Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 151, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1918 — Page 3

Mollie’s German Spy

By AGNES G. BROGAN

(Copyright, i»lg.W«ilKrtßWoww«p<r Union.) The light in Billy May’s eyes deepened as he looked al hfs ing over h«j flowers. In Billy’s vernacular, Mdllie was “his only excuse for living.” Long years before when the little orphaned sister had piteously held out her arms to him, Billy had pledged her his life’s devotion, and she had repaid. It had been no easy task to lay aside the coveted career and to take up as a necessity to her advancement, the first opportunity offered in a country village. Being rural mail carrier had made it possible for “Angel” to have her education and the usual accomplishments befitting a modern young woman. That is what Bi 11 had named the girl when her starry eyes spoke their gratitude from beneath a aureole of golden hair, and “Angel” she had remained. College life had not spoiled Mollie for the village; she but returned with new enthusiasms and plans for his home making. He came to her now across the garden, his hand held wearily against his throbbing temples. “Angel,’’ he said, unsteadily, “something’s wrong. The heat, I guess, yesterday. It was hard riding so long, in the sun. The whole place seems to be swimming around and, Angel—" “Why, Billy," she cried in quick concern, “you must lie down this minute and not stir again today.” There was nothing for it but to obey; passively he allowed himself to be led back across the lawn, gratefully bls eyelids closed as Mollie drew the blinds of his room. Then suddenly his eyes again opened. “The mail route,” he fretted. “Delivery at nine o’clock has to be made, Mollie; no one else to do it.” Painfully Billy endeavored to rise, but Mollie forestalled him. “Well,” she answered, cheerfully, “if the trip has to be made, it will be. I’ll go myself.” i “The road,” he grumbled, “is new to you, Angel, just cut through in some places, lonely as—" “Billy!” she cried, exasperated, “as if Pm not riding alone around the country all the time. Well, see here, if you are bound to be afraid, let me take your revolver. Surely, if I don’t slow down I can hold your spy at bay ‘in the offing* and speed away.” Billy was laughing with her now, but nevertheless he inspected his weapon of protection and handed it over with a glance of admiration to the little sister. f In the outer room Mollie lifted the gun gingerly, and removed Its loadings. “There,” she sighed In relief, “It Is safe now. It could still frighten ‘hands off* and Pd never pass another peaceful night If I were to shoot even a German spy.” Up and down the broad, winding road sped the small red car. The new mall deliverer was prompt and efficient, not a moment did she lose and the task was most exhilarating. In the wind-blown cheeks the color deepened, about the blue bandeau the fair curls twisted merrily, then all at once Mollie bent desperately to her levers. A figure appeared before the car In the center of the road, and to avoid running the figure down seemed impossible. She must be quick or —. Mollie closed her eyes In sick apprehension even as she sought the brakes. When she opened them again the car was panting and throbbing from Its sudden check, and the man saved from danger stood near enough to touch her with his hands. He was leaning heavily upon a stout stick, evidently some fallen branch, and his steely eyes looking straight Into hers, awakening her to a quick remembrance of past fear. Might this not be a high-handed way of holding up a car—a car and Uncle Sam’s mall? The man was certainly foreign in appearance. The face semed all at once stamped upon Mollie’s memory and while she sat stupidly regarding him, the man spoke brusquely, with a decided German accent. “If you please," he said, “I must ask to be carried in your car. I have Injured my ankle and passing conveyances are rare." Without awaiting her reply, his hand reached boldly for the knob of the car door; then Mollie came back to reason.

“One moment,” she said, sweetly, “the opening Is difficult,” and bent over as if to assist him. But in that moment her hand found the revolver in her skirt pocket and its shining barrel was on a level with the man’s astonished face. “If you move, or try to enter the .car," said Mollie, still In that slow, sweet tone, “I will shoot” An Instant more and the car flew down the road, leaving the intruder staring at something shining at his . feet “Jove!” he muttered, dazedly, and stooped to pick up the revolver. Evidently this most unusual girl had dropped the Instrument of protection in her flight Wove!" the man muttered again; this time In amused perplexity, for the revolver was unloaded; with this harmless toy she had held him for a moment in breathless terror. And Mollie speeding down the broad highway, determined to tell Billy tothtog about it aIL .When he was

