Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-11-03
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Maxine viquotre was aching TO distin-
ruish himself and the new espionage bib
be declared would give him the requisite
opportunity
Ills one desire was 70 serve his country
by tie .41g.y of some Ingenious plan
to rob France Of the copyright in her mill
itafy defenees, and his appointment as
detec we was not a week old when he
saw III. chance.
He 1sco, Cd SPY. The subject was
in agpearaE Eiquctre's ideal redOubt
spy. OF middle height, with bent back
aud jcrky Irregular gait. his keen gray
eyes shot flashes Of Intelligence from the
cover Of thick ashes and shaggy brows.
His long, untrimmed white hair rose and
fell with the old mans cratic movements
or played with the breeze when its owner
stood for while, suggesting an innocence
that did not for one moment misiead
Niquetre.
Had he not perceived q paper in one
hand and a pencil in the other? And, al
though the old man did not make mark
or iot a note while he strolled with APP
parent aimlessness about Fort d'Gyry, yet
did not Viqueue see the pencil Gy over
the paper before he had left the redoubt
half a mile behind?
The old man then went to the railway
station and entered a train. yiquetre
had only time to enter an adjoining car
riage. But there he lost his spy
\ week later Viquetre was on the
platform Of the station. when be espied
his runaway suspect entering a first class
carriage. Niquetre, not TO be done a
second time. followed him as the train
started and quietly sat down by the door.
His victim vas already ensconced on the
opposite seat at the farther end of the
carriage, n clean sheet OF paper spread
open in one hand a pencil in the other.
He made no sign of observing Viquetre' )
entry.
HE is wrapped in his thoughts" men
tally exclaimed the detective II wish |
had mirror that would reflect them"
As If in answer to his desire, his com
panion spoke.
yes; Fort d'Ivry will do, after ALL"
Niquetre started. For a moment he
thought the remark was addressed to
him. but a glance at the old man seated
In the corner, buried in reflection. proved
that he was unwittingly giving voice to
his thoughts.
TIE train paused at Les Batignolles.
Niquetre, to give his companion conf
dence, feigned sleep. The train pursued
its journey; the old man his reflections.
Eyes; Fort d'Ivry shall be the scene
The exterior | can picture with ease
you reconnoitered it long enough the
other day." Viquetre interrupted mental
ly.
But how to gain the necessary detail
of the interior?'
Go on" thought Viquetre. Il pray
you reveal your scheme for stealing a
plan of the interior of the fort. 1t will be
so considerable of you and so convenient
to me-"
The train brought up at Courcelles and
steamed away again.
Il must get permission to go inside. |
suppose continued the old man, still
meditating.
"If you cam" mentally responded vi
quetre.
1.-The MARIE could not give it, l suppose,
or | know / could persuade him. Why
will the government put such barriers in
the way of knowledge? A novelist OF
repute should be allowed to roam al
will His profession demands it. All
information is necessary to his work, and
he should have every facility for accumu-
lating it without risk or trouble. If | at
tempted TO gain even a most superficial
acquaintance with the internal construc-
ton of Fort d'Ivry, | should be arrested
on suspicion of being a spy"
NiQuetre opened his eyes and stared
wonderingly at the old man in the cor
ner. Had he, after all, made huge mis-
take? Was this shabby veteran a novel
list of repute merely anxious to lay the
scene of a comic novel of Fort dIvry?
But almost Immediately Viquetre'
cunning-which he had adopted with his
prOfession-came to his aid.
"Ie is not ignorant of my presence, rs
he assumes to be- he thought quickly
He even suspects my buiness and is doing
his utmost to throw me off the scent.
Well! Let him try! He has met a dog
with a very keen scent for his profession
al age"
"Ah, we'll" muttered the old man re-
signedly. Il suppose ! shall have to
present myself to the minister of war and
persuade them to give me pass to the
fort. It's lot Of trouble that ought new
err to be imposed upon a busy novelist,
and | shall make it my business to tell
them so"
NlQUeIfe CuN'hleu SileUIiN. ne TRAM
stopped at Porte-MaiIlot as the old man
ceased speaking, and he rose to leave
the compartment.
Viquetre hesitated. He could not ar
rest his companion then without grave
risk Of failing to prove his charge, He
decided to follow him, and as he rose ia
do SO his eye caught a paper on the oppo-
site seat Of the carriage where his fellow
traveller had been sitting.
He made a dash for it and as he
alightcd unfolded it and recognized it at
once as La Revue lllustree des Bellies
Lettres. There was a life size portrait
on the front page.
"Mon Dieu' he exclaimed as ne stood
on the platform staring at it. at is a
likeness of the old man. He is a novel
ist, after ALL He is NJ. Honore st.
| Jacques"
And he read the name under the pic
ture that was headed Our Greatest Liv'
ing Novelist"
What an ass / am" exclaimed vi
| guetre, with charming candoc.
A month later this report was freely