Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 267, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 November 1916 — Page 2

Under Fire

SYNOPSIS. The chief characters are Ethel Willoughby, Henry Streetman and Capt. lorry Redmond. The minor characters are Sir George Wagstaff of the British admiralty and Charles Brown, a New York newspaper correspondent. Ethel, a resident of Sir George’s household, secretly married to Streetman, a German spy, though she did rfflt know him as such Captain Redmond, her old lover, returns to England after long absence. From him she learns the truth about Streetman; furthermore, that he has betrayed her simply to learn.naval soerets. The European war breaks out. Ethel prepares to* accompany Streetman to Brussels as a German spy in order to get revenge and serve England. Captain Itedmond, Ethel and Charlie Brown turn up at a Belgian inn as -the German army comes. She is Madame De Lorde. She begins to work with a French spy.

In this installment you get an unusually vivid picture of how the German troops took possession of Belgium—of her homes and farms and Industries. It is a picture to make you hate war and Its perpetrators—one to win your finest sympathy. And the picture is moving—the plot action goes forward with speed.

CHAPTER Xlll—Continued. A peasant, half-mad, has stopped at the Inn to warn its people that the enemy is approaching. - “Hurt ?” he cried. ‘‘Hurt? Yon don’t know ’em. . . . They came into my house and, nasty as -you please, wanted food. My old woman started to argue with ’em. She wasn’t scared then, and one of ’em took hold of her by the arm. Maybe he didn't mean anything; but she didn’t understand, and she threw a dipper of cold water in his face like any decent woman would—and they.ghqf her. They shot her for that! Civilian assaulting an officer, they called it. ... I was out in the fields. The neighbors came and told me. And I hurried home to find her dead —her that hadn’t done nothing—dead! . . . And I leaned out of the window—and I shot two of ’em—and then I ran. How I ran! And they didn’t get me—and they won't g£t me!” The half-crazed peasant rushed oft then, shouting to right and left, wherever he saw a head stuck out of a window, or a figure In a doorway. “The Germans are coming! The Germans are coming!” And At ter him poured the scurrying mob, all crying the same dread warning. Charlie Brown was getting all the color the most ambitious reporter could have coveted. He turned a sober face to old Christophe. “This is going to be bad, old man!” he said.

‘•lt’s like some hideous nightmare.” Ethel exclaimed. ‘‘Yes. madame—and this Is but the beginning,” Christophe informed her gravely. Charlie Brown remembered then that Madame de Lorde, as she wished to be known, still lingered there. And he did not like the thought of her facing that oncoming German horde. “If you'll go to your room. I’ll come to you if you want me—if there’s any need.” he said. “Yes—yes! And oh! these poor, poor people!” she cried. “Hadn't you better close the doors?” Charlie asked the innkeeper. “Why, m’sieu, I shall only have to open them,” Christophe replied. “I am not afraid, m’sieu.” “I wish I had your nerve.” Charlie told him. “All-this has certainly got my goat. It’s the limit.” Christophe, by a quick, sibilant sound, enjoined caution. “M’sieu, they are here!” he warned - him. ■- .

He had scarcely spoken when the first of the gray-clad invaders was momentarily framed in the open window. He rode a bicycle—that forerunner of destruction. And a fine, clean-looking youngster he was, one of the pick of the kaiser’s first-line troops. Cool, alert, businesslike, he pedaled deliberately on as if unconscious of the black looks that met his coming. And as he passed the inn he turned his sunburned face so that he might seize a quick but comprehensive glance at its interior. Cumbered with full fighting kit, as he was, he showed none of the fatigue that had all but overcome Charite Brown before he arrived at the Lion d'Or. On the contrary, he looked fit as a prizefighter, trained to the minute. And behind him rode another as like him as a second pea out of the same pod. Charily Brown gazed at them breathlessly. He was conscious of a mighty ■admiration for those two infinitesimal cogs in the great German military machine. And he said to Christophe in an awed whisper: “Gosh! They’re not afraid, are they? Anyone might pot them from a window." The thing might happen any moment “Perhaps they are not afraid because they know if they are killed they will he well avenged,” Christophe answered. And then he said, “Really, m’sieu, do not speak English. I ask you to go. It may be easier for me. ... Please, m’sieu, quickly!” The American reluctantly left the window. He did not want to miss a