better perhaps anxiety might not so trouble Mm. He looked up refreshed from sleep as she entered. “Gee!” he greeted her, “I am glad that trip is over. I am better. You must leave me this evening and go over to Warwick’s, as you bad planned.” “If it were not such an unusual opportunity to meet a notable,” Mollie said, “I would not think of leaving you, Billy. But fancy the privilege of seeing with one’s own eyes a great sought-after artist It is pure luck Anna Warwick happening to be his favorite cousin and thus persuading the personage not only to meet her village friends but to talk to them upon ‘Art Across the Seas.* “He has refused all invitations heretofore and the flattering hospitality of New York. So If you are sure you will not mind my going, Billy--" And Billy was very sure that he did not mind. Mollie almost forgot the disagreeable Incident of the morning as she arrayed herself In her new and modern white gown. She must show that artist from abroad that they were not behind the times in Waycross, even though the grass grew tall upon each side of Main street But when she entered the Warwick’s brightly lighted reception room, disappointment was evident among the assembled guests, for the great artist had not arrived. “He left the house early this morning,” Anna Warwick confided, "promising to return for luncheon. And such a perfect luncheon as I had prepared, my dear. But he did not return. Dinner was also served without him; no excuse for his delayed absence, not even a telephone message. -Temperament, I suppose. Wandered all the way to Brayton, no doubt, looking for light and color, and then probably calmly sat down and ate his meal In the hotel, forgetting all about us. Franz is quite equal to do a thing like that, but by this time you’d think he might have a glimmering of returning consciousness. Well, I will show the people some of his sketches and bls picture. “Here, Mollie, dear, is his photograph. Striking likeness. Distinguished looking, don’t you think?” Mollie, the large photograph clutched in her hand, suddenly subsided upon a deeply soft couch. Where had she seen that small uptwisted mustache, those steely clear eyes, that crisply curling fair hair —even the studious frown beneath the fine brows? There was no need to think. The face had been Indelibly stamped upon her memory as Its owner had stood that morning on hand reaching for the knob of her auto door. The barrel of Billy’s empty revolver had been levelled at that same distinguished countenance. And he, the man had said, he had Injured his ankle and could not walk. He, the great adored artist, while she, Molly, the heartless, the suspicious, had actually threatened his life and ridden away! Oh! It was horrible! Perhaps now even as the eager throng awaited his coming, the suffering man lay alone!“Anna,” she said, with a little quick catch In her voice, “I must go home; now, at once."

“Well, dear,” her friend agreed, “if It’s Billy you are worrying about, of course we will excuse you.” Molly did not wait to see Billy. Her remorseful heart burned to atone. In the garage she found the little red car and turned on its lights. A moment she lingered to sweep into a box the contents of two plates left from the evening meal, then out into the night silently swung the car. On past the last twinkling house light, noisily over ths wooden bridge, heavily through the newly cut roads into the deeper darkness. The headlights showed him at lasV.a long figure stretched motionless beside the road, his face upraised to the start. x In a moment Mollie was bending over him. “Oh!” she breathed in relief as his unbelieving eyes looked up into hers. “I feared that you had fainted.” A grim smile slowly spread itself over the artist’s whitened face. "The surprising young womanl” he murmured. “Have you returned to carry out your threat of shooting me down? If so, I am completely at your mercy.” He pointed to his crudely bandaged ankle. “Couldn’t get away If I tried.” “Oh, please," Mollie entreated, her eyes soft with pity and almost incoherent in her repentant haste she told him the day’s story. “And so,” he said at last, “you were defending Unde Sam’s mail; you were plucky enough to take the place of an invalid brother, and tonight,” his eyes held hers In strange fasdnatlon, “you came back alone over the rough ways, through the darkness, to rescue me, a stranger?” Mollie nodded, and the clasp of his hand was so fervent, so pleasantly disconcerting, that She turned in laughing embarrassment to tlje emergency lunch she had brought him. And after that, his grateful glance still upon her, she led him heavily leaning upon her shoulder to the waiting car. At the Warwick’s entrance, when she turned to leave, the artist put forth his hand. “The atonement,” he said, and the slight accent had now a caressing sound, “is not yet complete. I must exact until the time of my recovery two hours* reading each afternoon." . “As you win,” answered Mollie, demurely. “And at least one hour’s conversation each morning." “That, too,” agreed Mollie. So, in a city art gallery Is exhibited a wonderful picture, a girl whose wide eyes are as blue as the band on her hair. Against the artist’s name in the catalog Is written, “Portrait of Molll% his wife.” But to Billy May the picture is that at “The AngeL"

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER. IND.

