Army Boys in France Part 5

"Tar and feather him! tar and feather him!"

"Ride him out of town on a rail!"

"Aw, that's too easy," yelled another, making a megaphone of his hands so that his voice soared above even that deafening babel. "I've got a good tough rope, fellows, tough enough even for this hog here. What do you say?"

"Lynch him! lynch him!" the cry arose deafeningly and the crowd surged forward once more closing in upon Frank and his quivering, terrified captive.

"Out of the way, Sheldon!"

"Let's get at him!"

"Oh, mein Gott!" wailed the German, sinking on his knees and gazing up at Frank with terror-stricken face. "You will not let dem murder me--like dis--in gold blood--you will not--"

"There's not much cold blood about this," said Frank, with a glint in his eye and another tightening of his fingers. "However, we'll let you live a little while yet. You're not fit to die."

"Lynch him! lynch him!" the cry still rose menacingly. The crowd was becoming impatient.

"Wait a minute;" shouted Frank, straightening himself to his full height and holding up his hand compellingly. "We're not going to lynch this man. We're going to punish him worse than that."

The German's face, which had grown hopeful at the beginning of Frank's speech, resumed its terrified expression and he sank back despairingly.

The shouts and cries of the crowd had settled down now to a muttering, murmuring, undertone so that Frank's voice rose clear and determined above it.

"First of all," he said, while the crowd surged forward in mingled disappointment and eagerness, "he's going to pick up the flags he has dared insult, dust them off carefully and restore them to their former position."

The crowd shouted its delight at the suggestion, while the German's face grew sullen and he looked stolidly at the ground.

"I vill not do it," he muttered.

"What's that?" queried Frank politely, while his knuckles dug deep into his captive's neck. "I'm afraid I didn't quite understand you. If you will repeat--"

"I said I vould not do it," cried the German, with a sudden flare up of his old rage and hatred. "Und vat I say I mean."

"But I'm sure you will change your mind," Frank answered still gently, while the crowd watched eagerly. "Within the next minute I am almost sure you are going to pick up the flags, dust them off neatly and put them back where you found them. If a little pressure is needed, why, I am always willing to oblige."

A sharp twist of the collar he held brought a guttural cry of pain from the Prussian and a crow of delight from the crowd.

"More yet?" queried Frank with another twist that brought the man to his knees whimpering. "Or will you do what I suggested?"

"I will do it," growled the German, hatred and pain in the glance he flung his captor. "Led me go und I vill do it."

"Good," said Frank. "I'll let you do it but I won't let you go. I love you too much. Right this way."

The crowd gave way before the advance of captor and captive, and before them all the German was forced to pick up the flags, dust them to the entire satisfaction of his gleeful audience, and, with Frank's knuckles still urging him on, replace them to the best of his clumsy ability as he had found them.

With the flags of the triple alliance floating once more proudly in the breeze, the throng sent up a mighty shout. Hats were thrown in the air and cries were heard.

"That's Old Glory for you! The more they try to down her the higher up she flies!"

"That's what the whole German nation's going to do when we get our boys over there!"

"We'll make 'em tremble in their boots!"

"And now," cried Frank, "our German friend will stand at salute and sing the Star Spangled Banner with all the expression I know his love for our country will prompt."

The German balked again but under the same gentle pressure as before sang in husky tones and guttural accents the stirring measures of our national hymn.

"And last of all," shouted Frank, while the throng, wild with delight, surged forward once more, "our dear enemy will, with all the reverence due the greatest flag in the world, kneel here in the dust and kiss the Stars and Stripes. Now then, kneel."

"I vill not," cried the German, trying to wrench himself free. "You cannot force me--"

"We'll see about that," said Frank, while the crowd grew threatening once more. "Will you do it--or shall I make you?"

"I will not do it," the Prussian reiterated stubbornly. "I have done all the rest but dat I vill not."

"Kiss the flag," cried Frank, now thoroughly aroused, his knuckles showing white as they gripped his captive's collar. "Come on--we're waiting."

Slowly and relentlessly he forced the German to his knees, and driven by pain and fear of the mob his captive finally touched his lips to the flag.

"And now," cried Frank, flinging the Prussian from him and dusting off his hands as though they were polluted, "make yourself scarce. But remember after this to respect the American flag. Americans are behind it!"

The crowd pushed and jostled the disheveled vandal as he slunk away and then, after cheering Frank, gradually dispersed.

"Boy, it was neat work!" cried Bart, as the two friends crossed the street together. "Coming on to the office?"

"No, I've got to see mother first and straighten my tie," grinned Frank. "I'll probably catch up to you though. So long."

Frank found his mother awaiting him with outstretched arms.

"Oh, my boy," she cried, "you were splendid! If you will wait just a little while till our affairs are more settled I will not say a word to your joining the army. If all Germans are like that--"

"They are, Mother," replied Frank, grimly. "Germany is a nation of men like him. What he did to our flags the whole Prussian empire is trying to do to the world."

"Then you must go!" cried his mother, holding him from her and regarding him with flaming eyes. "Because I love my son, I will give him--for my dear France and for America!"

CHAPTER VI

THE DIE IS CAST

"That's it, Mother," cried Frank, his whole soul responding to the kindling spirit in her eyes. "For America and France, the two greatest republics in the world. It won't be the first time they've fought together."

"No," replied his mother proudly. "Lafayette and other brave sons of France helped this country to win its independence, and it is only right that now when France is hard pressed and pouring out her blood like water, Americans should fight side by side with her to make the world safe for democracy."

"You're a true daughter of France, Mother," said Frank, admiringly.

"Ah, _la belle_ France," sighed his mother. "I love her with all my heart and soul. How many times I have longed to go back and see her sunny vineyards and her beautiful cities."