single detail of that amazing spectacle. But he had no wish to Involve the worthy Innkeeper in any needless trouble. So he started for the stairway. “Well, you know where to find me,’* he said. A band was playing outside. Every moment the strains were growing more distinct. And Mr. Brown had hardly disappeared to regions above when a German corporal led a squad of eight men bodily Into the Lion d’Or. CHAPTER XIV. Ethel Makes an Impression. Those German infantrymen were a formidable-looking company to descend upon a peace-loving innkeeper such as Henri Christophe. It was. Indeed, no wonder that he viewed them with apprehension, as they stood there at parade rest and stared stolidly Into his startled face. It seemed to him that wherever he looked he met the determined, impersonal, almost Inhuman blue eyes of one of those businesslike Germans. And there was something sinister in the very way they crowded his hostelry. Henri Christophe could not help feeling that even so they would crowd every house in Belgium. To him they seemed like locusts sent by a displeased God to swarm over the land until it should be filled to overflowing. . . . And always, he

told himself, there would be countless throngs to fill the slightest gap in their grim ranks. While Christophe viewed them with mingled Alarm and amazement, a telephone sergeant joined those gray ghosts from beyond the Rhine. He carried a gun slung over his back and a field telephone in his hands. Placing the Instrument on one of Christophe's tables, be proceeded to run a wire through the doorway to the street “The major is coming!” he announced to his friend the corporal, who at once commanded his men to present arms. So they stood, posed like statues, when Major von Brenlg entered, saluted the flag, and then cast a quick glance of satisfaction about the room. Just before him another figure had slipped inside the door, and returned the salute of the corporal; and now he stood impassively looking on, much as if the proceeding were merely an everyday occurrence with him. But however unconcerned he appeared, he was far from disinterested. However much he appeared at ease in his uniform of a German captain, he felt anything but at home in it. There was, in truth, no uniform that suited Larry Redmond so well as that of his own Irish Guards. “This is good!” Major von Brenig told his corporal. And it was evident that Lieutenant Baum and Sergeant Schmidt, who had arrived simultane-

"You Are Quite Safe, My Child.”

ously with him, shared his sentiments heartily. “Can we not spend the night here?” the major asked. Then he proceeded to avail himself of the aids that the foresight of the general staff had long ago devised for just such an emergency. “Baum.” he said, turning to the lieutenant, “have you the papers and the map from the Wilhelmstrasse?” Lieutenant Baum saluted, and at once he handed some documents to his superior officer, who scanned them quickly. “ ‘Lion d’Or!’ ”he read aloud. . . . “‘Proprietor, Henri Christophe!’ . . . Bring Henri Christophe,” he ordered. At that the innkeeper himself stepped forward. "I am Henri Christophe,” he announced in a quavering voice, even as Sergeant Schmidt was starting to search for him. "Oh, you speak English!” tne major said. , “Yea m’sieu!” Christophe did not

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

know why he had committed that breach of policy. But he was too frightened even to reproach himself for the inadvertence. “You are the proprietor of this inn?” the officer demanded. “Yes, m’sleu!” Major von Brenig barked out an order to his men. And straightway they closed both the shutters and the great door that gave upon the street. Meanwhile the major examined his papers further. “You have a daughter,” he announced at length, “Jeanne Marie Christophe, and a servant Louis?” Henri Christophe told him that the facts were so. “Where are they?” the officer asked him then. “The servant fled with the others,” Christophe replied. “My daughter is in her room, m’sleu.” He turned toward the door through which little Jeanne had sought asylum. But Major von Brenig stopped him.

