Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 274, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1916 — Page 2

UNDER FIRE

JWCHARD fi\QKE/h

si/ BASED W TEE DfZAMA. Jt

SYNOPSIS. i is ■ - The chief characters are Ethel Willoughby, Henry Streetman and Capt. Larry Redmond. The minor characters are Sir George WagstalT of the British admiralty and Charlie Brown, a New York newspaper correspondent. Ethel, a resident of Sir George's household, ■ecretly married to Streetman, a German spy, though ahe did not know him as such. Captain Redmond, her old lover, returns to England after long absence. From him ahe learns the truth about Streetman: furthermore, that he has betrayed her stmply to learn naval secrets. The European war breaks out. Ethel prepares to accompany Streetman to Brussels as a German spy in order to get revenge and serve England. I aptain Redmond. Ethel and Charlie Brown turn up at a Belgian inn as the German army comes. Slie is Madame do I-orde. She begins to work with a French spy. The Germans appear at the Inn. Madame de Lorde shows a German secret service medal and convinces the invaders that she is a German spy. Charlie Brown barely escapes execution. The secret telephone is discovered and Chrlstophe is shot as a ■py. Brown is ordered back to Brussels.

CHAPTER XVll—Continued, "Say good-by to old Chrlstophe for me!” he enjoined them. ‘‘Tell him I'm sorry I didn’t get his chicken dinner, but better luck next time!” He held his hand out to the major. But handshaking fell outside German military etiquette. Major von Breuig saluted. ‘‘l may warn you,” Major von Brenlg cautioned the American, “I may warn you that if you are found off the road to Brussels the consequences will be serious.” “In fact, you will be shot, my friend,” Streetman said, to make the matter entirely clear. And he appeared not at all uneasy over the contingency. In fact, he impressed Charlie Brown as being irritatingly cheerful. “I know you hope for the best,” Brown tolcTTilm] He could not <jeny himself that passing retort. “But don’t worry,” he told the major. “I won’t miss B-ussels road. And. Streetman, If you ever come to America, look me up! I’ll give you one good time!” “I fear he will never get to Brussels,” von Brenig said somewhat pensively, after Charlie had gone. Certainly he wished the American no ill luck. But he knew that not all officers whom he might meet would prove to be Columbia men. “It is his own risk,” Streetman said. "He did not have to come here. . . . Now, major, there may be other spies. Would it not be best to replace the telephone and put a secret guard around this room? Then if anyone else comes to the telephone, we shall know.” 4 The scheme appealed to Major von Brenig. Accordingly, they had ordered the man Otto to return the in- - strumeut to its hiding place. And stationing others where they might keep watch of the fireplace, and yet not he seen by anyone who entered Abe roouv" they Instructed Lieutenant vjiaumy to arrest the first person who approached the telephone. “Report to me at once, in such an event,” the major said. “If necessary, shoot before any message can be sent,” Streetman told him. The man from the Wilhelmstrasse then hurried away to see General Freund, promising to return to join the major amLCaptain Karl at dinner.

CHAPTER XVIII. Death Hovers Near pthel. Ever since slie succeeded in lnvelgJlnjr Lieutenant Baum into revealing to her the secret of the fork in the road, Ethel had waited her opportunity to telephone the news to the French front It seemed to her that the German intruders would never leave the public room, even for five miuutes. Meanwhile she had hovered near. And at last she was convinced that the coast<was clear. Cautiously she opened the door and peered inside. She saw no one. So she stepped into the room. For just a few moments she hesitated, so assure herself that therd was a lull in the movements of the .enemy. Apparently they had withdrawn to spkuce themselves up after their long march. She nerved herself to her task. She stole to the fireplace, glanced over her shoulder for one last hurried survey of the room, and reached her hand out for the instrument. Sl|ie had barely taken it up when she heard the command — “Halt!” Ethel turned. To her startled eyes the room seemed suddenly full of soldiers. And giving a little cry, she dropped the telephone upon the floor. Lieutenant Baum confronted her •ternly. "You are a spy for the French!” he •aid, "No, no! Let me explain!” He . ignored her protest. “Load!” He snapped out the order to bis men. And as they obeyed Ethel -cried: "No, no, no! For God’s sake don’t ■boot me like that!” Trembling, she stood there, while they covered her with their rifles. * Then another cry of "Halt!” rang out. This time the command came • from the doorway. It was Larry Redmond who Jsterrnpted the grim busiLieutenant Baum turned to him in

