The Mena weekly star., 1910-12-15
MacMahon' 5 Spy
BY RiLAND BEALE
Copyright. 1910. by American Prsss
Association.

secure information Of the enemy,s
numbers. his equipment. routes of
march. etc. Young Boyer was lust
nineteen years old. possessed a peachv
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-
selle of the middle class all the cffi-
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
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.
cher. lout of 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 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 a
very convenient method Watching till
the generals quarters were temporar-
lily vacant. having procured an auger.
he bored hole in the floor.
As luck would have 1t. 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
lag 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.
die for an armful OF firewood There
hr1f fxxyo In, he
Boyer could not effect a 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, II happened that Jules that
very day had offered the Prussian gen.
eral some Information concerning the |
French army for consideration. He |
didn't care II 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
Give me kiss" he said.
"Wait a moment and | 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 |
beautiful girl into such fury Bayer |
sat on him, pulled open his jaws and |
inserted the stick he had secured for |
a gag There was clOthesline in the |
cellar, and before Jules had time to |
recover from his surprise Boyer seized |
II and got II around his captive's |
body outside his arms Having Sc |
cured these. TO lie 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 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 Russians in |
the advance and the dates OF their |
probable arrival at Metz. which was |
principally what Marshal MacMahon
wanted.
Meanwhile Jules sat on the floor |
looking Mt the object Of his love with |
Increasing wonder He still had no |
suspicion that his Lucille was man.
but he considered her 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 it. So he |
gathered an armful. and as he was |
about to pass out. remembering how |
Jules had bothered him with his atten-
tons. babe him adieu with a few |
sturdy kicks. which the fellow could |
neither resent nor complain OF.
Boyer went upstairs. put the wood
down In the kitchen. walked out Of the |
door and was not seen again in those |
parts. He reached Marshal MacMa-
hons headquarters. donned bis uni
form and reported the information he
had gathered.