Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-06-13
AT Swords Points;
A SOLDIER OF THE RHINE.
BY ST. GEORGE RATnBoRNE
Srs1ST SAITH

ISlus
Even at the risk of being noticed by
hostile eyes, Paul turned his head SC
that he might look into his compan-
ions face.
Il see you, too, have met with an
adventure, Karl" he muttered, once
more scanning his paper, although the
French words danced up and down
before his eyes.
Perhaps one could hardly call it by
such name, when compared with
your double exploit" modestly. But
perhaps you can guess she is here in
Metz"
"Beatrix, my sister?"
Eyes; and not alone. A nun accom-
panies her. I myself have seen her,
and under conditions little short OF
tragic"
Paul breathed hard.
Already he had begun to find love In
his long desolate heart for this pretty
sister, and the thought of danger over
taking her aroused his spleen.
"Tell me what happened, brother,
he muttered.
1T was last night. had succeeded
in gaining an entrance to the city,
bringing with me three carrier pigeons
belonging to man within our lines,
and which were to take my messages
in cipher to the general.
while wandering around, picking
up all the information possible, chance
no, it was a favor of Providence,
threw me among group of soldiers
in one Of the parks.
"They had been drinking to drown
the impending woe, and were in con-
dition far removed from the usually
polite Frenchman.
Enough to say they stopped two
women who came from the direction
of the hospital-I heard scream, and
forgot the danger l ran, for the voice
| was that of Beatrix.''
How many were there?'
Some four or five"
Excellent. And you put them to
flight alone and unaided?"
Eyes; and Beatrix was Mortified at
discovering my identity, though l be-
lieve, pleased to know that it was to
German arm she was indebted for
the rescue"
What Other companions
"She thanked me most sweetly. You
remember what your mother looked
like when as a child you saw her last
She is still the same, with face puri-
fed by suffering. l fear she is not
long for this world. Her incessan1
labors in the field she has chosen
have undermined her health. 1t may
come back, but the chances are she
will presently slip away from you all.
Somehow this gave Paul shock
and he Immediately resolved that h.
would seize the very first available op-
portunity to make his peace with the
poor lady whose life history had been
so sad.
Il must see her"
when would you care to seek her?'
Soon. This evening, if 1t is pos
sible."
Karl considered.
DO you know the VOLTS head foun-
tain, down by the high wall yonder?'
II drank there not an hour ago.
1T is we'll. Meet me there at nine
tonight, and together we will seek
those in whose interests we are SC
deeply concerned"
Done! At nine, you say?"
YES; and now l am about to move
off. Remember"
Paul counted the minutes until
| nightfall.
A great yearning had come upon
him to see his mother and reassure
her that forgiveness had come at last
to take her weary form in his manly
arms and look into the eyes that had
wept so many tears Of bitter regret.
Totally ignorant of the exciting
events which this night of nights had
in store for him, Paul sauntered in the
direction Of the little VOLTS head
drinking fountain that projected from
the wall which he had agreed to as a
rendezvous for meeting Karl.
AS he drew near the drinking foun-
tain he remembered that caution was
an absolutely necessary adjunct to his
mission. Keenly he surveyed each
lounger in turn.
Fortunately the two comrades had
arranged a crude system of signaling
based somewhat upon the code in use
during their days at old Heidelberg
and by cautious use of this Paul was
at last enabled to clutch the hand OF
his comrade.
All seemed working we'll.
He found Karl somewhat worried
! under the belief that he was being
watched
1t might be imagination, but he
feared that suspicious had arisen re-
garding his identity.
II have news" he said, as their
hands were pressed together.
"News-of Hildegarde?" demanded
Paul.
mo. You know what we guessed
was the reason for Conrad's being
here?"
"Yes-a woman" replied Paul
quickly turning his head to look over
his shoulder, as though the mention
Of the countess might cause her tc
appear.
"Well, she is in Metz, though l hope
not within sound Of my voice, and you
may depend upon it just as much a
factor in the game as ever. I saw he1
come out of the hospital where your
victim was being nursed, and the look
on her face was worth studying"
"You give me a cold shiver. com
rade. l fear no man alive, but heaven
deliver me from such a woman. How
ever, let US dismiss her from our
thoughts. Tel me more about Hide