Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 277, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1916 — Under Fire [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Under Fire

By Richard Parker

Bu«d on lh( dram, o( Roi Cooper l^letfrue „ Author of “UNDER COVER.” and C#-Author of “IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE”

CHAPTER XlX.—Continued. —l4 ■ 1 ‘‘What a delightful triangle we present!” Streetman remarked with a nasty smile. He adopted the pose of, forgetting the revolver In Captain Redmond’s band. And he moved, tentatively, to see what would happen. He found out quickly. “I wouldn’t move if I were you," Larry told him sharply. “No?” Streetman inquired with a sarcastic smile. “Permit me to point out that when someone enters this footn —” ■ —■ “When someone does, if yon say one word, or do one thing, I’ll kill you—so help me God I will!” Larry promised him. But the threat was far from alarming the fellow. “Afterward, you and the lady will follow me,” he pointed out to his enemy. “Perhaps!” Larry granted. “But you’ll go first Remember that! If they find me In this uniform, I’m done for anyhow, so I’ve nothing to lose. . . . You have. You don’t want to die. You’re a coward or you wouldn’t have treated her like that—cheated, robbed her!” “It was a way to serve my country «nH my country is above all. For nothing else do I care,” he announced piously. His hypocritical answer roused Ethel to Ineffable scorn.

“Why. he Isn’t a German!” she scoffed. “He’s a Russian in the German pay.” “A Russian, eh?” said Larry. “What if I am?” Streetman retorted. “I am loyal to Germany.” “So you’re a traitor, too—a traitor to your own country!” Larry tannted him. "A renegade! Why, you’re a disgrace even to that uniform. You’ve got a yellow streak. Strassman, and that’s what’ll save us.” The telephone sergeant stepped inside the door, in obedience to Larry’s late command. Streetman was between the fellow and Larry. And the soldier did not see Captain Redmond’s revolver. “It is fifteen minutes—” he began. But Streetman gave him no time to finish. “Sergeant!” he exclaimed eagerly. “Remember, you go first!” Larry warned him in an undertone. And to the “noncom” he said, “You’ve interrupted us, sergeant, on some important business. There have been no messages.” —«TWjutrgpant sainted and retired. “Yes, Captain Karl!” he had said as be turned. “So you are Captain Karl!” Streetman gasped. He wondered what further revelations would take place. “Now hand over your military papers!” Larry ordered him. "I will not!” “Yes, you will! A German would rather die than betray his country to the enemy, but you’re not a German, you dirty cowardi You’re not man enough to stand up and take your medicine. Come on!”

After that Streetman reached for his papers. But Larry stopped him suddenly. He reflected that possibly the fellow carried another revolver. “No, on second thought. I’ll get ’em myself,’ he said. And he quickly appropriated Streetmah’s treasured documents. Among them he found a map of the British intrenchments. “You’ve marked Trench 271” Larry exclaimed. “What mischief have you afoot for Trench 27?” ‘Streetman dived for Larry then. But Captain Redmond was ready for him. He threw the unhappy rascal into a chair. And thereupon Streetman thought better of his intentions. Handing the revolver to Ethel, Larry bade her keep their prisoner covered. And then the resourceful Irishman proceeded to bind his captive. “When someone comes in to find me like this, what do you think will happen to you?” Streetman snarled. “Nothing!” was the captain’s blithe answer. “For I’ll be proving with my own English papers I’ll say I found on yon, that you’re an English spy, and that I captured you for the fatherland.** - “You dog!” the other cried. He was thoroughly alarmed now, as he saw the plausibility of the Irishman’s hise. " ’Tis best you don’t talk too much, either,” Larry cautioned him humorously. And he proceeded to gag the helpless man. Then, to Ethel’s surprise, no less than the renegade Russian’s, he opened the trapdoor and dragged Streetman, whom he had tied, seated, to the chair, across the room toward the stairs that led to the wine cellar. It was only a few seconds’ work to lower his victim to the bottom of the! short flight As the chair bumped from step to step, Larry could not refrain from a parting Jest “ ’Tis many a long day, I’ll warrant, since you rode In a Jaunting'car,” he remarked. CHAPTER XX. E,... ' • “ Little Jeanne Bquares Accounts. frith the venomous Streetman safely • disposed of, Captain Redmond swiftly shuffled through ihe packet of papers be had filched from the fellow. “Ah! His pass!” he exclaimed Joy-