surprise, while the German soldiers lowered their guns and saluted, “What are you doing?” Larry demanded. “A spy for the French!” Baum explained somewhat peevishly. “A spy for the French, eh?” Larry said as he drew nearer. “Frauleln —” he began. And then he stopped short. He had not recognized Ethel at first, for her back was toward the door. But now they guzed at each other In amazement. ‘‘A spy, eh?” Larry repeated. “What makes you think so?” “She went to use that telephone. It leads to the French,” the lieutenaut said. “Excellent, excellent!” Larry told him. “But—l shall investigate this matter.”

“But Major von Brenig—” Baum began. Larry brought him up sharply. “I am your superior officer!” he reminded the lieutenant. And at that the other saluted. “In ten minutes,” Larry continued, “you will report to Major von Brenig that you captured the spy —that she is here In my charge, and will he be kind enough to come here directly." “Yes, Herr Captain!” “In ten minutes, lieutenant! . . . It is for the fatherland!” “Ten minutes!” Baum replied. And once more he saluted. At a sign from Baum the soldiers withdrew, with the lieutenant leading the way. Larry waited till the last man was out of the room and the doors had closed behind them. Then he sprang to Ethel’s side. —‘-‘EtbeU They caught you at the telephone?” he cried. “Yes!” That was all she could say, as she faced him pitifully. “Then they knew: and ’twas a trap set for you?” “Oh, Larry, what will happen to me?” He tried to calm her fears. “There, there, my darling—no more harm shall come to you!” Already his active mind was formulating a plan for her relief. “But what are we to do?” she asked. She felt helpless, incompetent to act to devise any means for saving herself from the hung over her. “Now, my dear, since they know you’re a spy there’s no great chance for you to escape through their lines,” he said. “So for the moment, go into that room—” he pointed out a door to her —“go in there, lock the door, and when they come back I’ll do the best I can with a bit of explainin’. . . . Come!” . . . He started for the Yloor of the room where he meant jiide her. when his foot caught on something—it was the padlock that was pushed through the hasp of the trapdoor of the wine cellar—and he tripped and all but fell “Sure, trippin’s a bad sign,” he exclaimed. “I’ll not be married this year. I—” He paused as a thought struck him —an inspiration,

“For God’s Sake, Don't Shoot Me Like That."

It seemed. And for a brief instant be looked down at the contrivance at his feet. r “What is it?” Ethel inquired. “My dear, the wine cellar —quick! It’s a great chance!” “What do you mean?” she asked wonderingly. He had already pulled up the trapdoor. The padlock had not been closed. “You want to hide! me there?" Somehow, she shrank from the thought of descending into that dark hole. It seemed to her that once she sought that shelter they would surely find her fn the end. / "No, no! ’Twould be the first place they’d search,” he replied. He pulled

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER,

a flashlight from bis pocket, and crept down the steps as be talked. "Wait!” he said. And in another moment he had so placed the light at the foot of the stairs that its beams shot upward through the opening. “That’s It, that’s It!" he exclaimed delightedly. He was still standing upon the cellar floor. ‘The light’s shining In your face! Look! Can you see me?” he asked. "No, no! The light blinds mei T can’t see you at all!” she told him. He o««ie up quickly then. “Good —good! Now listen! . . . If somebody peeked down there, wouldn’t they think a desperate woman was standing at. the foot of these stnirs waitin’ to shoot the first man who tried to come down?” Ethel stood there in the glare of the flashlight had listened to his plans. «y e 8 believe they would,” she admitted, beginning to understand his scheme.

