Such, at the time the Spencer mill began work on its new shell
contract, was Herman Klein, sturdily honest, just according to his
ideas of justice, callous rather than cruel, but the citizen of a
world bounded by his memories of Germany, his life at the mill, and
his home.
But, for all that, he was not a man the German organization in
America put much faith in. Rudolph, feeling his way, had had one
or two conversations with him early in the war that had made him
report adversely.
"Let them stop all this fighting," Herman had said. "What matter
now who commenced it? Let them all stop. It is the only way."
"Sure, let them stop!" said Rudolph, easily. "Let them stop trying
to destroy Germany."
"That is nonsense," Herman affirmed, sturdily. "Do you think I
know nothing? I, who was in the Prussian Guard for five years.
Think you I know nothing of the plan?"
The report of the German atrocities, however, found him frankly
incredulous, and one noon hour, in the mill, having read the Belgian
King's statement that the German army in Belgium had protected its
advance with women and children, Rudolph found him tearing the
papers to shreds furiously.
Pages:
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230