THESE TWO MEN REFIT THE ARMY

Lively Work of Major Fawcett and Captain Thrall at Camp Blank. SPRUCED UP FDR OVERSEAS — ■— I Hungry and 111-Clad Soldiers Well Fed and Made Spick-and-Span for the Voyage to Battle Front In France. Washington.—Maj. George W. Fawcett is the camp quartermaster at an American embarkation camp. It is his first business to see that troops going overseas find comfortable, healthful temporaryquarters, and have plenty of food. The camp is more than a rest resort for ; travelers. When it was established less than a year ago incoming troops were warned that they inust not rely on getting any of their overseas outfit here. This is so completely changed under Major Fawcett’s administration that there is nothing an organization can possibly need which this camp will not supply nearly as fast as the men can be marched up to his warehouses to take the supplies away. Major Fawcett has a ten-foot square office in an unpainted shack. He sits at a little desk with two clerks, one behind him and the other at his side. A telephone receiver is strapped over his head all the time. The officers requiring supplies for the present and future who come into this camp make mistakes, big and little, but not one of them has ever got anything worse than an amused or an astonished grin from the camp quartermaster. “It is easier and quicker to give a man what you know he wants,” the major says, “than to waste your time, his, and the government’s, by quarreling with him because he has not put his needs in proper shape.” Makes It Easy for Them. Army regulations require particular printed formulas for requisitions, prepared with scrupulous attention to small details. Major Fawcett has taught his men to accept any scribbled memorandum on the back of an envelope or a bit of wrapping paper, tell the applicant for supplies to come back in half an hour, and, then, when he returns, hand to him a perfectly arranged form of requisition, stating all his needs with military exactness, and at the same time directing him to a storehouse where his supply is already waiting. The interior traffic of the camp has increased until 100 big motortrucks are tearing through the streets from dawn until dark, and half of them

BROTHERS IN ARMS

Every wearer of khaki who is now with the American expeditionary forces in France has been takerflnto the hearts of the French families and our sons are as their sons. There is no bond like that which arises from fighting in a common cause for high ideals.

‘MERRY WIDOW’ TO DIE

French Woman Found Guilty by Court-Martial. Sold Military Secrets to the Germans in Letters to Her Children. Paris, France. —Brief announcement has Just been made that a Paris courtmartial has condemned to death as a spy Mme. M thirty-seven dd Her son. Noel, sixteen years old, who was accused of being plice, was ordered to a penitentiary Colony until he comes of age. The court believed he was too young to be held responsible for his acts. As the case was hot heard in public only a few details have become known, such as that Mme. M.’s husband was killed at the front in March, 1916, and that the wife soon started a life that earned her, in the circles she frequented. the name of “The Merry Widow."

work far Into the night The more the camp speeds up the more troops Major Fawcett invites the war department to send through the camp. The ideal of seeing to it that no man crosses the seas for service with clothing and equipment which Is not new, or as good as new, has just about been reached. Troops are detrained from the interior In dusty, faded clothing, patched and pulled out of shape, and go onto their ships in an incredibly short time dressed up like a show window display. His lieutenants In charge of money disbursements, subsistence, construction, transportation, and reclamation are at his door with brand-new complications every few minutes. Bewildered supply officers, who have come to the camp without the slightest Idea of what is expected of them (and who would have resigned before coming had they known) appear at his door looking scared; they listen for a Tew minutes to the general run of his telephone conversation, forget their scare, answer his questions with a promptness and a definiteness which seem to surprise the men themselves, and go out with their heads up, smiling confidently, and accomplish changes and refittlngs and substitutions such as they had never dreamed of. Work Well Divided. The work under Major Fawcett subdivided itself naturally so that no disproportionate burden falls on any one department, with one exception. Fqr accounting purposes it is absolutely necessary that one man should have charge of what, in quartermaster language, is called “property.” He must sign every invoice and assume responsibility for it financially. This Job under Major Fawcett is that of Capt. C. E. Thrall, Q. M. R; C. Captain Thrall has counted it a big night when he has had more than four hours’ sleep since the war started. Captain Thrall has never been