“And that’s what we’ve got to make them believe. Now, hasten, darlin’ — hasten! . . . ’Tis best here!” He led her behind the cigar counter, for he had suddenly abandoned his previous notion of concealing her In the adjoining room. “Go and hide!” he directed. And she crouched low In the shadow of the counter. "Ah! God Is good to the Irish!” he exulted. “Have you a revolver?” “Yes, Larry!” She produced a small, nickeled weapon. He took it from her. “’Tis rather a toy,” be said. “But I suppose it will shoot. Then don’t let the sound of a shot frighten you into screaming. I’ve got to give myself a bit of a flesh wound just in the hand.” “No, no!” she exclaimed in increased alarm. “With this It can be only a scratch,” he said. “As soon as I shoot, duck and hide. . . . Now, here goes!” He shot himself In the right hand, then handed the revolver back to Ethel, who Immediately huddled behind the counter. Then Larry banged the trapdoor shut. And backing away from it he waited for the men who as he knew would soon come running in. In another moment they burst upon him. “Herr captain—you are wounded!” Lieutenant Baum cried. “ 'Tis nothing,” Larry replied. And he proceeded to bandage his bloody hand with a handkerchief. Others joined the startled knot of Germans —among the newcomers, Major von Brenig. “The spy—the woman spy—where is she?” he asked.

Larry told him that the woman bad escaped. The major swore roundly at that. And then Larry explained that she had suddenly produced a revolver and shot him. “Before I could draw my own revolver she’d got away,” he said. “She raised the trapdoor and went down there,” he continued, pointing to the floor. The major remembered that there was no outlet to the wine cellar, And without hesitation he raised the trapdoor, to face a blinding burst of light He backed away quickly. “What the devil!” he shouted. And at the same time Larry warned him to be careful. “She must have one of our pocket flashlights,” he said. “What a target it made of you, major! And in the dark you could not see her, could you?” “No!” von Brenig admitted. “And she can pick off our men one by one as they go down unless we rush her.” Larry closed the door quickly. “If I may make so bold as to suggest—” he began; and seeing that the major gave him permission to continue, he said, “If there is no way out of the cellar save that, why waste our men when all we need Is to leave her there to starve —till there’s no fight in her?” “Why not leave her there forever?” von Brenig asked 7 He was, everything, a practical man. “ ’Tis better still—’tis a just fate for a spy,” Larry agreed. “Baum —run a bayonet through the hasp!” the major ordered. The padlock had fallen into the cellar unheeded when Larry first opened the trap. “Later you will make the fastening permanent,” yon Brenig said.

CHAPTER XIX. A Surprise for Streetman. Well satisfied at the happy termination of the episode, the major and his men retired once tnore. And Larry now found himself alone in the room, ♦xeeptfm* a telephone sergeant who stationed himself at the field instrument which he had placed upon a table when the Germans first reached the Lion d'Or. At least, there -were no others present so far as the sergeant knew. In their consuming interest in that trapdoor, not one of the invaders had noticed Ethel as she crouched behind the cigar counter. Ordered by Larry to leave, the sergeant explained that Major von Brenig was expecting a message. “Come back in fifteen minutes,” Larry ordered. “I wHI take any messages.” The fellow had no soouei gone than Larry started for the cigai counter. * “Well, my darlin’, so far so good!” he said in a low voice. And; then to his dismay he heard someone at the street door. “Ssh! Don’t get up yet! Someone Is coming!” Larry warned the girl. To his immense alarm and consternation, as the door swung open he saw that this latest arrival was no otjtier than Henry Streetman. They saluted. And as a wave of recognition swept across Streetman’s face he whipped out his revolver and cried, “Halt!” _ ;'■■■“ J,/ “What the devil do you mean?” Larry cried. Streetman regarded him coolly. “Well, Captain RedinonJf?’ he said. “Well. Herr Strassmanl" j

••We meet under »*/mewhat differeut circumstances from that night in th* moonlight on Unter den Linden,” Streetcnah observed. “Yes, quite different!” was the almost Jaunty response. ‘Then you were In the English army. Now, Captain Redmond, you wear a German uniform.” “And ’tis a good fit. too, for German clothes,” Larry replied. But the other was in no good mood for banter. “'That night I gave you your life,” be proceeded. “Now I must take it back again. Before I call my men have you anything to say?” “Not a word!” Larry defied him. "You have no message to send —the girl you told me of?” ~ “I believe she can hear me when I say that I love her and pray the good God to keep her safe and free from harm,” the Irishman told him In all truth. He was serious now, was Cap-

