Page 23 - A Hero of Liége

"Father sent word that he was detained," said Frieda, Finkelstein's daughter,
a little younger than Kenneth. "We are not to wait for him."

"He seemed very worried when I saw him this morning," said Kenneth. "Of

course business will be at a standstill, especially if we come into the war."

"It will be hateful if you do," said the girl. "But you won't, Kurt says. We

have done nothing to you."

"Kurt knows nothing about it. He thinks we are afraid to fight. He's wrong.
Of course we are not concerned with your quarrel with Russia; but when it
comes to your attacking France, quite unprovoked, and bullying Belgium to

let you take the easy way, you can hardly expect us to look on quietly. But
we won't talk about that, Frieda; you and I mustn't quarrel."

Frieda and Kenneth were very good friends. One bond of union between
them was a common dislike of Kurt Hellwig, whose sarcastic tongue was a

constant irritant. Kenneth related what had passed at the office that
morning.

"Why has he come back?" said Frieda. "He has been away for weeks; I
wish he would stay away altogether."

"Do you?"

"Of course I do. What do you mean?"

"I fancy Kurt thinks you admire him--because he wants you to, I suppose."

"Will you take me to Cousin Amalia's after lunch?" asked Frieda, with a
disconcerting change of subject. "I promised to spend the rest of the day
with her. And you'll fetch me this evening, won't you?"

After escorting Frieda to her cousin's, Kenneth strolled about, watching the

war preparations, then turned homewards to pack his bag, as he had
promised Finkelstein to do. On the way he bought a copy of the Cologne