Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-09-09
THE CHILD SPY.

pale, perhaps ~ anu POkhapS III
vears old-for with these imps you can
ssyer tell. His mother was dead and
Lila fathes, formerly a soldier in the
marines, was the guardian OF a square
in the QUARTER du Temple Every
body knew Father Stenne and loved
him--babies, nurses, poor women and
the old ladies' with their campstools
IN fact. the whole of that part oil
Paris which seeks refuge from pass.
inc carriages in these flower plots sur
rounded by sidewalks. Everybody
knew what pleasant, sympathetic
smile the old fellow had behind his
bristling moustache, both the terror
Of dogs and loaiers, and they also
knew that to call up that smile they
had but to ask:
chow is the little boy to-day?"
How old Father Stenne loved that
bow He felt so happy when the little
fellow came for him in the evening aft
or school, and they walked down the
alleys hand in hand, stopping before
each bench to greet the regular visit
ors and answer their polite questions.
Unfortunately, the siege changed all
this. Father Stenne's square was
closed, and petroleum was stored
there; so the poor old man, ever on
the watch, and not allowed to smoke,
passed his life wandering alone among
the deserted, overturned strawberries.
He could not see his son now until
late at night, at home, and you should
have heard him talk about the Prus,
slams and seen his moustache bristle
ND fiercelyl Young Stenne did not
complain much OF his new life,
You see a siege is lors of fun for the
boys; school is closed; no more ex.
arainations now; every day is a holi-
day, and the streets are like a fair.
The child used to stay out until
nightfall, running about everywhere.
He followed the companies of his
ward as they tramped of to duty on
the rampaFts, and always picked out
those that had the best band. Young
etenne was well up on this subject.
and he could tell you why the band
OF the Ninety sixth was poor and why
that OF the Fiity-ffth was so good.
Then again he watched mobiles drill.
Besides these amusements there were
the waiting PROFESSIONS, which formed
beiore the doors oil the butchers and
bakers, in the dark winter mornings,
when the lights were all out, and he
would stand up in file like the rest,
with his basket under his arm and
his feet in the slush and water; here
be had made acquaintance and talk,
ed politics, and, as he was the son Of
Mr. Stenne, everybody asked his
opinion. But what was most fun
was pitching pennies, and that ia.
nous game of 'galoche, which the
Breton militia had brought into
fashion during the siege. When you
eou-d not find young Stem either on
theramparts or at the bakers he was
pretty sire to be at the game OF ga
loche," on the square du Chateau d
Eau. He could not play, of course
that cost too much; but he looked on
aud opened the biggest, greediest eyes
In the world.
There was one fellow in blue
sniock, whom he admired especially;
De only bet dollar chips, and when he
ran you could hear the silver jingle in
his pockets.
One day as he was picking up a
coin which had rolled away and stop
ped Just at Young Stenne's feet, the
ba fellow said to him in a low voice:
at makes you squirt, does it? Well, il
you Eart TO know I'll tell you where
you can get some"
When the game was over he led him
70 corner OF the square and propos-
ca TO him to 90 with him and sell
newspapers to the Prussians; he got
thirty francs trip. Stenne refused
q hrst and was highly indignant. For
three days he would not 90 back to
TIE game-what awful days those
three werel He could not eat or sleep.
ct Eight he dreamed OF piles of gallo.
ehes at the foot of his bed, and oil
shining dollars, slipping along on their
iaces. The temptation was too strong,
and or the fourth day he returned to
ihe chateau d'Eau, saw the big fel.
low, and allowed himself to be talked
{ over.
q Unesnowy morning they started ont,
each with bag slung across his shoul.
oet, and with the newspapers hidden
hader his blouse. II was hardly light
nhen they reached the Flanders gate.
me big boy took him by the hand
snd led himupto the sentinel-a good.
humored fat old fellow with a red
voice;
hnd sir, do let us pass, please sir;
mothers i'll and fathers dead, and
~ young brother and want to get
eus INTO the field and try to find some
ne was actually crying. Stenne,
n ssshamed OF himself hung his head.
ne sentinel looked at them mo.
ssnt' then down the solitary, white
Pass, then, quickly" he said,
sssahalng aside, and they found them
.5 81 ON the road to Aubervilliers.
nov the big fellow laughed!
distinctly, as in dream, young
S seuhe noticed the factories that now
~ used as barracks and garnished
4, ~, ~ wet rags, and the high chimneys
~ pierced the fog and threw up
III empty, broken walls towards
sH,uos. Here and there asentinel;
ofhcers scanning the ho-
through their glass; little
'N soaked with thawing snow
|,sa a, (. which thecamp fires were dying.
= egg fellow knew the roads well,
= sners to cut across the fields to
e V - Inc pickets; still, notNithstand.
se precautions, they fell upon
- 4ba.post OF sharpshooters. wrapped
s"s.r snort cloaks and huddled up
~. ! ol.ch hall full of water, that runs
s''s .ne railroad track of SCISSORS.
~; me big fellow repeated his tale
- e', r shey would not allow him to
"nile he stood there complain
~ c vi Ola sergeant stepped out oil
- q s - keepers house; his hair
sa Unite, and with his wrinkles look
arcS1eNhat like Father Stenne.
ss,e come, boys, don't stand
~ Tying" be said to the children;
se. alet you pass through after
"a y. pl.oIatoes; but just come in here
ossx - !. warm. That youngster looks
iouug Stenne was trembling
l, not with cold, but with
I sss1 sno lear. Inside they found a
8. s.ssfs erouched around a dying
seal widow's fire, as they were
= NAV some biscuits on the