ously. And then he gave an exclamation of surprise. “A copy of their orders!” he exulted. “The whole plan against the British army!” Larry said breathlessly as he scanned one of the documents. “The erown prince is to march against Paris while Von Kluck is flanking us from Tournay and Le Cateau. If they succeed, It will clear the road to Paris. ... Do you see what It means?” he asked Ethel. “It means everything if we can only let the British know,” she answered. “Now take his car that’s outside—you must know how to drive it,” Larry said. “His pass will get you through to Tourville.” “Oh Lamd Come with mar* She could not bear the thought of leaving him. “The pass says ‘For bearer!’ ’Tis no good for two. I’d not get twenty yards till I was stopped. ... You must go alone —for England!" he urged her. “Then I’ve got to,” she said. “That’s the brave girl!” he praised her warmly. “And listen! At TlSqrville go to the mayor’s house. Wait for me. Somehow tonight under cover of darkness I’ll manage to get there to you, and there we’ll find the English lines together. . . . Now, hurry!” he added. “For every second counts for England.” There was no time even for the shortest goodby. But Ethel took one fleeting look into his honest, loving eyes. Then he opened the door for her and she left him. Captain Redmond, as he turned away from the door that shut even the view of her departure away from him, found that the German sergeant had slipped In by means of another entrance. Larry told him there had been no messages, and a look of vast relief came over the gallant Irishman’s face as he hean} the cough of a motor starting outside. There followed the notes of a horn, which grew rapidly fainter. And he knew then that Etijiel had made her escape unhindered. “Do you know which is my room?” he asked the sergeant The fellow told him; and Larry was on the point of leaving him when Lieutenant Baum brought word that Major von Brenig wished to see Captain Karl at once. “Any news, sergeant?” the lieutenant Inquired, after Larry had gone. “None, Herr Lieutenant” “What is that?” Baum asked presently. A curious, persistent tapping caught their attention, coming, apparently, from beneath their feet. “Why—it is the code!” the sergeant exclaimed. “What does it say?” Baum continued. The setgeant listened intently, while he spelled out the signal. “Help!” he inten?reted. “Oh—it Is the woman spy,” the lieu-

• ' ■ ■ -. , tenant said contemptuously. And their interest ceased for the time being. But soon the alert ear of the sergeant heard something that startled him. “It is from one of our men,” he declared, as the tapping continued. “He has the password.” “Then open the door, quickly!” Baum commanded. The sergeant obeyed, and, looking down into the cellar he cried: “Gott in Himmel! It is Herr Captain Strassman, bound and gagged!” In a few moments they had released Streetman. “I was taken at a great disadvantage and unexpectedly attacked by an Englishman,” Streetman told them, In response to their anxious questioning. “Have either of you seen Captain Karl 7’ 7< * “He Is with Major von Brenig,” Lieutenant Baum replied.

A sinister gleam came Into Streetman’s eyes. *, “Lieutenant, go to Captain Karl at once. Say that someone Is here with a message from Tourville,” he said. “And as soon as Captain Karl leaves the room, inform Major von Brenig that I alone, single-handed, have captured an English spy." Already Streetman was gloating over his intended reprisal. Before executing his errand Lieutenant Baum—at Streetman’s request—banded his revolver to th§ spy from the Wilhelmstrasse. “Sergeant—send for a military automobile. Have it come here at once. I have a little matter at Tourville to attend to, personally,” Sfreetman said. As he lay bound In the cellar he had heard almost every word of Larry’s instructions to the pseudo Madame de Lorde.

“You? bands up this time!” Streetman snapped the moment Captain Redmond stepped inside the public room of the Lion d’Or. Larry obeyed with lightning alacrity. And he gazed at Streetman openmouthed. “How the devil did you get loose?” he asked. “You are going to d&, my friend,” the other said. He was in no mood for footless explanations. Essentials were all that interested him at the moment. “Well, go ahead, and hurry!” Larry said somewhat bitterly. It was hard to lose, when he had come so near to winning the game. “ ’Tis not so pleasant standln’ here waitin’ for death as you seem to think,” he told Streetman. But his enemy was not yet ready. “No,' you shall not die as a soldier, but as a spy,” he threatened. “I could have shot you as you came In that door, but I wanted to .give yoif a chance.”

“This Is a hell of a chance!” Larry retorted. “At least your information will never reach the English,” Streetman informed him. “I have sent for a motor and I shall find the lady of Tourville. And as you die, I want you to take with you the thought that not only has that lady—” What taunt lay upon the fellow’s lips Larry never knew. For the moment, Captain Redmond forgot his own danger as he canght sight df a small, light figure that crept up behind Streetman. It was Jeanne Cbristophe—but not the quaint little Jeanne whom Charlie Brown had known. Pale, intense, silent, she Stole up to Streetman like some avenging fate. In her hand gleamed a long knife. And it was already raised when Larry gave a smothered shout. “Look out, Streetman! Look out behind you!” he called. But Henry Streetman'only smiled complacently. “Oh, that*, is an old trick!” he answered. “I do not take my eyes from you.” Something • stayed Jeanne’s hand even as it lingered In the air. Perhaps she quailed at the thought of what she was about to do. Perhaps it was that she paused to gloat over her victim.

