demanded.

``My father!'' repeated Feuerstein, drawing Lena to him.

Ganser's mouth opened and shut slowly several times and his
whiskers bristled. ``Is this fellow telling the truth?'' he
asked Lena in a tone that made her shiver and shrink away from
her husband.

She began to cry. ``He made me do it, pa,'' she whined.
``I--I--''

``Go to your mother,'' shouted Ganser, pointing his pudgy finger
tremulously toward the door. ``Move!''

Lena, drying her eyes with her sleeve, fled. Feuerstein became a
sickly white. When she had disappeared, Ganser looked at him
with cruel little eyes that sparkled. Feuerstein quailed. It
was full half a minute before Ganser spoke. Then he went up to
Feuerstein, stood on tiptoe and, waving his arms frantically
above his head, yelled into his face ``Rindsvieh!''-- as
contemptuous an insult as one German can fling at another.

``She is my lawful wife,'' said Feuerstein with an attempt at his
pose.

``Get the house aus--quick!--aus!-- gleich!--Lump!--I call the
police!''

``I demand my wife!'' exclaimed Feuerstein.