Gilpin observer., 1918-09-12

food than all the drinks in the world.
The item I refer to was "Dubbel Ger.
stein de Flesch (Michaux)." A double
portion Of anything would have been
mighty welcome to me, but would
have been content with single "ger-
sten" If I had only had the courage
to ask for 1t.
To keep myself as composed as pos
sible I devoted lot of attention to
that bill-of-fare, and think by the
time the waiter came around almost
knew 1t by heart. One drink that al
most made me laugh aloud was listed
as "Lemonades gazeuses." but might
as well have introduced myself to the
German officers by my right name and
rank as attempt to pronounce 1t.
When the waiter came to me. there
fore, I said "Bock" as casually as I
could, and I felt somewhat relieved
that had gotten through that part Of
the ordeal so easily.
While the waiter was away had a
chance to examine the bill-of-fare and
I observed that glass Of beer cost 80
centimes. The smallest change had
was two-mark paper bill.
Apparently the German officers were
similarly fixed and when they offered
back to them with a remark which 1
took to mean that he couldn't make
change.
Right there was in a 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 hadn't heard
or noticed what had happened with
the Germans, and did SO. 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. I gave him Is 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 was on pins and
needles is to express my feelings
mildly. The truth of the matter Is 1
was never SO uneasy In my life. Every
minute seemed like an hour, and a
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
ficers seated themselves right at my
table thought that was about all 1
could stand. AS 1t was. however, the
lights went out shortly afterwards and
In the dark felt considerably easier.
After the first picture. when the
lights went up again, had regained
my composure considerably and I took
advantage Of the opportunity to study
the various types Of people In the
place.
From my seat I had a splendid
chance to see them all. At one table
there was q German medical corps Of
ficer with three Red Cross nurses.
That was the only time had ever
seen German nurse. for when was
in the hospital had seen only men
orderlies. Nurses didn't work so near
the first line trenches.
The German soldiers at the different
tables were very quiet and orderly.
They drank book beer and conversed
among themselves. but there was no
hilarity or rough-housing Of any kind.
AS sat there. within arms reach
Of those German officers and realized
what they would have given to know
what chance they had to capture an
escaped British officer. I could hardly
help smiling to myself. but when
thought of the big risk I was taking
more or less unnecessarily. began to
wonder whether had not acted fool
ishly In undertaking 1t.
Nevertheless. the evening passed OF
uneventfully and when the show was
over mixed with the crowd and dis
appeared. feeling very proud Of myself
and with good deal more confidence
than had enjoyed at the start.
had paosrd night which will livs
in my life as long as live. The bill
of fare and program and a throw
away" bill advertising the name Of
the attraction which was to be pre-
sented the following week which wal
handed to me as came out. still
have and they are among the mos
valued souvenirs Of my adventure.