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Show rr . , - ',vi-,k "A A ' r v '' " ! ' i ... . , 1 Mi '- t r :v A ) ; j r i,-A i: ; . ; Fl :. pM ,7 AA H 7 11 " ' I ' ; -,. H ,,' -i Al 1 U j M M.j I i ir Xa-sr ": imr.. -.s-r" 'it -iv.. i;Misata. .;i-r-irmj J . V' 7-r--" jitcffA&?)ftJij'tih :y;;A ' 'V. J ' rj . O-.O ---v x-'-- X'jjfTi'i or T. ;:. coxa. "a. j vjM.'sCui cfr-. .it yvvnss SYNOPSIS. g Tli- f r , i r.i, i .-i m r.. I : t : , -I V:I- .,u.;nl... ) I . - r . j - ,Wi-.-lr...!'i a:.. I .t. I. ,n , .' I:.-, : r i .ii.l. '! Ii.ln.ir i I. .11. pi, -PS in-" I'll- i : ... W. in' f 111.- llrill.-il li,lip!i;i!'v ali i ' IiiliI.-s 1:i-v. n, a -N'"v''j Vo II. Ii. u,l,sr P P ." I ' s 1 ii i ! ; . I ' Kll,. I ii ill ,.r Hp- i I -- I - -1 1 v- ip.irr-.l t'i Si r-i-l n. . i ii, :i il-rman H,V, tiiiili;-,il ,-!l" (l.'l Dot I II'IW 1.IM'. I'.H t.u'. Ii i a i:.. ,1111.11111. 1. a .iM Ii.vhi'. ii-hiriiM tu Kir'liui'i atl'-r l-iu,' al.-.-nc". In, i tt... I. in us tin: U ntil alimit Si I I inn n ; I II ,1 I a-l ii i Hi ', li.at lie has I h I f. i s t" I h.-r Minpls- In l.ain tliial S"-ii-.-tx 'I'll.- 1 : 1 1 r , . -i i n war bfass nut. I J ( i 1 ,i .paii-s (,, a,-,., papain' ,S l it-.-i man p, I'.rip a Is as a (p-i-man sp' in pn,-- t,i K"t ii.i" anil m ive K nn la lp I. ('aplaiil 1 IimIiii'-ih! , i:tln I aial I'haii!" Ilrowii turn np ul n llt-ltjian tun as tile Gtirman army ' (iIIP'.S. Here is a big opportunity for Charlie Brown, the New York newspaper correspondent, to show either a world of good sense or a 6iate of mind bordering on insanity. The problem is up to him whether he will 6tick. by his friends, no matter what occurs, oc-curs, or consider the safety of his own person. There is a big thrill in this installment. It describes de-scribes the meeting and planning plan-ning of spies. CHAPTER XII Continued. Ethel consented to the arrangement. She whs immensely relieved that the quick-witted journalist so readily accepted ac-cepted her alius. "Good, good!" their delighted host eselnitneil. ''Sweet consomme, eh? Moiled chicken, an artichoke, a bit of salad, and some coffee real American coffee, without chicory, eh, ru'sieu?" lie was already edging toward the door that led kitchenward, to begin his preparations for a ineal that should forever perpetuate his Inn In the memories mem-ories of his two guests. "Great! Sounds immense!" Mr. Browu rejoined with enthusiasm. "Yes, m'sieu immense! That Is your good American -word. ... I shall serve such a dinner as the Lion d'Or never has seen before!" And Henri disappeared in high spirits. After the depressing dullness of the past weeks It was Indeed exhilarating to minister to two appreciative patrons. pa-trons. n.v the time Christophe had vanished van-ished Ethel Willoughby had quite recovered re-covered her self-possession. And -when Charlie Browa turned to her witli a look of Inquiry upon his face she was ready to meet his scrutiny with a stout heart. r "Von seem surprised aiut quite nat urally," she said, "at bearing that man call me Madame de Lorde." "Well, that afternoon' 1 knew you ns Miss Willoughby." he replied. "Hut I was then Madame de Lorde," Ethel explained glibly. "You see, Mr. Brown, I'd been married secretly." "Secretly?" "There were reasons good reason, rea-son, " she rejoined. "I could not explain ex-plain what they were then; nor can I now." Surely surely!" he acquiesced, for he had not the slightest desire to pry into her private affairs. "But what on earth are you doing in this dead and-alive spot?" And then, in the next breath, he exclaimed, as a sudden inspiration in-spiration came to him, "Oh, by George! How dull of me! You're honeymooning, honeymoon-ing, Qf course!" "Not exactly!" Ethel replied, just a bit lamely, perhaps. ".My husband isn't here just now. He had some business in Brussels, but I came on ahead." She had, indeed, left Streetman in the Belgian capital. ''Shall you be staying long?" she asked Mr. Brown. - "No! I'm off in the morning," he Informed her. The Information relieved her vastly. She" had not relished , the thought of having to confess to the American that Monsieur de Lorde was no other than his erstwhile acquaintance of the tea party Henry Streetman. But as a spy in his majesty's service, Ethel took as easily to subterfuge as a duck to water. She surprised herself often by the readiness with which plausible tales sprang to her lips. "Oh! Then you won't be able to meet Monsieur de Lorde," she said with a note of regret. "I don't expect hir.i till tomorrow." Charlie Brown murmured his regret at that circumstance. "But what are you doing here?" Ethel asked him then. 