The Washington times., 1931-10-27
CHAPTER IA

Albert and I are sitting IN
the Cafe Meyer by the window.
Before us on the marble table
are two glasses of cold coffee.
We have been here three hours
now without yet being able to
make up our minds to drink
such bitter brew. We have
made the acquaintance of
most varieties at the Front,
but this stuff is straight stewed
Coal.
Three tables only are &C.
cupied. At one a couple OF
ptofiteers are making a deal
over q truckload of foodstuffs;
at another is a married couple
reading newspapers; and at the
third we are sprawling over
the red plush settee.
The curtains are grimy, the
waitress is yawning, the air is
sticky, and altogether there is
not much to be said for it
and yet to our minds there is a
great deal to be said for it.
We SQUAT there contentedly:
we have loads of time, the or
chestra is playing, and we can
see out the window.
So we remain until at last
the three musicians pack up
their things and the waitress
moves sourly in ever diminish
ing circles around our table.
Then we pay and slope off into
the evening. It is mervelous. to
pass idly from one shop window
to the next, not to have to
trouble oneself about anything,
just to be freed men.
Call a Halt
At Struben Street we call a
halt. What about going in to
see Becker?" I say.
Good idea," agrees Albert.
"Let's. That will make him
talk, I bet!"
We spent a good part of our
school days in Becker's shop.
One could buy every imaginable
thing here: notebooks, drawing
materials, butterfly nets, aquar-
iums, collections of postage
stamps, antique books and
cribs with the answers to
algebraic problems. We could
sit for hours in Becker's-it
was here we used to smoke
cigarettes on the sly. He was
our great confidant.
We go in. A couple of
schoolboys in a corner hastily
hide away their cigarettes in
the hollow of their hands.
We smile and put on airs a
little. A girl comes and asks
what we want.
I'VE would like to see Herr
Becker, if you please" I say.
The girl hesitates. Can I
not attend to you?"
mo, Fraulein," reply, chat
you can't! Just call Herr
Becker, will you?"
She goes off and we spruce
ourselves up, thrusting our
hands deep into our trouser
pockets. That should fetch
him!
We hear the old familiar
tinkle of the office door open.
ing and out comes Becker,
little, gray and unkempt, as
ever. He blinks a moment.
Then he recognizes us. well,
Birkholz and Trosske!" says
he. Back again, eh?"
eyes" we say quickly, await.
ing the outburst.
That's fine! And what
will you have?" he asks. Cigar.
etteS?"
We are taken aback and
feel rather sheepish. We didn't
want to buy anything: that
was not our idea. "Yes," I
say at least, ten, please"
He gives us them. well, till
next time!" says he, and shut.
tles off. We stand there a
moment. Forgotten some
thing?" he calls. from where
he stands on the few steps.
NO. no." we answer and go.
WELL" I say, once we are
outside. "He seems to think
we've just been off on a bit
OF a walk"
They Meet Willy
Albert makes a liStless ges-
ture, Civilian BEETLE"
We stroll on. Late in the eve.
ming we run into Willy and set
off together for the barracks.
En- route Willy suddenly
springs to one side and I crouch
down likewise. The unmistak.
able howl of a shell coming
then we look round mystified
ana laugh. 1t was merely the
screech of an electric tram.
Jupp and Valentin, looking
rather torlorn, are squatting in
a great empty room meant to ac-
commodate a whole platoon. At
sight of us. their faces beam
with satisfaction: now they will
be able to make up a game of
skat.
The short time has sufficed
for Jupp to become a Soldiers
Councillor. He just appointed
himself and now continues to be
one for the reason that the con.
ausion in the barracks Is such
that no one knows any differ
ent. It will do to keep him for
the moment, his civil occupation
having gone west. The solicitor
for whom he used to work in
Cologne has written to tell him