The War Board prided itself on being neutral--this in spite of the fact that nearly every one that attended had the most definite opinions about all parties in the conflict and that no one hesitated to express them with picturesque, often profane, violence. Almost to a man the War Board looked on the invasion of Belgium as rotten business. King Albert became its first hero. His picture--a clear and beautiful print from an illustrated Sunday supplement--was pinned up the third week of August. It came down only once--to be framed, and it was to be noted that on all holidays "Albert," as they called him, always had a wreath. The general verdict was that he was "American"--"looks like one"--"acts like one"--"been over here"--"no effete king about him." After the Marne, Joffre joined Albert on the lobby wall, and the two of them hung there alone--for nearly two years. The War Board treated Ralph's ideas on munition making with almost unanimous ridicule. Indeed the only help he had at this body in defending his position came from a new friend, one who had begun occasionally to attend the sessions at the Paradise just after the war broke out. This was Otto Littman, the only son of Rupert Littman, the president of the Farmers' Bank, one of Sabinsport's most beloved citizens. Rupert Littman had been only ten years old when he and his father, a revolutionist of 1848, obliged to fly for his life, had settled in Sabinsport. The history of father and son was as familiar from that day to this as that of the Sabins, and Cowders and Mulligans and McCullons. Otto, however, was not so well known. He had been much away--four years in college, six in Germany studying banking and business methods, only eighteen months at home, and in these eighteen months he had not been able to adjust himself to the town. The town felt that he sneered at her a little, which was true, felt himself "above her," which was true. Rupert Littman, dear heart, had been very much concerned that Otto did not "take" to Sabinsport, and he had confided to Dick once that he feared he had made a mistake in sending him back to Germany so long.