“Poor fool!  You are wasting your strength, even as HAIG wastes his in blow after blow on the Western front.”

But even as he uttered the lying boast he tottered and fell back unconscious into the arms of LITTLE WILLIE.

The Generals and Statesmen gathered round their stricken master, gabbling purest Prussian.

Millie appeared satisfied at last, although the CROWN PRINCE had scarcely glanced at her, for she was not his type.  She took advantage of the commotion to procure two boxes of matches which had been thrown carelessly on the table.  These she bestowed mysteriously beneath her overall.

“He deserved it too!” she muttered contentedly as she hobbled to the door; “and I don’t believe so much about all his matches either.  You can only get two boxes at a time even here.”  With this reflection she unostentatiously departed.

* * * * *

Again that familiar knock....

I was back in my little sitting-room in Cornwall and Millie entered with my candle, which she put down on the table rather noisily.  I gave her the usual grin and nod of acknowledgment, and she wished me good-night and went.

In the tray of the candlestick there was a box of matches.  I picked it up and turned it over curiously.  Could my dream have been true?  Or was it only a coincidence that in blatant red letters on that match-box were the words:—­

“MADE IN SWEDEN.”

* * * * *

    “Spokane (Washington), Monday.

    “Troops raided the I.W.W. headquarters and arrested James
    Rowan (leader) and 21/2 others on the eve of threatened
    disturbances.”—­Toowoomba Gazette (Australia).

Unfortunately in such cases half-measures are rarely successful.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  Sub (to A.P.M., who has severely censured him for being without gloves, wearing collar of wrong colour, etc.).  “OH, BY THE BY, SIR, HOW DO YOU LIKE THE WAY I DO MY HAIR?”]

* * * * *

    “THE AUTUMN MEETING of the WISBECH LOCAL PEACE ASSOCIATION will be
    held on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28th, 1917.

    “Being full moon, a good attendance is expected.”—­Isle of
    Ely Advertiser.

The Gothas would see that it was a peace-meeting and leave it alone.

* * * * *

“The tanks crossed the deep gulf of the Hindenburg main line, pitching nose downwards as they drew their long bodies over the parapets and rearing up again with their long forward reach of body and heaving themselves on to the German paradise beyond.”—­Yorkshire Evening Post.

That is not what the Germans called it.

* * * * *

    “IF CAMBRIA FALLS—­

    “The possibilities in the New Battle.”—­Dublin Evening Herald.