Part 30 (2/2)
”I'm not half as hard on you as the French and British will be when they get hold of you!” exclaimed the woman angrily.
Hal looked at her in surprise. He supposed that all women in territory conquered by the Germans had long since realized the value of keeping a silent tongue in their head. Aloud he said:
”I would advise you to be more careful of your speech. If words like those came to the ears of the general staff, you probably would be shot.”
”You can't frighten me,” declared their hostess. ”'I say what I please, Germans or no Germans.”
”Well, suit yourself,” said Hal, ”but don't forget that I have warned you.”
”Thank you,” sneered the woman. ”Here's your room,” kicking open the door at the top of the stairs. ”You can sleep there if you wish, but I hope the British have arrived when you wake up again.”
She waited for no reply, but descended the stairs hastily.
”By Jove!” muttered Hal. ”The Germans snared a Tartar when they caught her.”
”They certainly did,” Chester agreed with a smile. ”Great Scott!
Seems to me she could have given us a candle or something. It's as dark as pitch in this room.”
”You fellows stay here,” said Hal. ”I'll go down and remind her that she has been negligent in her duty as hostess.”
Hal descended the stairs quietly. As quietly he pa.s.sed through the room that in days of peace apparently had served as a parlor, and moved toward a door beyond, under which a light streamed.
”Guess she's in there,” said Hal.
He laid a hand on the k.n.o.b and opened the door.
As he did so there was an exclamation of alarm. Hal, in the light beyond, saw a form disappear into another room. The old woman ran toward him.
”What do you mean by coming in here without knocking?” she exclaimed furiously.
”Why--why, I didn't know--” Hal began.
”Of course you didn't know,” shouted the woman. ”But I'll have you understand that you can't make free of my house, though you be the Kaiser himself.”
From the folds of her skirt she suddenly produced a large revolver, which she leveled squarely at the lad. Hal stepped back.
”Here, my good woman,” he said. ”Put down that gun. Don't you know that a single shot will arouse the whole German army. You couldn't escape.”
The woman hesitated, and the revolver wavered. Before she could bring it to bear again, had such been her intention, Hal seized her arm, twisted sharply, and the revolver fell to the floor with a clatter.
”I'm afraid you're not to be trusted with that gun,” the lad said quietly.
He stooped, picked up the weapon, and stowed it away in his own pocket with this mental comment:
”One more weapon for our own little army.”
”You're a brute,” gasped the woman. ”You're just like all Germans.”
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