A PERILOUS SITUATION.


"Come on, Hal. Let's stroll about a few minutes. We've lots of time
before the train pulls out."

It was Chester who spoke. Mrs. Paine and the two boys were sitting in
their compartment of the Brussels express, in the station at Berlin. It
still lacked ten minutes of the time set for departure.

"You don't mind, do you, mother?" said Hal.

"No; if you do not go too far," was the answer.

The boys descended from the car, and wandered toward the entrance of the
station. Just as they were about to step on to the street, a German
military officer swung into the doorway. Hal, who was directly in his
path, stepped aside, but not quickly enough to entirely avoid him.

With one outstretched arm the officer shoved him violently to one side,
and then stopped.

"What do you mean by blocking my way?" he demanded. "Do you know
who I am?"

Hal's temper was aroused.

"No, I don't; and I don't care," was his reply.