“No, I shall do that,” he Informed him. And at his bidding Sergeant Schmidt sprang forward to find the girl. Her father simply pointed toward the proper door. And his heart sank as he realized the fright that would seize the timid little thing at such a summons. But be had not long to pontfer upon that; for Major von Brenig straightway resumed his catechism. “You have six rooms,” he continued. “Two of these will be occupied by mysel£ and_officers for the night. You will have them prepared at once, two beds each. The other four rooms will be shared by the infantry who will be stationed here. For will need make no preparations.” Henri Christophe bowed obediently. “You have ground here—enough to graze two hundred horses,” the mat-ter-of-fact major proceeded. “You have three cows, two horses, a haystack, plenty of chickens and pigs. Is that not right?” “Yes, m’sieu, quite right!” the innkeeper replied. He was staggered, stupefied, by that amazing and accurate inventory. “All these we shall take; but we shall of course pay for them,” the officer told him.

And then Sergeant Schmidt returned, with little Jeanne cowering beside his bulky figure. At the sight of her father she rushed across the room and clung to him, a piteous spectacle. .“Ah, mon pere, I am afraid—J am afraid,” she stammered. He patted her gently. “There, there, Jeanne —they will not hurt you,” Henri Christophe said. Major von Brenig looked with some slight perturbation upon the sight of the frightened girl shrinking against her natural protector, as if he still had power to shield her from all evil. “No, my pretty little one, we are not devils,” he said. “We will not harm you. lam a father myself.” “There —what did I tell you!” exclaimed the relieved Henri.

“You are quite safe, my child,” the major added —“so long as you obey.” Already the summer air vibrated with the far-off boom of heavy guns. And now a bugle in the street outside blared an order to the troops that were filing past the Lion d’Or. “Oh, papa,” the little creature cried. But Henri Christophe knew that the situation must be faced. “Now, Jeanne, will you prepare the rooms in four and six—two beds in each? In the others these gentlemen will sleep.” He bent over her in order to emphasize his words. “But we have guests already,” she reminded him. Her father turned a rueful face upon the major.

“Ah, m’sieu, I had forgotten. We have two lodgers,” he explained. “Who are they?” “One is an American gentleman, m’sieu; and the other a Frenchwoman.” “Well, put them out of their rooms. We must occupy them.” “You hear, Jeanne?” Christophe said. “Oul, mon pere.” “Then hurry, my child!” he urged her. Major von Brenig gave her one last order. “And tell those two —those guests—they shall report here to me at once.” “Oui, m’sieu.” Jeanne Christophe hurried away then. "And now, m’sieu, I go to prepare your dinner,” her father told the officer. “Just a moment! You have here no firearms of any description?” “None, m’sieu.” . “You have no telephone?” “None, m’sieu.” Major von Brenig wheeled about then, and waved his hand at some large placards which his men had already fastened to the walls of the room. “Now, my friend, you see those proclamations?” he Inquired. —“Yes, m’steu.” —v: ——~~ “It is well that you heed them,” the officer said sternly. “If there is any attempt at communication with the enemy, if there Js -any attack on our men by civilians from this house or any other house, the inmates of that house, together with the mayor of your town, whon we hold as hostage, will all be shot. It is a warning to others.

By Richard Parker

Baced on the drama of Roi Cooper Metfrue Author of X “UNDER COVER." and Co-Author of “IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE"

. . . We do not wish to do these things, but this is war, and we must protect oureelvee. . . . You understand?” “Perfectly, sir,” said Henri Christophe. “We shall take what supplies we need,” the major continued, “but any officer or man who refuses to pay you a just price, you will report to me, and he will be punished. If you demand an unjust price, you will be punished.” “Yes, m’sleu.” The subdued Innkeeper had already started to leave the room when the officer’s keen eye caught sight of something that immediately Interested him. At his feet he noticed a hasp and padlock. And with characteristic German thoroughness he at once desired to solve the mystery. “Walt! What’s this?” he demanded. “Only the entrance to the wine cellar!” Christophe told him. “Open It!” “Yes, m’sieu.” Henri Christophe stooped and unlocked the heavy padlock. “Voila, m’sieu!” be exclaimed as he lifted the trapdoor. “Good!” said the major as he peered into the dark cavern. “Latex on you will bring up some wine. It will be excellent for tonight.”

