The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1931-10-21
INSTALLMENT 9


pitched out on the pavement.
KoSole sets off at q sharp pace
with Broger and TroSSke down
Heinrich street. With Ludwig I
turn rapidly into Station ave-
nue.. without wasting any time
in farewells, LedderhoSe and his
rag-and-bone shop have already
gone like a shot. Jupp and Val
entine alone have any leisure.
No one is awaiting their arri-
val, so they take q preliminary
Saunter around the station on
the off chance Of finding some
grub. They intend later on to
60 to the barracks.
Water is dripping from the
trees along Station avenue;
clouds trail low and drive swift
~ over. Some soldiers Of the
latest class to be called up ap-
proach us. They are wearing
red armbands. loft with his
shoulder straps!" yells one,
making a grab at Ludwig.
Shut your mouth, you war
baby!" I say, as I shove him
off.
Others press in and surround
us. Ludwig looks calmly at the
foremost Of them and goes on
his way. The fellow steps aside.
Then two sailors appear and
rush at him.
"You swine! Can't you see
he's wounded?" I shout, fling
ing off my pack to get freer
play with my hands. But Lud-
wig is down already; what with
the wound in his arm he is as
good as defenSeleSS. The sail
ors trample on him, rip at his
uniform. "A lieutenant"
screeches a woman'S voice.
"Kick him to death, the dirty
bloodhound"
To the Rescue
Before I can come to his as
siStance I get a blow in the
face that makes me Stagger.
I cough and with all my weight
I plant my boot in my aSSail.
ants stomach. He signs and
topples over. Immediately
three others fall on me and
drag me down. Lights out,
knives out!" cries the woman.
Between the trampling legs
I can see Ludwig with his free
left hand throttling one sailor
whom he has brought down by
giving him a crack behind the
knees. He still hangs on,
though the others are hoelng
into him with all their might.
Then some one Swipes me over
the head with a belt buckle
and another treadS on my
teeth. Wolf promptly Seizes
him by the calf of his leg.
but still we are unable to rise;
they knock us down again
every time and would tread
us to pulp. Wild with rage, !
try to get at my revolver. But
at that moment one Of the at
tackers crashes backwards to
the pavement beside me. A
second crash-another fellow
unconscious and Straightway
a third. This can have only
one meaning: Willy is on the
job.
He came storming UP st top
gallop, flung off his pack as
he ran and now is standing
over us, raging. He seizeS them
in twos by the nape Of the
neck, one in each nand, and
bashes their heads together.
Both are knocked out on the
instant-when Willy gets mad,
he is q living Sledge hammer.
We break free. I jump up,
but the attackers make off.
T just manage to land one OF
them a blow in the small OF
the back with my pack and
then turn to look after Lud-
wig.
But Willy is in full pursuit.
He saw the two sailors who
made the first attack on Lud-
wig. One now lies there in
the gutter, blue and grcsning,
and like a flying hurricane with
red hair he is hot on the heels
Of the other.
Ludwig'S arm has been tramp
led on and the blood IS oozing
through the bandage. His face
is smeared with mud and his
forehead torn by q heel. He
wipes himself down. and rises
slowly. Hurt much?" I asked
him. Deathly pale, he shakes
his head.
His Bitter Attack
In the meantime Willy has
captured the. sailor and, Is lug
ging him along like a sack.
''You cow!" he storms. 'There
you've been sitting in your
ships, taking the summer air
all the war, and never have
heard so much as q shot fired;
and now you think it's time for
you to open your beer trap and
attack frontline soldiers, do
you?-You let me catch you!
-Kneel down, you malingering
Sod2 Kneel down and ask his
pardon!" r.
He thrustS the fellow down
before Ludwig with an air Zero
ciOus enough to put fear into
any man, ''Tll master you'll" he
srlarls. "I'll tear you to bits!
Kneel! Down on your kneeS!"
The man whimperS. LET
him alone, willy" says Ludwig,
pcking up his things.
''What?" says Willie incred-