The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-10-04

food than all the drinks in the world.
The item l refer to was "Dubbel Ger
stein de Flesch (Michnux)." A double
portion OF anything would have been
mighty welcome to me, but l would
have been content with single ger
stem" II had only had the courage
to ask for 1t.
To keep myself as composed as pos
sible 1 devoted a lot of attention to
that bill-of-fare. and think by the
time the walter came around 1 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 20 easily.
While the waiter was away I had a
chance to examine the bill-of-fare and
l observed that glass of beer cost 81
centimes. The smallest change I had
was two-mark paper bill.
Apparently the German officers were
similarly fixed and when they offered
their bill to the waiter. he handed 1t
back to them witAssa remark which
took to mean that he couldn't make
change.
Right there was In a quandary. To
| + knd IN
told the officers he didn't have change
would have seemed strange. and yet
couldn't explain to him that I was In
the same boat and he would have to
come to me again later. The only
thing to do. therefore. vas to Offer
him the bill as though l hadn't heard
or noticed what had happened with
the Germans, aud did so. He said
the same thing to me as he had said
to the officers. perhaps little more
sharply, and gave me back the bill
Later on, he returned to the table Will
q handful OF change and we closed The
transaction. l gave him 25 centime:
place where 1t was necessary to tall
to do that.
During my first half hour In tina
theatre. to say / was on pins ant
needles Is to express my feeling
mildly. The truth of the matter is
was never so uneasy In my life. Ever.
minute seemed like an hour, and
dozen times l was on the point of get
ting up aud leaving. There were al
together too many soldiers In the plac'
to suit me, and when the German OF
fice-s seated themselves right ut m.
table l thought that was about all
could stand. AS it was, however, thu
lights went out shortly afterwards ant
In the dark 1 felt considerably easier
After the first picture, when tn
lights went up again, l had regainet
my composure considerably and tool
advantage of the opportunity to stud,
the various types Of people In tn
place.
From my seat l had a splendi,
chance to see them all. At one tabl
there was a German medical corps OF
flcer with three Red Cross nurses
That was the only time had eve
seen a German nurse. for when I wa
in the hospital 1 had seen only me-
orderlies. Nurses didn't work so nea
the first line trenches.
The German soldiers at the differen
tables were very quiet and orderly
They drank book beer and converse
among themselves. but there WAS n
hilarity or rough-housing Of any kind
AS I sat there, within arms reac
of those German officers and realize
what they would have given to kno'
what chance they had to capture a
escaped British officer. 1 could hardl
help smiling to myself. but when
thought of the big risk l was taking
more or lees unnecessarily, l began
wonder whether 1 had not acted foo
ishly in undertaking 1t.
Nevertheless, the evening passed o
uneventfully and when the show wa
over l mixed with the crowd and di'
appeared, feeling very proud Of myse
and with a good deal more conf1denc
than had enjoyed at the start.
I had passed a night which will liv
In my life as long as l live. The bi
Of fare and program and ''thrOy
away" bill advertising the name {
the attraction which was to be pr
, scented the following week which ws
, handed to me as l came out, I stI
have and they are among the mo!
valued souvenirs of my adventure.