GIRLS DO GOOD WORK

American Telephone Operators Now Serving in France. Hundred Who Were Sent Over Giving Such Efficient Service More Will Be Sent. Washington.—To the 100 girls from America now doing service as military telephone operators in France, 150 more in training schools here may soon be added, leaving a reserve force of 400 more on file out of about 8,000 applications. The telephone is referred to as the “nerves of the army,” and the young women who have been accepted for this" work have undergone tests as severe as those to which a soldier at the front is subjected. The telephone .exchanges often are only a short distance behind the trenches, and the operator must possess both courage and calmness under dangerous circumstances. “These girls,” said Capt. E. J. Wesson, who recruited the unit, are going to astound the people over there by their efficiency. In Paris it takes from 40 to 60 seconds to complete one call. Our girls are equipped to handle 300 calls an hour.” \ Other reports that have reached the war department from France show that the American hello girl Is making good rapidly ip altask as difficult as Is to be found back of the front line trenches. ♦ The first group of operators entered training school here on January 12 for Instruction in advanced telephony. They received practice in the largest New York exchanges and were then tried out at military cantonments. The course Included talks upon personal hygiene. The first contingent sailed on March 2. Other groups sailed in March and April and were stationed at supply depots and debarkation bases. Ipuiddlfion to speaking both French Und English fluently, every one of these girls has stood a loyalty test which proved that she could be trusted Wtth military information. feie uniform prescribed consists of a'spat and skirt of navy blue serge, shirtwaist of navy blue Palm Beach

She soon ran through the money she inherited, and, to obtain more, communicated with a Greek living in Spain, an agent of the spy bureau established in Barcelona by thb Germans. When mother and son were arrested, the boy was just about to engage in the aviation service in order to obtain information to be supplied to Germany. A writer in the Paris Midi identifies the Greek as the head of German propaganda in Spain and director in particular of the service for arranging explosions in factories. He was a regular visitor to the girls’ school at Barcelona, where he went to see three little girls whose guardian he was supposed to be. One of the youngest, about eleven years old, banded over to him, on each visit, several letters, which be carried away. These three little girls were French, being the daughters of Mme. M. The “Merry Widow" used to pass op any information that she obtained to her nd, who wrote it to his young sister, placing it In the middle of his letters, which were never really examined, when it was seen that they were let-

caught rattled. He swears now and then, but laughs at himself when he swears and he never lets anybody elxe get rattled. Captain Thrall Is a much more tired looking man than he was a year ago—but like his chief he has found that the best way to keep men moving is to meet Ignorance and stupidity alike with a friendly grin and straighten them out as they go along. Major Fawcett left the regular army 17 years ago and was for many years purchasing agent for the Philippine constabulary. Captain Thrall came from the ranks of the regular army.

GETTING A “BEAD” ON A HUN

This machine gun operator is carefully aiming a Lewis gun at a raiding Gotha. It takes a dead shot to bring down one of the birds when it flies high. *

cloth and straight-brimmed hat of blue felt, while the regulation orange and white cord on the left sleeve is used to designate their rank, as operator, supervisor, chief operator and so on.

“WAR BRIDES” DUPE SOLDIERS

Women Fortune Hunters Arrested for Having More Husbands Than Law Allows. San Diego, Cal. —Almost since the United States entered the war soldiers have been victims of women fortune hunters. Girls at various camps are being arrested charged with having an over quota of soldier husbands, and in every case the question of insurance was the motive. This city has been no exception to the rule, and with the thousands of soldiers and sailors in training at the camps near by federal officials are always on the alert, and as a result two girls are under arrest. They gave their names as Miss Mae Smith and Mrs. Elsie Byrnes, and both are pretty. They were caught in the act of mailing about 20 letters to sailors and soldiers asking for money for clothes and traveling expenses. In every letter written by the girts whs the phrase: “I wish you oceans of love with a kiss on the top of every wave.” The girls also received 18 letters from ardent lovers and each letter contained money.

