious t" go
| to hotel"
Directly | had spoken realized my
blunder
You have not got hotel YETI sad
Schmalz. why, how curious! Nor nave |
AS you are a stranger in Berlin, you n'ust
| allow me to appoint myself your guide Let
| us go to hotel together, shall we?'
| | wanted to demur difficult as 1t was I"
| find any acceptable excuse. but his manner
! was so friendly. his offer seemed 50 sincere
| that ] felt my resolution wavering. he had
winning personality this frank, handsome
| boy. And | was dog-tired.
He perceived my reluctance but also my IN
| decision.
"we'n go to kn~ hotel you like" he said
brightly. But you Americans are Spoilt IN
/ the matter of luxurious hotels, know. Sti'l.
tell you have not much to learn in that
line in Berlin Suppose we GO to the EsPla-
made. It's fine hotel the tihm-
burg-American Line runs it, you know. am
very well known there, quite the hauSR'fu
. my uncle waS capita or one Oh
their liners. They will make us very com
Portable: they always give me htte SUIT
bed room, sitting room and bath, very reason
ably: I'll make them do the same for you.
II I had been less weary have oltch
thought since would have got up ana heu
from the cafe rather than have Countenanced
any such mad proposal But I was drunk
with sleep heavinesS and | snatched at thlS
chance Of getting a good nights rest lor
felt that. under the aegis of this young ofncer
! could count on any passport ulhicui'''s az
the hotel being postponed until morning hE
that time, meant to be out or the holei anu
away on my Investigations.
So I accepted SChmalZ'S suggestion.
"By the way" | said II have no luggage
My bag got misad somehow at the stahoh
and l don't really feel up TO. going ater II
tonight ,
II will fix you up the other replied
promptly, land with pajamas in the Amer
ican fashion. BY the by he added lowering
his voice. "I thought 1t better to speak Ger
man. English is not heard gladly IN Berlin
just now.
"I quite understand" l said. Then. 10
change the subject which did not ike par
ticularly, l added:
Surely. YOU have been very quick in com
ing down from the frontier Did you come
by train2"
"Oh no - he answered. II found that the
fati
1t belonged to the gentleman who came to
meet YOU. you know was being
sent back to Berlin by road, so l got the
driver to give me a Mt.
He said this quite airy, with his usual
tone of candar. But for a moment regret
ted my decision to go to the Esplanade with
him. What If he knew more than he seemed
to know?
dismissed the suspicion from my mind.
BAH, said to myself. you are getting
jumpy Besides, it is too late to turn back
now"
We had a friendly wrangle as to who
should pay for the drinks. and 1t ended in my
paying. Then. after a long wait, we man
aged to get a cab. an antique-looking
"grower" driven by an octogenarian in
coat of many capes, and drove TO the Espian-
ade.
1t was a regular palace OF place. with
a spendid vestibue with walls and pave
ment of differentiated marbles, with palm
trees overshadowing little fountain TN
king in Jade DaSln, with servants III sauuH
liverles The reception clerk overwhelmed
me with the cordiality of his welcome to my
companion and the American gentleman
and after a certain amount or CoQuetlSh
protestations about the difficulty of proVid-
ing accommodation, allotted US double
suite on the entreso consisting OF two ned
rooms with a common sitting-room and bath
room
In his immaculate evening dress. he was
n Beau Brummell among hotel clerks, that
man The luggage of the American gem
tleman should be fetched in the morning
The gentleman's papers? Ihere was no
hurry; the Herr Lieutenant wouio eNpia'I
to his friend the forms that had to De hlleu
in they could be given to the waiter in the
morning Would the gentlemen take any
thing before retiring? whisky-soda-ah
whisky was getting scarce NO? Notmns
He had the honor 10 WISH 'ne' ee"''e''''
pleasant repGSe -
We went to the lift in procession Beau
Rrumrnell in front. then waiter, then our
selves and the goId-braided nail porter prlhE
|, ing up the rear one or TWO persons were
sitting in the lounge, attended by platoon
of walters The whole place gave an I'M
nression of wealth and luxury altogether
out of keeping with british IDEAS Oh M .tie
e,ringency of life in Germany under the
pitish hiockade | could not help rejecting
~ Tnvself mournfully that Germany dld ho'
seen, TO feel the pinch very much ,
A. the lift the procession powed uSei
tay and we went up in charge Of the hft-
" gorgeous individual who looked Ike
nno of the Pope's swiss Guards We rea'h-
od the entresol In an instant. Ihe Lieuteh,
ant led the way along t"e u'"E "e"''o
corridor. i,, roo,, =, be said open-
door ..Ths is myroom, this the oath-
rocm and this" he hung open 'he io"''"
door lis your room! . ,,,, ,,ass Tho lights
nc ~ roou, we're full on. In an armchair
u bir man in an overcoat was sl''ahsl
He had a heaN! square