Christophe had started to close the trap when the major halted him again. “Is there any outlet to the cellai save this?” he asked thoughtfully. “None, m’sieu.” “Baum,” said the major, “make sure he Is telling the truth —that no one could escape that way.” Lieutenant Baum saluted, and, detaching a flashlight from his belt he descended the steps that led into the cellar. “Now you may go cook dinner,” the major told the Innkeeper. Once rid of preliminaries. Major toe Brenig addressed himself to Larry Redmond, who all this time had beer a silent onlooker to the proceedings. “Ah! You must be Captain Karl," he said.

“Yes, Herr Major!” Larry answered “I was told that you had only just reported—your papers said on som« special mission. Can I be of assistance?” “I thank you, major; but at the mo ment there is nothing,” Larry told him. "Perhaps you will dine with me r Major von Brenig said. He was a hospitable man. And he understood that Captain Karl was held in high esteem by his superiors. “I thank you, Herr Major. Auf wiedersehen!” Larry replied. And fit walked to the door. He was not keen to dine with the German officer, and face his frankly scrutinizing eyes, and perhaps have embarrassing question! fired at him. But he saw no decent way of declining. And there was always the chance that such mingling with enemy officers might yield valuable information. If he should b« caught—well! that was all in the game. Lieutenant Baum, returning from the wine cellar, announced that he had discovered no opening other than the one furnished by the trapdoor in the floor. “Good!”’ the older officer said. “Now I shall go-to my room and change my boots. I have not had them off for over a week.”

“You have not questioned the French lady or the American,” the lieutenant reminded him. “I shall leave that to you and Sergeant Schmidt,” the major replied. It was only a few minutes before Lieutenant Baum had summoned Ethel before him. He asked her name. “I am Madame de Lorde,” she told him. “A Frenchwoman?” he inquired. “Yes, m’sieu.” He regarded her narrowly. “You are perhaps a ’woman spy—they say the French have many spies. I must search you,” he announced, to her consternation. ? —“Oh, monsieur, may I speak privately with you?” she begged him. “Well, what Is it?” “Only I wish to show yon something.” “What trick is this?” he asked with But Ethel only smiled at his gruffness. Lieutenant Baiim was a goodlooking chap. “Surely you nre not afraid of me—one little woman!” she said archly. “And a very pretty woman!” His hand sought his mustache again. “Well, what is it, madame?” Ethel drew him slightly to one side. All htft three of the jnfantrymen billeted upon Henri Christophe bad ■withdrawn. But the remaining guard was all eyes and ears for this cross-exami-nation of a possible spy.

Does it seem possible that Madame de Lords can “put It otter" on the German officers and net an opportunity to give the precious information she seeks to the French? .A AAAAAAAA A A A AAA A AAA AAA, (TO BE CONTINUED.)

Gathered Smiles

HYPNOTIZED.

“Just before you lost consciousness, What did you see?” asked the lawyer who was conducting a suit for damages against an automobillst. “Why,” replied the thoughtless client, who claimed to have been run over, “I saw the prettiest woman I ever laid my eyes on.” “You did, eh?” snarled.-the lawyer, quite losing his temper. Then he sat down. Leaning over to his client, he hissed, “How do you expect me to win this case when you make an admission like that?” “What have I done?” asked the client “You have as good as confessed that for the time being you were non compos mentis.”

Professional Pride.

“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was the thrilling one-night-stand attraction. The audience consisted of two men, three women and a baby. Little Eva had been handed her cue to depart from this sinful world, but she declined to accept IL “Why is this thus?” asked the angry manager, who was disguised as Uncle Tom. “B-e-cause,” hissed Little Eva through her store teeth, “while I may starve, I draw the line at dying In a poor house.”

Base Subterfuge.

“My neighbor woke me up this morning singing patriotic songs.” “In a case like that you should have patience. He may have been actuated by the loftiest motives.” “Nothing of the sort. I suspect he was bawling at the top of his voice merely to drown out the cutting remarks made by his wife about the condition he was in when he came home last night.”

THE AMATEUR.