'Terhaps you've a secret In your past too?" she. added Bayly. But Mr. Brown could lay claim to no such romantic excuse. "Oh, I came over looking for a war," he explained. "And you haven't found it?" "Nothing like it at .all!" he replied. "The day after I saw you I got a straight tip to beat It for Belgium. I bought yon one-and-a-half cylinder 1SI0 bicycle, and I've pedaled away for three days, till I feel all legs and back. My right name, this minute, is George W. AcheweM!" And Charlie Brown . t down by (he table upon which Ma-I Ma-I dame do I.or.le was resting her trim I elbc-v "Mr. Brnv. n," I-Mwl said, "you're not Ei;i;!i i!i. I am; bu! you are an Anglo-i Saxon, am! you must syin;.at'i;i.a with the nUip:;." j "s'Pii'e I do!" was K:.-? pr ro-snip's", ro-snip's", 'Then, vhxt,-rer U-'.7.r''":.i while you' re I:, r.' iio continued Willi an air of great earnestness, "whatever hap- j pens, I want you to remember that I 1 am English, and that it is England I j serve always. . . . You will believe it?" "Oh, of course I will!" he assured her Ami Immediately a thought came into Charlie Brown's head that made him start. "And by the way," he said, "while I think of it, I want to warn you about that chap I met at tea at your place. Streetman. he culled himself. him-self. You remember him?" To hide her confusion Ethel rose and moved a few steps away from the table. "Yes, I remember him very well," she answered. "I happened that night to get' some-dope some-dope on him," Charlie went on, in entire en-tire innocence of the effect his words had upon her. "lie's what you might call a professional spy working for the German secret service now. That's why he stuck up for them that afternoon; after-noon; but really he's a Russian." "A Russian!" Ethel exclaimed, startled, star-tled, in spite of herself, by that surprising sur-prising news. "Yes," he continued. "He got kicked out of Russia ten years ago for some dirty business. Then he worked for the English against the Boers. They couldn t stand mm either ne s an awful aw-ful rotter. I don't know .much about him after that. Now he's with the Germans. . . . You'll forgive my speaking of this," he said, "but I thought perhaps as you're in the admiral's ad-miral's family, he might be trying to pump you about some of the navy's secrets." "Oh thank you for telling me!" she exclaimed gratefully. And, somehow, she felt the least bit guilty that she could not be frank with him. "And one thing more " she added, as he seemed about to leave her, "you won't speak of meeting me here? You'll promise, won't you, even though I can't explain?" "My dear girl," he protested, "I've been oh so many stories, I've interviewed inter-viewed so many people, I've seen so much of human nature, that I know pretty well when to print a story and when to kill it and I'll go through for you any way you want me to." Ethel turned to him impulsively, gratefully. "Thank you you're R dear!" she told him. And at that moment the French spy he of the newspaper returned. And, paying scant heed, apparently," to Ethel and her companion, he sat down at a table, lighted another cigarette, ciga-rette, and resumed his intent reading once more. As soon as he caught sight of the stranger Charlie Browu warned Ethel with a quick "Ssh!" "It must be nearly time for dinner." Madame de Lorde remarked carelessly, as if their conversation bore only upon trivial matters. "That's so. And If we're going to dine together I think I'll go wash up or the folks will think I belong here," Mr. Brown said, glancing down at the wreck of his once immaculate new English suit. "Oh, 1 almost forgot my vanity bag!" he exclaimed. And he rorripvait hia Tinner nn rppl from the table where he had dropped it. Then he went joyfully to his room. ' CHAPTER XIII. Der Tag. Meanwhile Ethel Willoughby. alias Madame de Lorde, strolled aimlessly to the' cigar counter and leaned negligently neg-ligently against it. Her feelings were decidedly mixed compounded of pleasure pleas-ure and uneasiness. As it turned out, she found it agreeable to meet Mr. Brown. It was a distinct relief to be able to talk to someone against whom she was under no necessity of being j on her guard. But at the same time, a j matter of business had brought her to Courvoisier, and the inn. To be sure, Streetman expected to join her there later. But in the meantime Ethel expected ex-pected to meet someone else first. Who that person might be she did not know, except that the unknown was a spy