Part 27 (1/2)

Trautvetter, where was Trautvetter?

At last he discovered him in the canteen.

”Trautvetter, you must lend me a hundred marks!” said the sergeant-major breathlessly.

”Must?” asked the one-year volunteer sarcastically. ”Must? Not if I know it!”

Heppner had dragged him out of the canteen into the empty vestibule.

”Yes, yes, you must, Trautvetter!” he repeated.

Trautvetter now perceived the disturbed mien of the sergeant-major.

Something very particular must have happened, that was clear; and in such case he could not refuse to help. For it was no part of his plan to push this man to extremity.

”What's up?” he asked.

Heppner murmured, with some confusion: ”Settling up accounts, all of a sudden--there is some money missing; of course I had meant to replace it.”

Trautvetter understood, and was beginning to pull out his purse, but he suddenly hesitated.

”Why, I have got no money left!” he cried in dismay. ”Must it be at once? To-morrow afternoon you can have as much as you want.”

”No, no, at once! Wegstetten has only just gone over to headquarters for a minute.”

”d.a.m.nation! What are we to do?”

The sergeant-major believed Trautvetter was doing this on purpose. He became more insistent, and implored: ”Trautvetter, for heaven's sake help me just for once! I beg of you! I beg of you! lend me the money!”

With a shrug the volunteer held out his open purse. There were only a few silver pieces in it.

”You can see for yourself, Herr Heppner,” he said. ”I am not the sort of fellow to leave you in the lurch like that.”

But Heppner could not yet believe him. He begged and threatened. At last the great big fellow threw himself on the ground and clung round Trautvetter's knees: ”Just this once, just this once!”

The volunteer pushed him roughly away. The sight of the blubbering giant revolted him.

”Stand up, Heppner!” he insisted. ”All this is no good. I would give you the money, but G.o.d knows I have none at the moment. Let us consider how we can get out of this.”

The sergeant-major stood up again, and looked at him in suspense.

Suddenly Trautvetter pointed to the canteen: ”He must lend us something,” he whispered.

But the canteen-keeper objected to this. Even when Trautvetter offered him ten, twenty marks for the loan, he remained obstinate.

The volunteer struck the counter furiously.

”Pig-headed fool!” he cried. ”Will you do it for fifty?”

The canteen-keeper hesitated. He had settled up the day before; there was not much risk for him, and fifty marks----!