The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-11-23
CHAPTER XIV.
A Nlqht Of Destination.

- Ni9nL OF OiSSipdtIOns
During the first two days I spent;
with Huyliger after had first arrived
in the big city, he had told me, among,
other things, of a moving picture show
In town which he said I might have aI
chance to see while there.
at is free every night in the week.
except Saturdays and Sundays" ha,
said, "and once you are inside you
would not be apt to be bothered by
anyone except when they come to take
your order for something to drink.
While there is no admission. patrons
are expected to eat or drink while en-.
joying the pictures"
A day or two later, while walking
the streets at night In search for food,
l had passed this place and was very
much tempted to go In and spend a.
few hours, particularly as 1t would
perhaps give me an opportunity to
buy something to eat, although 1 was
ut loss to know how 1 was going to
ask for what wanted.
While trying to make up my MIND
whether it was safe for me to go In
walked half block past the place, and
when turned back again and reached
the entrance with my mind made up
that would take the chance ran full
tilt into German officer who was just
coming out.
That settled all my hankerings for
moving pictures that night. "Where,
you came from, my FRIEND" l figured.
''there must be more like you! guess
it is good night for walking"
The next day, however, in recalling
the incident of the evening before, It
seemed to me that had been rather
foolish. What I needed more than
anything else at that time was conf
dence. Before l could get to the from
tier would have to confront German
soldiers many times, because there
were more of them between this city
| and Holland than in any section or tina
country through which l had so far
Travelled. Safety in these conting-
encies would depend largely upon the
calmness I displayed. 1t wouldn't do
| to get all excited at the mere sight OF
q spiked helmet. The Belgians, had
| noticed, while careful to obey the
| orders of the Huns, showed no partlc-
ular fear of them, and 1t seemed to
me the sooner 1 cultivated the same
| feeling of indifference the better
would be able to carry off the part
| was playing.
For this reason made up my mind
then and there that, officers or no Of
| ficers, I would go to that show that
night and sit it through no matter
what happened. While people may
think that I had decided unwisely be-
cause Of the unnecessary risk involved
in the adventure, it occurred to me-
| that perhaps after all that theater was
about one of the safest places l could
attend because that was about the last
place Germans would expect to find q
| fugitive English officer in even If they
were searching for me.
| AS soon as evening came, therefore.
I started out for the theatre. l fixed
! myself up as we'll as possible. 1 had
on a fairly decent pair Of pants which
Huyliger had given me and l used
| clean handkerchief as q collar.
| With my hair brushed up and my
beard trimmed as neatly as possible
with a pair of rusty scissors which
had found in the house, while my ap|
pearance was not exactly that OF
Beau Brummel, I Can't think 1 looked
much worse than TIE average Belgian.
In these days the average Belgian Is
very poorly dressed at best.
can't say 1 had no misgivings as
made my way to the theatre; cer'
tainly was going Etere more for dis
cipline than pleasure, but l had made
I'D my mind that was going there to
see it through.
The entrance to the theatre or beer
! garden, for it was as much one as the
other, was on the side of the. building
and was reached by way of an alley
which ran alongside. Near the doos
! was a ticket-seller'S booth, but as TINS
was one ofsthe free nights there was
no one in the booth.
I marched slowly down the alley
! initiating as best I could the iadiffer.
ent gait of the Belgians, and when !
| entered the theater endeavored to act
as though had been there many times
before. A hasty survey Of the layout
of the place was sufficient to enable
me to select my seat. It was early and
there were not more than half dozen
people in the place at that time. 50
that 1 had my choice.
There was raised platform, per-
haps two feA high. all around the
walls of the place except at the end
where the stage was located. On this
platform tables were arranged and
there were tables on the floor Props
| as well.