Streetman Wheeled About in Amazement.

tain Redmond. Indeed, he saw that he was in a devilish tight hole. And rack his brains as he would, he could think of no way out. Larry was right. The girl he loved did hear him. Before Streetman had said another word, Ethel leaped from behind the cigar counter with her revolver leveled at Streetman. “Hands up! Hands up—or I’ll kill you!” she cried. Streetman wheeled about In amazement. And before he could collect his scattered wits Captain Redmond had wrested the German spy’s revolver from him. “Ethel, my dear, you shouldn’t have mixed up in this,” Larry reproved her. Streetmau heard him with increasing wonder. “ ‘My dear!” he repeated after Larry. “Theh you know Captain Redmond?” he exclaimed, searching Ethel’s face for the information he only now began to suspect. ==.:=========: “L do,” she told him unflinchingly. He saw everything clearly at last. “Then, by God! You’re the Englishman she loved!” he exclaimed as he turned to Larry. Ethel did not wait for Captain Redmond to answer. A Yes, yes, I love him!” she confewtd shamelessly. “I’ve always loved hinT” “Then you lied to me when you said you hated him,” Streetmau accused her. “You lied when you said you wanted to work against the English—you lied!” He was like a madman, as he realized how she had tricked him. “1 lied —yes!” she confessed. “I lied, too, when I said the English fleet had dispersed. It hadn't. It went to the Kiel canal, I’ve lied to you every minute—every minute since we left for Brussels.”

“You said the man you married was a German spy—” Larry reminded Ethel. “But you can’t be her husband,” he told Streetman. “I met your wife in Berlin.” Streetman sneered. “Her husband? . ■ . . So that’s what sTie told yob! That’s good!” He even laughed at the thought, in spite of the menacing revolver that Captain Redmond pointed at him. “Henry! Henry!” Ethel’s boldness bad forsaken her now. She could not bear to hear such things said—and before Larry, of all men. “I don’t understand,” Captain Redmond said slowly. “Then let me explain—since you and she are in love. It may be of some interest for you to kuow. Captain Redmond.” Streetman could scarcely have prayed for more complete revenge than this. ' —“Oh, don’t! Don’t!” Ethel entreated. But Streetman continued ruthlessly. “This lady,” he said, “this lady has the honor to be —” “Don’t say it, you dog!” Larry warned him. And his finger curled caressingly about the trigger of the revolver. “No, no! It Isn’t true! Don’t believe him!” Ethel urged. “1 thought I was married honestly—truly married. . . . I loathe him. I despise him. . . . You do believe me? Oh, say that you do—please!” “Of course, my dear, I love you!” Larry said quietly, as if that were reason enough—and more —for his complete trust in her (TO BE '

SMILE

NILE AND JUVENIL.E

The conversation at a recent dinner In Washington turned to the bright sayings of the rising generation, when George F. Burgess of Texas was reminded of an Incident that happened in a public school. One day the teacher was Instructing a class of youngsters In geogruphy, and to this end she told tf> close their books while she askod a few questions about the lesson. “Johnny,” said she, beginning with a bright-faced youngster, “whut Is the name of the principal river of Egypt?” “The Nile,” was the easy rejoinder of Johnny. ‘That’s right,” returned the teacher, encouragingly. “Now, please give me the name of the Nile’s smaller tributaries.” “Juveniles, Miss Mary,” nnswered Johnny.—Philadelphia Telegrnph.

A Great Invention.

Dinglebatz—A scientist has invented what he calls a ‘muck-ray’ machine that seems destined to till a long-felt want. Snicklefritz —What Is its object? Dinglebatz —It will enable the people to see how if candidate can spend 810.000 in getting himself elected to a $1,500 office, and yet grow rich on the deal.

Anti-Climax.

“Who is that shabby old fellow you were talking to just now?” "lie’s one of those statistical experts. He can tell you how many silveredollars it would take to belt the globe.” “Wonderful!” “And after he has told a person that he usually tries to borrow a quarter.”

CORRECT.

“My dear, why do they call that young man Spring? Is that his right name?” “No, mother. I named him that because lie’s so backward.”

As It Is Stated.

