"I said I vould not do it," cried the German, with a sudden flare up of his old rage and hatred. "Und vat I say I mean." "But I'm sure you will change your mind," Frank answered still gently, while the crowd watched eagerly. "Within the next minute I am almost sure you are going to pick up the flags, dust them off neatly and put them back where you found them. If a little pressure is needed, why, I am always willing to oblige." A sharp twist of the collar he held brought a guttural cry of pain from the Prussian and a crow of delight from the crowd. "More yet?" queried Frank with another twist that brought the man to his knees whimpering. "Or will you do what I suggested?" "I will do it," growled the German, hatred and pain in the glance he flung his captor. "Led me go und I vill do it." "Good," said Frank. "I'll let you do it but I won't let you go. I love you too much. Right this way." The crowd gave way before the advance of captor and captive, and before them all the German was forced to pick up the flags, dust them to the entire satisfaction of his gleeful audience, and, with Frank's knuckles still urging him on, replace them to the best of his clumsy ability as he had found them. With the flags of the triple alliance floating once more proudly in the breeze, the throng sent up a mighty shout. Hats were thrown in the air and cries were heard. "That's Old Glory for you! The more they try to down her the higher up she flies!" "That's what the whole German nation's going to do when we get our boys over there!" "We'll make 'em tremble in their boots!" "And now," cried Frank, "our German friend will stand at salute and sing the Star Spangled Banner with all the expression I know his love for our country will prompt." The German balked again but under the same gentle pressure as before sang in husky tones and guttural accents the stirring measures of our national hymn. "And last of all," shouted Frank, while the throng, wild with delight, surged forward once more, "our dear enemy will, with all the reverence due the greatest flag in the world, kneel here in the dust and kiss the Stars and Stripes. Now then, kneel." "I vill not," cried the German, trying to wrench himself free. "You cannot force me--" "We'll see about that," said Frank, while the crowd grew threatening once more. "Will you do it--or shall I make you?" "I will not do it," the Prussian reiterated stubbornly. "I have done all the rest but dat I vill not." "Kiss the flag," cried Frank, now thoroughly aroused, his knuckles showing white as they gripped his captive's collar. "Come on--we're waiting." Slowly and relentlessly he forced the German to his knees, and driven by pain and fear of the mob his captive finally touched his lips to the flag.