Friend —Do you never indulge in the pleasures of getting out and turning up the fresh earth? Golfer (a novice)—lt’s no pleasure to me. Every time I go to the club I get nothing but harsh looks for my activities in that direction.

Patience?

Some men who claim to be patient. Are apt to make their wives sick; For in reality they’re too lazy To register even one kick.

City Point of View.

“A millionaire boasts that he leads the simple life.” “I doubt it.” “What are your ideas on the subject?” “Well, when a person sleeps in n hall bedroom, eats in a cafeteria, wears a nine dollar suit of clothes and never sees a movie show that costs more than a nickel, I should say he was leading the simple life.”

Down at the Club.

“Jenkins never comes to the club but he acts the fool.” “Perhaps he believes in the saying: “When in Rome do as the ‘Romans do.’”

As Compared.

Mrs. Slowboy—My husband is so lazy that if it wasn't for me I don’t believe he would ever get up in time to go to bed. Mrs. Gayboy—My husband is different. He seldomjjoes to bed in time to get up.

Information Wanted.

Miss Citybred—What are these queer-looking animals? Farmer Geehaw —They are the cows that supply us with milk and cream. Miss Citybred—And where are the cows that supply us with the beef tea?

Just as Bad.

“You look exhausted.” “Yes.” “Been shopping with your wife?” “No. I’ve been trying to get out of going.”

The Commercial Bard.

“Do poets always write in a, fine frenzy?” asked the seeker after useless knowledge. “Not always,” answered the celebrated singer of soup, soap and hair tonic. “In fact, I rarely ever get wrought up unless some advertising manager forgets to mail my check.”

Stingy!

Omar—Miss Aimee certainly has a lovely complexion, hasn’t she? Hazel—Yes; and the stingy thing won’t tell me what brand she uses.

OF ANOTHER KIND.

“Were you ever surrounded by wolves?” “No; but I used to open the diningroom doors at a summer hotel.”

Two of a Kind.

What fools these earthly females be! What freaks the human race begets! 'Mong others is the girl who paints, And the one who tackles cigarettes.

Room for Improvement

After tickling the piano for a couple of hours, the fair key-thumper paused long enough to ask: “Bv the way, what do you think of those songs without words?” “With a little alteration,” replied the matter-of-fact young man in the parlor scene, “they would make a hit with me.” “Why, how could they be Improved?” asked the long-distance Ivory pounder. “By cutting out the music also," answered the masculine hammer wielder.

Perils of Another Sort.

“I presume that when you were a boy you planned to do great things in the world." “Oh, yes. I was going to be a hunter of big game, a mountain climber, explorer and all-around hero.” “Ah, me! Xnd now you are in the prosaic grocery business.” “That’s true, but sometimes after I have pacified a fractious woman customer over the telephone I feel like a hero.”

The Policeman’s Joke.

The window of the suburban cottage went up with a loud crash and a white-clad figure leaned out. “Hey, officer!” called a trembling voice, “Help thieves 1 Help—thievesl” “Not me,” chuckled the policeman. “I’m not getting paid for helping thieves. Besides a thief seldom needs any help.” And a moment later he had disappeared in the gloomy gloom.

Glad He’s Free.

“What have you there?” “A packet of old love letters.” “Write ’em yourself?” “Yes.” “The sight of them doesn’t seem to depress you much.” “No. The girl who returned these letters to me has since gone into sunworshiping, votes for womeh and birth control.”

Decadent.

"See any bad men while out West?” “Only one.” “Did he shoot at your feet to make you dance?” “No, indeed. When I saw him he was cringing before a moving picture director who was Threatening to throw him out of the studio for spoiling several hundred feet of film.”

ON THE WAY.

“Your soldiers look fat and happy. You must have a war-chest.” “Not exactly; but things are on a higher plane than they used to be. This revolution is being financed by a moving-picture concern.”

In a Hurry.

Doctor —Have you any objection to mV calling in a consulting physician? Patient— Certainly not. Call in as many accomplices as you need in order to get through with the assassination as quickly as possible.

A Smart Man.

“Dobbs is a man of unusual intelligence.” “Think so?” “I do. His views in general are very like my own.”