“My God, girl! What are you doing? No—not like that! Give him a chance!" Larry begged her. But little Jeanne did not seem to hear him. “.Very dramatic!” Streetman said with a contemptuous curl of his lip. He was positive that Larry was shamming. And then Jeanne Christophe struck. With all her strength she sheathed the knife in Streetman’s back. He gave one groan and toppled forward upon the floor at Larry’s feet. “What have you done?” Larry cried, horrified at the tragedy. Little Jeanne was quite calm. She was no longer frightened. Something akin to an ecstasy filled her with a strange elation. Her great, eyes seemed not to see Captain Redmond. And with her white, pathetic face raised heavenward she said — “He killed my father; . . . A life for a life! . . . Father, you are avenged.”*

Larry took one swift look at that figure huddled upon the floor. Streetman had not moved. “Hurry, girl, hurry! They’ll shoot you!” lie said. Her answer filled him with amazement. 7 “No, tn’sieu, they will not,” she told him. “They will think you did it. I was there listening. He has sent a soldier to inform them that he has captured you, Captain Karl." “And the girl—did he tell him about the girl at Tourville?” Larry asked her. while a horrid fear clutched his throat. —► . “No, m’steu —be did not. He had sent for an automobile to-jpo there. He would attend to that matter himself.” Captain Redinond breathed a prayer of thanksgiving. Ethel was still safe. Jeanne Christophe urged him to hide. But Larry’s first thoughts were of the little Belgian girl. Hurriedly bd directed her to go to Tourville, where Madairie de Lorde would aid her. “Tell madame not to wait for me,” Larry said, “but to go on alone.” Events he spoke he heard footsteps, “Bay 1

have escaped—that I went that way!” he whispered to Jeanne, pointing down the road —in the opposite direction from that In which Tourville lay. Then Captain Redmond crouched behind the counter, where Ethel had successfully hidden. When the major and bis men found the stricken spy in a heap on the floor Jeanne Chrlstophe explained that as she came Into the room another officer had pulled out a knife and stabbed Streetman. The man was not dead. As his friends bent over him he raised himself on his elbow and tried to speak.

But he could only mutter a few disconnected words. “The English spy? Where did he go?” Von Brenig asked him. By a mighty effort Streetman managed to answer him. “Tourville!” he said. The Germans lost no time in calling out the guard. They did not intend tojfit their quarry escape. »And they at once rushed out of the Inn and hurried down the street. ” Finding himself alone in the room, Captain Redmond picked up the telephone —the instrument that Ethel had tried so unsuccessfully to use. “Hello, hello! This is Courvolsier!” hd said to the person who Immediately answered him In French. “They’re marching by the left fork, at midnight!” He dropped the telephone then. And he glanced at Streetman, who lay quite still. “Trench 27 eh?” Larry said reflectively. Already he was altering his plans to suit the requirements of the occasion. Then his hand traveled swiftly to his revolver butt as a soldier-chauffeur threw open the door and saluted. “What Is Larry asked. “An officer here ordered an automobile. For whom Is it?" “Ah, yes—it is for me," Captain Redmond said. He remembered then that Streetman had sent for a car, with the intention of following Ethel. “To Tourville?” the driver inquired, as they both turned toward the door. “No! To the British lines 1” the Irishman answered. He sprang Into the car. And the driver promptly engaged his clutch. “Drive like hell!” Captain Redmond cried. The chauffeur proceeded to follow those instructions so far as his limitations would allow him. With muffler wide open, they went tearing up the road. And back there In the Lion d’Or Streetman struggled to rise. Falling that, he endeavored to drag himself to the door. But he was not equal to the ordeal. He could only murmur “Stop him! Stop him!” In a weak voice. And since there was none to hear him, he soon ceased his frantic efforts and lay quietly in the middle of the floor.

1 CHAPTER XXI. An Interrupted Game of Cards. While the oncoming horde of Germans had been pushing their way through Belgium, smashing forts, burning villages, terrorizing the peaceloving inhabitants of that little coun try, the French and English had done what they could to prepare for the impending shock of the Teuton attack. The worst of It vvas, the Germans were ready, and the allies were not. The British expeditionary force num bered but a handful of men, compared to the hpsts from across the Rhine. Brit that “thin red l ine of ’eroes”— only they were uniformed in khaki npw—set about its superhuman task with bulldog determination. They had swept out as far as they dared to meet the invader. And then they intrenched themselves; and there they waited. (TO BE CONTINUED.!

“The Whole Plan Against the British Armyl”

He Gave One Groan and Toppled For ward.