Evening star., 1935-11-10

yield. Then suddenly, by an accidental
turning of the door handle, she found
that it was not locked at all. Those
German officers had drunk too much
champagne to remember little thing
like that.
She crept inside the room and peered
about. 1t reeked of cigar smoke and
the fumes of wine. On the tables were
the empty champagne bottles and half
filled glasses. Some were broken, and
two chairs were overturned.
There was a big bundle of some
thing lying on the floor by the piano.
Someone perhaps had left kit bag.
But other things, more interesting,
had been left behind after this evening
of wine and song. There was an officers
wallet. stuffed with papers, lying on
the floor at her feet. She could see the
papers sticking out of it as she made
grab for it and put it into her dress
ing gown pocket. There were other
papers - letters and orders - Uttered
on the floor. Madame Claire might
like to see them.
Elise gathered some of them up and
stuffed them into the pocket with the
wallet. There was silence in the room
now, after that raid There was only
the faint, far-off noise of anti-aircraft
guns at Zeebrugge - and some other
noise, close to her and more frighten-
ing. 1t was the heavy breathing of a
sleeping man. 1t came from the bundle
by the side of the piano which she had
taken to be kit bag.
She was so terrified that she dropped
the metal candlestick, which fell with
crash to the polished boards. The
light went out and she knew that the
sleepingmanhad awakened and sprung
to his feet in the darkness. A harsh
voice rang out: "Wer geA da2"
She felt strangled with fear, but
somehow she answered. 1T is I. Elise
de Warlencourt."
For a moment there was silence.
Then the voice, which had been so
harsh, softened, and she knew it was
Lieutenant Won Rothwasser. "GnGdiges
Fraulein' What are you doing down
here? You frightened me terribly" In
the darkness she heard him give ner-
vous laugh at this confession of fright.
Help me light the CANDLE" she said
family. 1T fell and went out" She
marveled afterwards that she was able
to speak without betraying her terror.
He came toward her, cropping in the
darkness, and his hand touched hers a
moment.
II have box of matches" she told
him, holding it out.
He struck one of the matches and
lighted the candle, and held it UP to
look at her. What are you doing
down here?" he asked.
She lied to him with a glibness of
which she was afterwards ashamed.
ut was the air raid. l was afraid the
house might be hit. crept down for
shelter"
Il did not hear it," he answered,
and then he seemed ashamed to let her
see him and lowered the candle, so
that he stood away from its light. But
she saw that his hair was tousled and
that he was very pale. you will guess
the truth" he said, standing there
like guilty schoolboy. Il was drunk,
as you can see. drank deliberately to
fol get this chastity war for an hour or
two. My nerves are going to pieces.
cannot stand this life. cannot stand
this death in life. want beauty, love,
peace"
Perhaps he was little drunk, even
then. He held the candle close and
waveringly to one of his wall paintings
of sinking ship. These are the pic
lures which haunt me-" he said. Il
have helped to sink twenty-five mer-
chant ships. At night hear the cries
of drowning men. see their faces
white above the black waters in the