Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-12-09
MacMahon's Spy
By RYLAND BEALE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

nineteen years old, possessed a peachy
complexion, not even the downiest
beard and was chosen from number
Of volunteers because he could be sue
cessfully disguised as a girl. When
he was made up to represent demoi-
Selle of the middle class all the off,
GERS Of the stan declared that he made
the prettiest woman they had ever
seen.
Soon after his departure Lucille Dem
crest young Boyer stopped one day
at house on road that the Prus-
sian army was expected to pass and
said that she had started to go to visit
a 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 a 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 mans attentions, was in dread
Of them, fearing they would betray
him. But the more he snubbed the fell
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
nm In bo xrhoro
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 a
very convenient method. Watching till
the generals quarters were Temporal
lily vacant, having procured an auger,
he bored a 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
in and went down into the cellar, TAX
ing care that he was not seen to go
there He was standing on a box
with his ear near the hole he had
made when the cellar door opened and
down came Jules Poucher with a can
die for an armful of frewood. There
were but two rooms in the cellar, and
Boyer could not effect 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 dowr
here alone in the dark?" asked the lat
ter.
Boyer. thinking the young man sym
pathized with the French cause, con
cluded to tell him that "she" was Their
to learn Prussian war secrets.
Now, 1t happened that Jules tina
very day had offered the Prussian ger
eral some information concerning tn
French army for consideration. 81
didn't care n Lucille gave informatio
of the Prussians to the French; Blu
seeing a good opportunity to press hi
suit, he resolttely set to work to do q
Give me a kiss" he said.
"Wait moment and WILL" reptile
Boyer. The lieutenant looked abot
till he found bit Of wood about tw
inches long. Then. returning to julie
who had set down the candle, Boy
let drive a blow, taking Jules und
the china boxing feat he had learnt
in the army athletic training school
and landed him on the floor. Befo
Jules knew what had transformed
beautiful girl into such a fury Boy
sat on him. pulled open his jaws az
inserted the stick he had secured
a gag There was a clothesline in t
cellar. and before Jules had time
recover from his surprise Boyer seiz
1t and got 1t around his captiv
body outside his arms. Having
cured these. to tie his legs was a CO
paratively easy matter.
Jules was now In a position whd
he could neither interfere with
spy's movements nor make moi
The latter mounted his box. put
ear to the anger hole and listened.
heard enough to learn the route Il
would be taken by the Prussians
the advance and the dates Of tn
probable arrival at Metz, which v
principally what Marshal MacMaf
wanted.
Meanwhile Jules sat on the a
looking at the object Of his love "
increasing wonder. He still had
suspicion that his Lucille was a M
but he considered her a mighty STR
woman. AS soon as Boyer had lear
all he cared TO know from above
got down from his perch. He
feared that. wood being needed, Sd
one would come down for it, So
/ gathered an armful, and as he
/ about to pass out, remembering
| Jules had bothered him with his at
! lions, babe him adieu with a
sturdy kicks, which the fellow Cd
neither resent nor complain Of.
Boyer went upstairs, put the V
down in the kitchen. walked out of