The Washington herald., 1918-02-25

One Cartridge Left.
Say They are electrified by the
sudden appearance of another friend,
though not quite a firm one, for
Brown crossed on the previous boat.
But they met him in London, and he
came all the way from there to Paris
with them, he and his crowd, so he's
| all right,
! Brown ordinarily is a hard-cheeked
fellow with squinty eyes. but there
Is no trace of a squint in him now.
The eyes are bulging excitement, as
he grabs fat Doofiab and little Ding
lat by the coat lapels. leans as far to
the center OF the table as possible,
and whispers piercingly:
I'VE fellows had better get right out
/ OF Paris!
There is one Instantaneous thought
I in the minds of all, and lanky Smith,
at the inner end OF the table, voices
! 1t hoarsely:
What have YOU heard?"
"Everything,s gone to the dogsw
Brown gulps. and tighrens his grip
! on the coat lapels: The French army
has only one cartridge left! All
they're waiting for now is to decide
/
going to evacuate Paris, and let the
Germans in: and goodnight"
Brrrrr! A chill like an ague de-
scends on the assemblage. but little
Dingbat. who is hopeful. not because
he is an optimist but because he hates
to die. moistens his lips, and asks:
| How do you know"
! II am not at liberty to state" an
Z
lively and lowering his voice still
more. But I may tell you this
much; the information came origi-
nally from high authority"
That settles 1t. Who is there to dis
pute a high authority? Something
like n groan is in the deep sighs of
the eight firm friends, and the silence
is broken by the harsh. hoarse voice
OF Doofiab, saying "Leggo O. my
coat For Doofiab, a jolly disposed
fellow. from his round face. and full
Of many a merry quib and jest, is
now pasty. and can't breathe.
| It's those Judas Russians" comes
hollow voice from near the end of
the table. White. with all the gold
teeth, and he has lines each side OF
his nose which were not there when
he dropped Off the train in Paris, and
looked around for the war.
| Russia! Terrible, menacing Russia
Tense faces and strained eyes turned
anxiously toward White. and Brown.
releasing his hold on the wrinkled
lapels. pushes in on the plush bench
beside little Dingbat. What more
can White have heard about the Boil
sheviki since noon?
Sure of Treachery.
IAN Russia is united.' explains
| White. They've drilled for months
under German officers. They've as
| sassinated all the allied representa-
! tives in Moscow and Petrograd! They
started yesterday on a march to Yer
dun. million strong! They're mur-
dering every one who refuses to take
up arms and Join them. By the time
! they reach the German frontier there
/ will be four million of them: and"
/ The waiter brings the soup to a ta-
! BILE which is cold and clammy, and
/ tensely silent. The eight sit like
statues. They do not utter a syllable
in the presence of this little man with
the down-drooping black mustaches.
/ He may be a spy! and their informa-
| tion is secret, confidential. valup ble.
- and good night" fi,ishes White
, as the waiter moves away.
! And you have this from a good
authority?' pipes up little Dingbat.
| His upper lip seems to be shrinking
away from the six hairs of his little
mustache, leaving them to stick
! straight out. alone and unsupported.
High" affirms White in awe; "a
man connected with the army!"
"RV Ge0rPaip Topaa oIo hi.
on the table so hard that the soup in
! the plates Jumps into little peaks, and
Dingbat spills his wine ordinary as
all turn feverishly to the redhead.
Now l believe 1t! Boys, a man told
me something this morning, in strict
confidence, which 1 couldn't swallow,
in spite of the fact that the thing
came almost directly from a high au-
| thority; but now that / know this
| Russian situation I see that he was
| right! The Italians have secretly
ceded to the Germans all their terri
| tory down to, and including Rome!
And the canal is to be completed cut
ting across below Rome which will
leave the whole southern part of
Italy an island, under the protectorate
OF the German empire, with the CAPT.
tai at Naples"
MY God"' voices little Dingbat
tremulously. 'T have my steamer
tickets for the 18th, and I hope. I
only hope, that Paris will be safe un-
| til then"
well. I'm here and I'm going to
stick" declares Jones, his freckles be-
| coming more intense, as his good Jaw
squares.
There is a general reflection Of the
| spirit of Jones on every. face, except
that of little Dingbat. who clings
tenaciously to the fact that he hates
to die.
Maybe the British can keep them
! out" suggests Brown. They did, you
know"
"The British?" Gray looks around
at the boys meaningly. and they turn
| plying eyes on Brown.
Haven't you heard about the Brit
ish?' inquiries Smith, shocked that
there should be such ignorance in
Paris. Tell him, Gray"
ForIorn Hope Dash.
"Oh nothing" says Gray, affecting
an extreme nonchalance of manner.
He's a rough sort of citizen, is Gray,
the kind who wears a soft collar and
fuzzy hat, and speaks hard and
laughs loud, and conveys a general
impression with his shoulders of be-
! ing ready to fight at any and all
times, and is always dragging sick