The Connecticut labor press., 1920-08-14

come from Dunkirk, as you may see printed upon the boat"
 T thought that you had been ship wrecked?' said I.
 But he looked at me with the straight gaze of an honest man.
 That is right" said he. "But the ship went from Dunkirk, and this is one of her boats. The crew got away in the long boat, and she went down so quickly that I had no time to put anything into her. That was on Mon day"
 And today's Thursday. You have been three days without bite or SUD-
 "It is too long," said he. Twice before I have been for two days, but never quite so long as this. We'll, l shall leave my boat here, and see whether I can get lodgings in any of these little gray houses up on the hillsides. Why is that great fire burn ing over yonder?"
 ''It is one of our neighbors who has served against the French. He is re- | joicing because peace has been de clared."
 "Oh! you have a neighbor who has served, then? I am glad, for I, too, have seen a little soldering here and | there." He did not look glad, but he drew his brows down over his keen eyes.
 You are French, are you nOtY' l asked, as we all walked up the hill to- gether, he with his black bag in his hand, and his long blue cloak slung over his shoulder
 "Well, I am of Alsace," said he. And you know they are more Ger man than French. For myself, have home in all. I have been great trav- eler. And where do you think that l might find a lodging|
 can scarcely tell now, on looking back with the great gap of f1ve-and- thirty years between what impression this singular man had made upon me. Jim Horscroft was a fine man, and Maj. Elliott was a brave one, but they both lacked something that this wan derer had. It was the quick, alert look, the flash of the eye, the name less distinction which is so hard to fix. And then, we had saved him when he lay gasping on the shingle, and ones heart always softens to- ward what one has once helped.
 "If you will come with me-" said I, "I have little doubt that I can find you a bed for a night or two, and by that time you will be better able to make your own arrangements"
 He pulled off his hat, and bowed with all the grace imaginable. But Jim Horscroft pulled me by the sleeve and led me aside.
 You're mad, Jock" he whispered. "The fellows a common adventurer What do you want to get mixed up with him for?"
 But I was always as obstinate man as ever laced his boots, and if you jerked me back it was the finest way of sending me to the front.
 He's a stranger, and it's our part to look after him." said I.
 You'll be sorry for it," said he.
 Maybe so.
 '1f you don't think of yourself you might think of your cousin.''
 'Edie can take very good care of herself.'
 "Well, then, the devil take you, and you may do what you like," he cried, in one of his sudden f1ushes of anger. Without a word of farewell to either of us he turned off upon the track that led up toward his fathers house.
 Bonaventure de Lapp smiled at me as we walked on together.
 "I didn't thought he liked me very much," said he. "I can see very we'll that he has made quarrel with you because you are taking me to your home What does he think of me then? Does he think, perhaps, that l have stole the gold in my bag, or what is it that he fears?'
 'Tut! I neither know nor care" said I. 'No stranger shall pass our door without a crust and a bed" With my head cooked, and feeling as if 1 was doing something very fine, in stead of being the most egregious fool south of Edinburgh, I marched on down the path. with my new ac- quaintance at my elbow.