The Washington times., 1931-11-13

Steads like hungry wasps around
a piece of plum tart. We be-
gan to see now how the farmers
must be driven almost mad by
it, and why they become so
abusive. But we persist all
the same; get fired out here,
perhaps score something there,
are cursed by other foragers
and cursed again and again.
During the afternoon we all
foregather at the pub. Our
booty is not mVch-a few
pounds Of potatoes, some meal.
a few eggs, apples, a couple Of
heads of cabbage and some
meat. Only Willy is sweating.
He comes in last of all with
half a pigs head under his
arm. Other packages are bulg-
ing from his pockets. But as
against that, he no longer has
any greatcoat. He has ex-
changed it, because he has an
other at home, and then, he
thinks that after all spring
must come again sometime.
We have still two hours be-
fore the train leaves and they
bring me luck. In the barroom
is a piano of sorts on which I
give a performance Of 1.-The
Maiden's Prayer" all pedals
down. This brings out the
landlady, who listens a while
and then beckons me to go out
side with her. 1 elbow my way
into the lobby, where she ex-
plains to me that she is very
fond of music, but unfortu-
nately no one who can play
ever comes there. Then she
asks me if I would not be will
ing to come again, and passes
me half a pound Of butter, say
ing that there is more where
that came from. I fall in with
the proposal, of course, and un-
dertake to play two hours each
time for as much. I return to
the piano and as the next item
do my best with the "Helde'
grab" and "Stolzenfels am
Rhein."
In the Darkness
Then we set off for the sta
ton. On the way we meet a
lot more foragers, all intending
to return by the same train as
ourselves. But they are fright
ened of the gendarmes. At last
a whole troop has collected and
they stand outside in the windy
darkness, hiding in a corner
some little distance from the
station so as to escape observa-
ton before the train shall ar
rive. Once aboard there is less
risk of being caught.
But we are out of luck. Two
gendarmes with bicycles sud.
denly appear before us. They
have ridden up silently from
behind.
Halt! All remain where you
are!"
There is a terrible commotion.
Everyone is begging and pray
ing, "Let us go, quick! We have
to catch the train!'
1.-THE train won't be here for
a good quarter Of an-hour yet"
says the fatter Of the two, I'M
perturbed. '"This way, all of
you." He indicates a street
lamp-they will be able to see
better there. One stands guard
to see that nobody sneaks off
while the other conducts the
examination. Nearly all are
women, children or old folks:
most Of them stand silent and
reSigned-they are used to be-
ing treated so and never dared
to hope really they might have
the luck to get home with half
a pound of butter.
Just Cops
I take a good look at the gen.
darmes.-Yes, there they are,
just the same, just as nobbish
and superior in their green uni
forms, their red faces, their
swords and their revolvers as
they used to be up the line
Might! say to myself. Might,
always Might-and be it no
more than an inch it is merci-
less.
One woman has some eggs
taken from her. Just as she is
about to make off, the fat fel-
low calls her back. "Hey! What
have you got there?" He points
to her skirt. "Out with it!"
She is obstinate and squats on
the ground. "Quick, out with
It'll" From under her skirt she
produces a piece. Of bacon. He
puts it with the rest. Thought
you'd ct away with it, did you?"
She can hardly believe what has
happened and keeps on making
grabs to get it again. But
paid for it!-Every bit of my
money it cost met"
He Shoves her hand away, at
the same time hauling out a
length of sausage from inside
a woman's blouse. "Foraging is
forbidden, you know that your.
SELF"
The woman is quite willing
to forego the eggs, but she
l.. L.