The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-06-05
out Of the AFFAIR with something to n

our. Of the affair with something to Ms
credit.
There was grim satisfaction in the
reflection that. even as on their fist
encounter, he had emerged from the
engagement with honor.
Sir Noel was as good as his word.
He had some magical influence at
headquarters.
AS a result Rhinelander found HIM
self given the freedom of the city In
return for his simple promise that he
to communicate with the German
forces investing Metz.
Paul was keenly interested In all he
saw. But he was seeking face-here
and there he looked, wherever crowds
roamed, endeavoring to locate the one
who was in his mind.
If only Karl were present-Karl who
was with the besieging host, winning
golden opinions from his superior Of
ficers by his bravery and discretion.
And then Paul had what was pos
sibly one of the most severe shocks
Of his life
He heard his name softly pronounc-
ed, and, with Karl in his mind, 1T
seemed to him as though a spirit of
the air must have spoken, so familiar
were the tones. Paul could not refrain
from turning his head and glancing
around.
OF course he saw only French UNI
forms, peasants in wooden smocks and
wooden sabots, townspeople who gath
cred in groups and solemnly discussed
the consequences to their business
when the Germans controlled the city,
but never sign of the rosy-cheeked
young soldier of the Fatherland, in
his sombre uniform, so strangely at
variance with the gay plumage of tho
Garde Mobile, the national troops and
the ferociOus zouaves and franctireurs,
And as he looked Paul became cou-
scious that one Of the latter who
lounged nearby had coughed as if to
attract his attention, at the same time
looking straight in his direction.
Then it was he received the shock
as though from strong galvanic bat
terry.
FOf 1t was Karl!
What could it mean?
The air of mystery surrounding
Karl; the quick movement by means
of which he expressed silence by press
ing finger upon his lips-these things
aroused Paul's curiosity to fever pitch
All! he had guessed the truth.
Karl-a spy!
The circumstances were positively
convincing, and yet Paul found diff
Guilty in believing his eyes.
Meanwhile Karl had come closer, SO
that he might speak in a low tone
without being noticed
Where can 1 see you alone, my
| friend?" he asked.
| Pauls mind was quick to act.
"Yonder are two benches back to
back. I shall drop down on one and
later you can do the same on the
| other. Then we can converse without
appearing to do so, and keep an eye
out at the same time for danger. D.
you comprehend"
Perfectly"
Presently they were thus seated
| ooA oPpoA OhIiJ 1Ca0lL6 q lOSdl paper
while the seeming franc-tireur dozed
in the bright sunlight
A thousand pairs of eyes might fall
upon them lolling there without sus-
picion arising that they were in direct
communication.
"You are surprised" asked Karl.
'Bewildered, you mean," replied The
other
Still, some one had to come. Our
reports have been SO meagre and con-
Trajectory that the general was deter
mined to learn the truth about the
starvation said to exist among tho
enemy"
There was that in Karl's earnest
tones to warn his friend that he had
something of Importance to communl-
cate, something that concerned Paul's
mission to Europe during these trout
| lous times.
(To be continued.)