The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-22

wall, rising ana 1alllnS III q MoS'
window.
There was an instantaneous III
Three walters went to the do
before them, stopped them and hel
hand; for this was one of the most
poise must be preserved though Il
There was stained glass med
door of birdseye maple.
The pink checked and much med
aled ofncer at the table across the
room, who had been in the act OF
pouring wine for one of the ladies OF
mis- party, held the decanter in mid
air; the young English officer who
had been lighting cigarette as he
told story to a mighty pretty girl
let the match burn out in his fingers,
while the girl stopped in the very
midst of a silvery laugh. with a curl
GUS effect of an inaudible echo; the
American contractor who was laying
out railroad construction campaign
with matches, for the instruction OF
the two French officers who were his
hosts, held a river in one hand and a
mountain in the other while he listen
ID; the large, prosperous looking
french gentleman who was dining
alone-a banker, If our judgment as
to the length of his whiskers was &C.
curate-had his spoon in the midst OF
his dessert, and left it there; we, dis
cussing ways and means to make a
French oyster taste like an American
one, had turned toward each other,
and continued to look each other fix
eddy in the eye.
IT WAS THE VOICE OF THE 81.
rem!
Time was when the rise and fall OF
that piercing whistle would bring
back favorite picture of crack
hook-and-ladder company racing to a
fire, with three beautiful prancins
horses dashing proudly down the mid
die of Fifth avenue. and the traffic
spreading quickly to the curbs, and a
black and white coaph dog, with his
mouth wide open, and his eyes bulg
ing, and his, ears flying straight back
and his tail stiff as q poker, running
like mad ahead of the horses, barking
with every lung in his body, and think
ing that he was responsible for the
whole thing.
A siren will never mean merely tina,
to us again.
This time it was like the raising OF
a curtain on far different scene.
,
In London.
We were in London.
It was five o'clock In the morning
and we were asleep In one of the big
Piccadilly hotels.
. ;, / didn't hear the siren.
When l awoke, the big guns were
booming everywhere.
BANG! 10
BANG, BANG. : = s.
BOOM!
/ listened attentively, and made an
accurate guess.
"Kiddy!"
YES" came quiet voice CIT Of the
dense darkness.
"Oh, you're awake Wen, here il
Isl
mo
"Yet is it. It's the zeps.'
Really" A soft hand slipped over
from the next bed AMI met mine hall
way. What do we do?'
81 doa't know"
Silenc, for a moment, while we con
sidered that delicate question; that is
silence on cur part, though outside
the mighty fusilade. increased, ard q
sharp, whizzing shrek in the air, fol
lowed by an explosion, told of dcs
cending bomb near by.
1t was curious sensation, that Ci
lying in sung bed in the dark with
bomb likely to pop in on one al
any instant.
4 was going back to Sleep" came
he quiet voice out of the darkness
My first thought was that it nigh;
be the Zeppelins, but / wouldn't be
lieve it. We're so used to su0wa;
blasts at home, you know.
laughed as / got out OF bed.
1T does sound natural" l comment
ed; .5ut I'm sure this is an air raid
Don't show light" ] threw on .
robe and went to the door. The hal
was dimly illuminated as usual, AM
two young women with robes ove'
their night attire, hurried along tht
corridor an into their. srOOin.
They we're giggling!
Bang, bang. bang bang. boom, boon
Doom! went the big guns; whlzz wen
the bombs. | came inside and turne-
N tEe lights; and was met with tht
what do we do About IT? Any
thing?"
u don't know" puzzled, listening
10 the echoes of an explosion which
was louder and closer than any o.
the others. We looked toward tht
windows longingly. 1t was against U
la VITO open curtains or shutters, ever
so much as . crack.
Il think I'll ask the clerk about 1t,
I decided, and took up the phone.
Very veil, sir" came . bored voice
over the wire. fs
what does one do In the case O
an air raid?" inquired. Were stran
gers here"
low yes, sir" he drawled, In a tone
which was totally disinterested. :"
was just about calling you, sir. to say
that since you're on the top floor yot
might as well come down. II you Ike,
Indescribabie feeling.
We looked at each other thoughtful
II and in the minds Of both Of y
there was AGAIN the lively nowledgt