in the service of the French. No sooner did he find himself alone with Ethel than the little Frenchman dropped his paper. "Bonjour, madame!" he said. "I beg your pardon!" Ethel said. "Do not look around stay where you are!" the stranger told her crisply. All at once it occurred to her that this somewhat inferior-looking Individual Indi-vidual might be ho whom she sought. But she could not be sure. And she resolved to bide her time. "Really, sir," she said, with assumed hauteur, "I beg you to explain this mystery this " "Mystery " he took the word out of her mouth "shall we say rather the mystery of General Jacques," he corrected her politely. "Oh. you are " I "A fri"iPl of From-.-! . . . Ami your ;ia -s-o:-.lV'' Hp wa!;, 1 f'r Llt ''i.'uiirvipsprr!'' -!.o s;ipl in a !ow voice. "liood!" la? pxiaaimi'l with s'ltisfip--tion. "Tiie o'.i'.T day To flpuerai Jai-'pies at tip- l'oit yo'i fr.Ti.l your scrvi'-e-; for i'raiipp," Le vpntiired. "Ye-!" "lie vi-lp-s now to ta!:e advantage of your ol'l'er." "I am p-ady." she answered quietly. He proeee'Lid swiftly to Use biisi-ne-s in hand. 'Tin- Germans will be liel e tonight, anil here the road forks, one turn to Ihe ri"ht. the oilier to the let'; von know';" I "It is important, the general says, that he should know whieh road the j Germans take whence comes the at--tack. . . . Y'ou are to inform him by telephone." ( "But liiey will cut the wires," Ethel ' objected. "All that they can find." lie agreed. "But last night, while the o.hers slept, we have strung a wire from the fort to that chimney!" By the merest nod he indicated the huge fireplace that projeeted into the room. "Here?" she exclaimed. lie bowed. "I have beneath my coat a telephone." tele-phone." be continued hurriedly. "If madame will be good enough to change places with me and keep wateh, while I connect tile instrument, the affair will be simple." "Of course!" Ethel responded. The Frenchman stole to the fireplace and crept Inside the wide opening. And while his head and shoulders vanished momentarily up the chimney he busied himself with his work of attaching at-taching the instrument to the dangling wire within. "Ali is well?" he called in a low voice, as his deft fingers twisted the ends of the wire. "It is done," the little man declared. He quickly brushed a few clinging particles of soot from his sleeves. "The telephone is in the far corner," he explained, "beneath some tree branches. It cannot be seen." "And what am I to do?" she asked. "At the earliest possible moment arter tne tjeiiuaus tu-rivt; uuu jyu have found out which road they take, call on that instrument. An officer will be waiting every moment from now on. I have signaled that the connection con-nection is made." "I understand and you may depend on me," she promised. And he had already reached the door to take his departure when he came to a sudden halt. "Now may I ask you are Madame de Lorde?" he inquired In his quaint English. "Yes!" "Now it is perhaps best that you be told," ... he continued. "Before you came a gentleman in the service of your country, a gentleman who met you in Brussels he ask for you." Ethel started at his announcement. And she drew nearer to him. "Captain Redmond!" she exclaimed in a low voice. "Ssh ssh madame!" he. warned her. "It was he," he whispered. "Is he here?" she asked eagerly. "He could not wait. He must return re-turn to his work," he enlightened her. "But what was he doing here?" she demanded in alarm. The little Frenchman waved her to a nearby chair. "Not so close, madame!" he begged. She sat down obediently. "What was he doing here?" she asked. "He came to arrange about the telephone," tel-ephone," the fellow told her. "It is his plan." "His plan! Then he will come i back " "He could not be certain, madame." "But he's alive, and well " She could hardly wait for his answer. "Yes. madame, quite so." "Oh. thank God!" Ethel murmured. In a tone of vast thankfulness. Her fellow-spy smiled at that a happy smile. "I am glad I have told you," he said. "I had thought perhaps it was an affair of the heart. He had the look. . . . And now, madame, for what you will do permit me to thank you. It is for France" "And for Larry!" Ethel murmured softly. It was Ethel's turn to warn him then. For a door opened. Henry Christophe had returned. "Good day. m'sieu!" the little man said cheerfully. And he departed. "Ah. Eiadame! Dinner is ready!" Christophe announced to Ethel. "And where is the American gentleman?" "I fancy he will be here directly." she told him. "Ah. good, good! But we must not