Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-11
MacMahon' $ Spy
BY RYLAND BEALE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


numbers. his equipment routes o
march, etc Young Boyer was JUS
nineteen years old. possessed peach.
complexion. not even the downies
beard and was chosen from a numoe
of volunteers because he could be sue
cessfully disguised as girl Whei
he was made up to represent demoi
selle of the middle class all the OIL
GERS Of the staff declared that he made
the prettiest woman they had ever
seer.
Soon after his departure Lucille Dem
crest young Boyer, stopped one day
at house on read that the Prus'
sian army was expected TO pass and
said that she had started TO so TO visit
a married sister who lived farther cast
ward: bur. hearing of the coming troops
she was afraid to go any farther. She
begged that she might be taken In TIL
the army had passed and the road
would be clear. Her request was
granted. and she was temporarily re-
ceivcI into the family.
Thee was in this house Jules Pou-
cher. lout OF a fellow. who must
needs fall desperately IN love with the
SO called Lucille. Lieutenant Boyer.
instead OF being pleased with the
Young mars attentions. was in dread
of them. fearing they would betray
him. But the more he snubbed the fel-
low the more he persisted. Then came
the Prussians, and a 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.
Boyer desired TO secure some place
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
very convenient method. Watching till
the generals quarters were tcmporar-
sly vacant. having procured an. anger.
ne DOreu tlote iil>tne uOor.
As luck would have II. that very
evening the general called his brigade
commanders to his headquarters for
instructions. Boyer saw them coming
in aud went down into the cellar, TAX
ing care that he was not seen TO so
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 a cam
die for an armful of 6rewood. There
were but two rooms in the cellar. and
Boyer could not effect hiding. Being
in the room under the generals quar-
ters ard 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 yonng man SYM
pathized with the French cause, con-
cluded TO tell him that she was there
to learn Prussian war secrets.
Now. it happened that Jules that
very day had offered the Prussian gen.
eraI some information concerning the
French army Cor consideration. He
didn't care IL Lucille gave Information
OF the PrusSians to the French; but.
seeing a good opportunity TO press his
suit. he resolutcly set 10 work 10 do So
Give me a kiss" he said.
"Wait moment and I will" replied
Boyer The lieutenant looked about
tin he found hit OF wood about two
iucises long. Then. returning 10 Jules.
who had set down the candle. Boyer
let drive a blow. taking Jules under
the china boxing feat he had learned
in the army athletic training school
and landed him on the door. Before
Jules knew what had transformed a
beautiful girl into such fury Boyer
sat on him. pulled open his jaws and
inserted the stick be had secured FOR
n gag. There was n clothesline In the
cellar. and before Jules had time TO
recover from his surprise Boyer seized
It and got Il around bis csptive's
body outside his arms. Having Sc
cured these. to tie his legs was com
paratively easy matter.
Jules was now in n position where
he could neither interfere with the
spy's movements nor make noise.
The latter mounted his box. put his
ea- 20 the anger hole and listened. he
heard enough 10 learn the route that
would be taken by the Russians in
the advance and the dates Of their
probable arrival II Metz. which was
principally what Marshal MacMahcn
wanted. 4
Meanwhile Jules sat GA the foS'
locking 81 the object Of his love with
Increasing wonder. He still bad 20
suspicion that his Lucille was q man
but he considered her = mighty strors
woman. As soon ~ Boyer had learned
al he cared 20 know from above be
cot down from his perch. ne had
rc1rec thaf. wood being seeded. som'
one would cone down for ~ So h