Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1910-12-23
MacNahon: $ Spv,
By RYLAND BEALE
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

When the Prussians invaded France
@Garshal MacMahon sent out Lieuten.
amt Boyer, member of his staff, to
secure information of the enemy's
Numbers, his equipment. routes of
march, etc. Young Boyer. was just
nineteen years old. possessed a peachy
complexion, not even the downiest
beard and was chosen from a number
OF volunteers because he could be sue
cessfully disguised as a girl. When
he was made up to represent demoi-
@elle Of the middle class all the off,
GERS of the staff declared that he made
the prettiest woman they had ever
Geen.
Soon after his departure Lucille Dem
crest young Boyer stopped one day
at house on a road that the Prus-
sian army was expected to pass and
said that she had started to 60 to visit
O married sister who lived farther east
ward; but, hearing of the coming troops,
she was afraid to go any farther. She
begged that she might be taken in till
the army had passed and the road
would be clear. Her request was
granted, and she was temporarily re-
ceived into the family.
There was in this house Jules Pou-
cher, lout of a fellow, who must
needs fall desperately in love with the
80 called Lucille. Lieutenant Boyer,
instead Of being pleased with the
young mans attentions, was in dread
OF them, fearing they would betray
him. But the more he snubbed the fell
Bow the more he persisted. Then came
the Prussians, and general of division
made his headquarters for a couple Of
days, waiting for that portion of the
army to which he belonged to come
up, In the very house where Boyer was
stopping.
where he could overhear any CONVEX
sation that might take place in the
generals room. There was no adjoin-
ing apartment to which the spy could
gain access, but the cellar offered a
very convenient method. Watching till
the generals quarters were Temporal
fly vacant, having procured an auger.
he bored hole in the floor. :,
As luck would have it, that very
evening the general called his brigade
commanders to his headquarters for
Instructions. Boyer saw them coming
1D and went down into the cellar, TAX
Ing care that he was not seen to 60
there. He was standing on box
with his ear near the hole he had
made when the cellar door opened and
down came Jules Poucher with can
die for an armful Of firewood. There
were but two rooms In the cellar, and
Boyer could not effect a hiding. Being
In the room under the generals quar-
tiers and fearing to be heard by those
above, he advanced to meet Jules.
"Why, what are you doing down
here alone in the dark?" asked the lat
ter.
Boyer, thinking the young man sym
pathized with the French cause. con-
Guided to tell him that ''she'' was there
to learn Prussian war secrets.
Now, it happened that Jules tina,
very day had offered the Prussian gen
eral some information concerning the
French army for a consideration. HI
didn't care If Lucille gave information
Of the Prussians to the French; but
seeing good opportunity to press his
suit, he resolutely set to work to do so
"GiVo me- q kiSs - ha said
swat moment and l will replied
Boyer. The lieutenant looked about
till he found bit of wood about two
inches long. Then. returning to Jules
who had set down the candle. Boyel
let drive blow, taking Jules under
the china boxing feat he had learned
fin the army athletic training school
and landed him on the floor. Before
Jules knew what had transformed {
beautiful girl into such fury Boyer
sat on him, pulled open his jaws ant
inserted the stick he had secured fol
a gag. There was a clothesline in thu
cellar, and before jules had time t.
aeccver from his surprise Boyer seizet
it and got it around his captive''
body outside his arms. Having Sc
cured these, to tie his legs was com
paratively easy matter.
Jules was now In position wher'
he. could neither interfere with tn,
Gpy's movements nor make a noise
The latter mounted his box. put hi
ear to the auger hole and listened. al
heard enough to learn the route tina
would be taken by the Prussians IL
the advance and the dates of thei
probable arrival at Metz, which wal
principally what Marshal MacMahor
wanted. =. a~.s&
Meanwhile Jules sat ON the doo
looking at the object Of his love will
increasing wonder. He still had NJ
suspicion that his Lucille was a man
>. but he considered her mighty gtronl
woman. As soon as Boyer had learned
ssau he cared to know from above h
got down from Ids perch. he hat
feared that, wood being needed, SOM
one would come down for It. 90 hi
gathered an armful, and as he wa!
about to pass out remembering how