Part 8 (1/2)

”Shucks! open your eyes, and look around you, ry soldiers, raiding through an enemy's country, could pass by, and allow all this fat of the land to exist?

Ducks, and chickens, and pigs, and calves would have gone to s would have been shot in cold blood because being French they had dared to bark at the uniforht there, Josh,” admitted Hanky Panky, easily convinced when the evidence was there before his very eyes

”Here are the good people of the house coive their live stock such a scare,” observed Rod just then

A wo, silver-haired old man just behind her, appeared around the corner of the low building Possibly they had been alarade'sthe a courteous salute, and they sahat a frank boyish face he had, soements were soon made that assured the lads some sort of entertainh for the good woman of the farm house In her mind the whole world was divided into two classes just then: enemies and friends; and all who did not have Ger the Allies

The oldthe safety of the splendid ht store theht This receptacle turned out to be a sort of dry cave dug into the side of a mound It was evidently a frost-proof receptacle for the potatoes and other vegetables raised for winter use, and had a good stout door, secured with a hasp

”There doesn't seen of a lock here, boys,” announced Josh, after they had carefully deposited their machines inside and closed the door

”Well,” replied Rod, ”these people around here are so honest thele thing Chances are you'll not find a lock or even a chain or a bar in all the house”

”Sounds all very nice,” gru, if I knew the e to make you a shake-down here in the potato bin if so be you felt disposed that way,” suggested Hanky Panky blandly; but soly to the other, for he snickered

”If the rest can stand it I oughtn't to worry,” he grunted, and thus dismissed the subject apparently from his mind

Later on they sat down to a pretty fine supper, which the good wory boys were ready to declare that while they had sa on European soil, frolish and German to Flemish, they really believed that the French excelled all others when it ca

”No wonder they save so much money, and could pay off that billion dollars the Germans exacted after the war of Seventy-one,” said Josh confidentially

”They always say that a French family can live comfortably on what an American family would waste,” added Hanky Panky; ”and for one I believe it”

Rod, of course, started in to do the talking, but it was soon discovered that the wolish Great was the surprise of Josh and Hanky Panky when she told the as three years, some time back, before she was married

She proudly confessed that her two boys, as well as her husband, were in the ranks of the republic's patriotic arain see them, it would be a sacrifice for the land she loved with all her heart and soul; so that if the hated Germans were only beaten, and France saved to posterity, she could reconcile herself even to the loss of all she possessed in the orld

They sat up chatting until a reasonably late hour Then, as the boys wereday's ride they asked to be shown the apartht

It proved to be a roo that had been recently added to the old far suitably furnished Still, all they wanted was a place to throw the still summer, and little if any covers would be needed

Here then they prepared to sleep Each of thears and shoes

Josh poked his head out of a convenient opento take an observation He grunted as if pleased to know that from that point it was possible to see the mound of earth in which the potato cellar had been located

A wide double bed occupied one corner of the rooood woman of the house had also fetched in a cot, which would serve adood tobed, and finding that it felt reasonably soft ”I reckon, Rod, we'll let Josh take the cot, because you know he's such a kicker when he drealad of the chance to sleep alone,” chuckled Josh, apparently in no wise feeling hurt by the insinuation

So it was easily arranged, and in less than tenthe last one up, blew out the candle that had been given to the bed

If Josh chose to lie awake for any length of ti over matters in his active mind at least he did not make any sound calculated to disturb his companions

Tihtful dreaently shake hiain in a flash, and he knehere he was; also that itto draw his attention