Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1910-12-02
MacMahon's $ Spy
By RYLAND BEALE
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.


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 number
Of volunteers because he could be sue
cessfully disguised as girl. When
he was made up to represent demoi-
selle of the middle class all the Off
GERS of the staff 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
q 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
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 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 conver-
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 temporar-
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 can
dle\ for an armful of firewood. There
were but two rooms in the cellar, and
Boyer could not effect hiding. Being
In the room under the generals quar-
ters 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-
cluded to tell him that ''she" was there
to learn Prussian war secrets.
Now, 1t happened that Jules that
very day had offered the Prussian gen.
eral some information concerning the
French army for consideration. He
didn't care If Lucille gave information
of the Prussians to the French; but,
seeing a good opportunity to press his
suit, he resolutely set to work to do so.
"Give me kiss" he said.
"Wait a 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, 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 floor. Before
Jules knew what had transformed a
beautiful girl into such a fury Boyer
sat on him, pulled open his jaws and
inserted the stick he had secured for
gag. There was clothesline in the
cellar, and before Jules had time to
recover from his surprise Boyer seized
It and got it around his captive's
body outside his arms. Having Sc
cured these, to tie his legs was com.
paratively easy matter.
Jules was now in a position where
he could neither interfere with the
spy's movements nor make a noise
The latter mounted his box, put his
ear to the auger hole and listened. He
heard enough to learn the route that
would be taken by the Prussians in
the advance and the dates of their
probable arrival at Metz, which was
principally what Marshal MacMahon
wanted.
Meanwhile Jules sat on the flool
looking at the object of his love with
increasing wonder. He still had nc
suspicion that his Lucille was a man
but he considered her a mighty strong
woman. AS soon as Boyer had learned
all he cared to know from above he
got down from his perch. He had
feared that, wood being needed, some
one would come down for 1t. So ht
gathered an armful, and as he was
about to pass out, remembering how
Jules had bothered him with his atten
tions. bade him adieu with few
sturdy kicks, which the fellow could
neither resent nor complain of.
Boyer went upstairs, put the woot