The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-01-12

1
frightened even to reproach himself for
the inadvertence.
"You are the proprietor of this inn ~
the officer demanded.
Eyes, m'sieu!"
Major Won Brenig barked out an or.
der to his men. And straightway they
closed both the shutters and the great
door that gave upon the street. Mean.
while the major examined his papers
| further
'You have daughter" he an.
nounced at length, Jeanne Marie
Christophe, and a servant Louis?''
Henri Christophe told him that the
facts were SO.
Where are theyY the officer asked
him then.
"The servant fed with the others
Christophe replied. my daughter is
in her room, m'sieu." He turned
toward the door through which little
Jeanne had sought asylum. But Major
Won Brenig stopped him.
"No, shall do that" he informed
him. And at his bidding Sergeant
Schmidt sprang forward to find the
girl. Her father simply pointed toward
the proper door. And his heart sank as
he realized the fright that would seize
the timid little thing at such sum-
mons. But he had not long to ponder
upon that; for Major Won Brenig
straightway resumed his catechism.
| you have six rooms" he continued.
| "Two of these will be occupied by my
self and officers for the night. You
will have them prepared at once, two
beds each. The other four rooms will
be shared by the infantry who will be
stationed here. For them you will
need make no preparations"
Henri Christophe bowed obediently.
'You have ground here-enough to
Craze two hundred horses" the mat
ter-of-fact major proceeded. You
have three cows. two horses, hay
stack, plenty Of chickens and pigs. Is
that not right?"
eyes, m'sieu, quite right" the Inn
keeper replied. He was staggered,
stupefed, by that amazing and accu-
rate inventory.
"All these we shall take; but we
shall of course pay for Them" the Off
Ger told him.
And then Sergeant Schmidt returned,
with little Jeanne covering beside U
bulky figure. AT the sight % her ~
Their she rushed across the room ain
chung to him, a piteous spectacle
"Ah, mon pere, am afraid-I am
afraid" she stammered.
He patted her gently.
'There, there, Jeanne-they will not
hurt you" Henri Christophe said.
Major Won Brenig looked with some
slight perturbation upon the sight Of
the frightened girl shrinking against
her natural protector, as If he still had
power TO shield her from all evil.
"No, my pretty little one, we are not
devils" he said, eve will not harm
you. am father myself"
""There-what did I tell youw ex-
claimed the relieved Henri. 4
"You are quite safe, my child" the
major added-"so long as you obey"
Already the summer air vibrated
with the far-off boom of heavy guns.
And now a bugle in the street outside
blared an order to the troops that We're
filing past the Lion dor.
"Oh, papa" the little creature cried.
But Henri Christophe knew that the
situation must be faced.
"Now, Jeanne, will you prepare the
rooms in four and six-two beds in
each? In the others these gentlemen
will Sleep" He bent over her in order
to emphasize his words.
"But we have guests already" she
reminded him.
Her father turned rueful face upon
the major,
"Ah, m'sieu, had forgotten. We
have two lodgers," he explained.
"Who are they"
cone is an American gentleman.
m'sieu; and the other Frenchwoman.,
"Well, put them out of their rooms.
We must occupy them"
"You hear, Jeanne?" Christophe said.
"Oui, mon PEREZ"
"Then hurry, my childv' he urged
her. III
Major Won Brenig gave her one last
: order. M
'And tell those two-those guests
they shall report here to me at once"
"Oui, m'sieu." Jeanne Christophe
hurried away then.
"And now m'sieu, go to prepare
your dinner" her father told the officer.
'Just moment! You have here no
firearms of any description"
None, m'sieu." &
"You have no telephone"
None, m'sieu." tN
Major Won Brenig wheeled about
then, and waved his hand at some
large placards which his men had al
ready fastened to the walls of the
room.
! Now, my friend, you see those proc
lamations" he inquired.
eyes, m'sieu."
I 1T is well that you heed Them" the
officer said sternly. eff there is any
| NJ faK,