The first one was soon followed by his comrades. Then an officer, who
rounded the corner, coming to a stop directly before our windows. An
old Jewess stepped out and saying, "_Guten Tag_," handed him a packet
of papers, and gave various directions with much gesticulation. A spy
at our very door! A woman I had seen many times! Busy with Wladek I saw
no more for a while when a cry from the two other children made me rush
to the window. They were coming into our court. The soldiers! And in a
moment rushed into the room where we were, in spite of the signs tacked
up on all doors "Tyfus." Seeing me in the Red Cross uniform they held
back a moment. One bolder than his comrades laughed, saying, "She is
trying to deceive us," and came toward me with a threatening gesture.
Then with all my fear, God gave me strength to defy them. In German,
which fortunately I speak very well, I asked what they wanted.
"Food and quarters."
"You cannot stop here. There is typhus."
"Show us the ill ones."
Opening the door to my own bedroom where the child lay, talking, moving
the little hands incessantly, I saw that the nurse from the excess of
fright had crawled under the bed. The soldier yanked her out, saying
he would not hurt her, chucked her under the chin, and called her a
"pretty animal!" Poor Stephinia, she could hardly stand! I, in my
anxiety, pushed the soldier from the room, to find the others already
making themselves at home.
"You cannot stop here. Go away! I am not afraid of you; I am an
American. If you do any harm to us the world shall hear of it!"
They had been drinking, and the very fact that I defied them made an
impression.
"Go out on the road. I will send food to you."
They went. One of them, giving me a look of sympathy, said:
"You have my sympathy, Madame."
That gave me courage, and shutting the door I went back to my boy.
Always the same; I should not have left his side for an instant.