spoil the chicken." he said. He had taken especial pains with that chicken, chick-en, and he wished it to be served at just the proper moment. "I say!" Mr. Brown exclaimed. "I just happened to glance out of my window. win-dow. What's going on over there?" "Why, nothing, m'sieu!" his host replied re-plied happily. "And your dinner is ready. It Is delicious, I promise you." Curiously enough, Mr. Brown's Interest In-terest in dinner had suddenly abated. "But something is happening! Look for yourself!" he urged. Henri Christophe went to the door and gazed down the village street And while he stood there, looking through the shimmering heat-waves that flickered above the cobblestones, Charlie Brown took another survey of the commotion he had witnessed from his room. "Yes, yes, m'slu you are right!" Christophe exclaimed presently. "There Is a cloud of dust and people are running run-ning down that road; some are coming this way." ... He turned away 1 from the door. And upon bis broad Wo tio-.-e was an expro-snn aK.n to b.wil.leipat. "What can it mean, m'sieu :" he asl.ed. . -Ifs tlie ;.-n.mur C!uir..e cried U. . "-cat excitement. -pV" IipsoiU' the tiuht rem she 'on herself, that one low orv would come leaping to Lthel 3 ! pre, fearful, half incredulous. Henri ! Chrlsio-.he stood sto.-k siill and ga-ed "lupidlv at the American. 'That I cannot beiieve!" he said at last But In a moment more he had l.e'ieve it. Even little Jeanne knew it. Site came living into the room and flung herself into her father's fa-ther's arms. 'Mon pere. mon' pere! The Germans Ger-mans are coming'." sue cried in terror. Her father looked down at her tenderly. ten-derly. . "There, there! Do not cry! ( lins- toplie said, trying us lt lui 001,1,1 tJ culm her fears. "They will not hurt vou or mo." As for Charlie Brown he promptly forgot all personal considerations. He became at once the newspaper man. the news-gathering machine. "The Germans are coming! And I'm in the thick of it! God. what a story!" he exclaimed. It was what he hud dreamed of. Henri Christophe put his daughter away from him, as an uneasy thought crept over him. . "Go to your room, Jeanne, and stay there till I call you," he said gently. A confused murmur, as of many voices shouting in the distance, penetrated pene-trated that still room where they waited. wait-ed. And with every moment that passed it grew louder. From his post in the window Charlie Char-lie Brown beheld a column of people sweeping up the road. They were still some distance off. But even through the dust he could see that It was a horde of frightened people, men, women, wom-en, children. "Where are they from, my friend?" Charlie asked his startled host. "They come from many miles away, I think, m'sieu," he answered. "I know everyone in this neighborhood; and these are strangers to me." "Here they come!" the American said excitedly, as the vanguard of the rabble poured up the street almost to the place where he waited and watched. "You'd better go to your room, Madame de Lorde," he told Ethel. "Yes, perhaps I had," she admitted. But she still lingered, fascinated by the contagious fear that impelled those peasants onward. A man, disheveled, wild-eyed, thrust his head in at the door of the Lion d'Or. "The Germans are coming!" he warned them. "You'd better get out they're coming this way!" he repeat- Pi "I Have Beneath My Coat a Telephone." Tele-phone." ed breathlessly. It was plain that he had run far. And immediately he started on again. But Chat lie Brown called to him. "Wait a minute!" "Y'ou are sure?" Christophe interposed. inter-posed. The man came inside then. "Sure! Sure! They're not a mile ahead!" he gasped between great soblike sob-like breaths. And already Christophe's neighbors crowded through the doorway door-way and peered curiously at the fellow. fel-low. "They came through our town-. I saw 'em I I, Andre Lemalre. . . . I saw 'em all graylike millions of 'em and they're still coming! Tber-'s no end to them!" "But we have done nothing. They will not hurt us," the innkeeper told him Innocently. The man turned his piteous eyes upon Christophe upon Christophe, who had not yet learned what was In store for him. Does it occur to you that Madame De Lorde may be discovered dis-covered as a spy by the Ger-mans Ger-mans the first time she tries to make a move? There is a fine piece of graphic descriptive work in the next installment. (TO BE CONTINUED.) A Philadelphian is the inventor of a paper bag the top of which Is re-enforced re-enforced and so cut that it furing , handle. |