—New York is the Empire state, No other one can mate her. Connecticut Is the Nutmeg state— Where can we And a “grater?”

A Pair of Queries.

The Doctor —How can a man be a lawyer and obey the commandment “Thou shalt not steal?” The Lawyer —How can a man be a doctor and obey the commandment “Thou shalt not kill?”

An Honest Confession.

Strangei —Say, can I get a divorce on the grounds of insanity? Lawyer —l’ossibly it could be arranged. Is your wife insane? Stranger — No ; but I must have been crazy when I married her.

She's Wearing It Now.

Aimee —Harold, dear, I wish you wouldn’t knock at the front door when you call. Harold—Then how shall I get in? Aimee —Enter with a ring.

A Clever Woman.

Biggs—That young widow is certainly tt very clever woman, and yet she has very little to say. Mrs. Biggs—That’s where her cleverness comes in. She leads a fool man to believe that she thinks lie is worth listening to.

Simple Method.

“How do you make the distinction between popular and classic music?” asked the very young man. “Oh, that’s easy,” answered the dispenser of homegrown philosophy. “It’s popular If I enjoy it, and it’s classical if I don’t.”

Her Opinion.

Husband —I wonder why all the misers we read about are old bachelors. Wife Oh, married misers are _so common they are not worth mentioning- ___

The Real Struggle.

“What,!' queried the very young man, “is the real struggle of mankind?” “The real struggle of the majority of the species,” Shelbyville gage, “is to get a square meat, and then Vender where the next one is coming from.”

Good Boss.

“One of these days women will play boftbaH." .j., % “Well, if they my wife will make one swell little umpire.”

ANOTHER WARNING.

Jack—She’s a country girl, but she*« a peach. Fred—You want to look out for these green peaches.

Feminine Preparedness.

But a woman Is prepared For almost any old fate, If she’s dressed in style And her hat’s on straight.

End of His Romance.

“I suppose,” said the angular spinster as she gave him a hunk of cold ham on a slice of bread, "that you never had a real romance?” “Dat’s where youse go lame, ma’atn,” replied the unlaundered hobo. **! wunst had u sweetheart wot wuz a dead ringer fer youse.” “And did she die?” asked the a. a. as she helped him to a piece of pie. “No, ma’am," answered the hobo la a sad tone. “When leap year come ’round she ask’d me ter marry her — an’ —an’ I runned away from me home.”

Such a Meanness!

They were homeward bound from church. —“According ToTKtT minister’s sermon this morning,” said Mrs. Enpeck, “there Is to be no marrying or giving in marriage in heaven. Do you believe that?” ■“Well, I have no reason to doubt it.” answered Enpeck. “There must be some way to distinguish it from the other place.”

Badly Handicapped.

“I understand your boy is going away to college next year.” “Yes,” replied old Mr. Cobbles. “We’re powerful sorry ter see him go.” “It will be a great thing for him.” “Mebby so. But John’s a mighty poor dancer an’ he ain’t no good as an athlete. Furthermore, he knows so much about Greek an’ Latin I’m afeared them college hoys will pester th’ life out o’ him.”

No Need to Worry.

“Aren’t you afraid to go away and leave your car standing at the curb?” “Afraid of-what V’ “Somebody might steal it,” “Umph! It isn’t speedy enough for gunmen and bank robbers to use in making a getaway and no thief is going to steal a car that couldn’t be sold for more than seven dollars cash. It’s safe enough.”

Mild Sarcasm.

“Suppose,” remarked the dilatory youth who had been calling on a young lady with clockwork regularity for nearly two long weary years, “that I should work myftelf up to the interrogation point, what would you say?” “I would probably respond with an exclamation of surprise,” replied the pert miss.

SOUND MISFORTUNE.

“What was the matter with that quartet singer?” “He met with a baseball accident.” “Baseball aceident?” • "Yes; he died on the base.”

Side-Splitting.

“The Clumiys spend a small fortune every year entertaining society pee* Pie.” , “Are their entertainments a sue-, cess?” \ ■ 4;--“I guess so. The fashionables who go there laugh for weeks after the Clumly parties.”

Too Valuable.

“How about, this sending eggs by parcel post?” “I fear-It will tempt the cupidity at train robbers.”