WHILE OVER THERE HE GETS DIPLOMA OVER HERE

Knoxville, Tenn. —Although Clay Barber, Knoxville lad, Is “over there,” a formal presentation of a diploma to him as the only boy graduate of the Carter High school occurred here. Patrons attending the school’s exercises beheld the seat of the only boy graduate draped with Old Glory.

Madagascar, the world’s third largest island, has an area equal to France, Holland and Belgium combined.

ters from a brother to a little sister at school.

“DUKE” JUST A HORSE, JOINS RED CROSS BODY

Seattle, Wash.—The life and services of Duke will henceforth be devoted to the Red Cross. Duke is a pet horse and because its owner, Frank Larson, had no money to contribute to the Red Cross, he gave Duke. The animal was brought to the Red Cross -headquarters and duly receipted for.

Beggar Had $500

Memphis. Tenn.—John Johnston, a professional beggar, cursed a white woman when she refused to buy a pencil from him. He was arrested. At the city jail when he was searched SSOO in currency was found in his clothes. - »

MUCH IN LITTLE

Duplex springs have been Invented by a Californian, an auxiliary spring coming into action if the main es» breaks or is overloaded. A man who is connected with the heavy field artillery is no more likeßr to be killed than one in the employ of a railroad, army officers say. .St. Louis is experimenting with surrounding traffic policemen at nlfiit with light thrown from searchlights mounted on nearby buildings. Paris has established a museum ot the horse, presenting a complete history of the animal from the earliest known period to the present day. To equalize unemployment in th® winter months, members of Seattle (Wash.) Painters’ union will work five days a week. Saturday will be the off day. Without counting 1,413 men already serving in dockyards and military stations on the outbreak of the war, UMfel London police officers are engaged io war service. The Great Western Railway system extends over 3,008 miles, thus taking, first place in the United Kingdom. The Northwestern comes second, with 1,969 miles.

SELF-STARTERS

Be a self-starter and get < ahead in the world. —— Don’t be the kind that must ‘ be addressed In an angry tone - If they are to be Impressed. Such a man gives honest serv- ‘ ice at all times, and this is what - counts in the work-a-day world. ■ It should be sufficient for any 1 employer or superior officer to ■ pleasantly request certain serv- . ices from you. Don’t be the sort of an em- ‘ ployee who must have instrue- - tions pounded into him before ‘ they have any effect,» . It is too expensive to hire men - to work and then have to hire ' others to watch them every min- < ute that proper service may be ■ secured. There are two kinds of men in ‘ this world—those who have to < be “cranked up” and self-start- ‘ ers. As employees the first are « unprofitable. Therefore: The willing worker, the man « who acts immediately upon in- < sanctions which are pleasantly ; given to him, is the sort of em- - ployee who is worth having. MM*' The man who unust be i whacked and pounded into ae- ; tlon is no good in any establish- ‘ inent, and the soonef such men ; get the gate the better for their < employers.

CHUNKS OF INFORMATION

There are more than 200,000 stammerers in the United States. New Mexico has a lizard which is reputed to squirt blood from its eyes. Nine-tenths of Russia’s gold mining is done* on lands owned or formerly, owned by the czar. X O One of the easiest ways to cool an overheated oven is to stand a baste, of cold water in it. Development of water power In Norway has made electricity cheaper than steam in that country. France is the best foreign patron of the United States patent ofltce, wite. Great Britain following closely. Cameo cutting, one of the most ancient occupations, has recently been Introduced into the United States. Most of Japan’s pearl divers at» women, who begin to learn the trad* at the age of thirteen or fourteen. Iron embedded in concrete in Germany has been found to be free from rust after more than forty-five years. ' California is a large producer of barley, more than 35,000,000 bushels being thee 1917 crop in the Sacramento valley. Chicago has more telephones them all France and a single office building In New York contains more than there ire in the whole of Greece. A New Jersey woman has invented a , mesh bag to hold a door key an* prevent It from being lost among tho contents of a pocketbook or shopping bag. —» The average annual meat product from the Tonto national forest of Arttona and the Humboldt national forest in Nevada is estimated at S2,OUU,XIQ. Having found a way to remove the knots and bleach the pulp, a plant foe the manufacture of paper from bamjoo will be established In Trinidad Scotch interests. ..._J I