The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-13
THE EVENING STORY
Vice Governor of Metz.

der, q sergeant of tried bravery, yet
MS race was gray and his huge ring
or keys clinked family with his trep1-
ping as he delivered the message
Inc governor of Metz was vet
eran, too; man of iron upon whom
THIS terrible siege by the Germans
mad so far made no impression. Now
the corded brown hand on his desk
| closed convulsively. But he asked
quietly enough:
How do you know. sergeant 81
We can hear them, excellency. 1t
was past midnight when Jean of the
dungeon guard came running and
said he could hear the tap ap-tap of
their picks I went with him to 8.
distant corridor where the political
prisoners are confined There lis
tened. The blows came distinctly. but.
the exact direction I could not deter
mine. This much I know. They are
but short distance outside tour
walls"
1.-THE prisoners
.'They know nothing of the tunnel
ers. and are wild with fear
The governor of Metz rose from his
chair. st will go with YOU" he said.
They were deep in the heart of the
ponderous Notifications which still
held Metz for the French despite the
savage attacks of the host of encir-
cling Germans. Overhead, the heavy
guns doomed; their reports made dull
| rumbles here in the rocks where for
years men had been burrowing. AS
for the answering German cannons,
| they could not be heard at all.
The sergeant led the way with his
lantern through low passages which
branched continually into the dark
ness. Occasionally they passed a
sentry, who drew himself up and
saluteds when he saw the grim face of
the governor. The rudy glow of fires
bathed the walls of rock rooms where
whole companies were quartered.
They had glimpses of mer quarreling,
or joking, or playing ncards, or Sleep
| ing.
At last they reached damp, dark
alley beneath the very lip of the@for-
tif1cations. Awaiting them was the
VICE governor, General Moran, a fair
haired. handsome young man, sur
rounded by group of white faced
soldiers. They saluted in grave 81
lence.
The governor did not need to ask
why they strained their ears to listen
When his footsteps and those of the
]a1ler had ceased to echo he heard
| the sounds that fell like a death
knell on their hearts-the steady. ir-
regular blows of excavating tools. so
masked by the echoing corridors that
ne could not tell whether they came
| from in front or behind. or, indeed,
from beneath their very feet.
Discipline within the fortress crum-
pled like an old coat. The news of
| the tap-tapping spread like wfIdf1re
| Men rushed from the bomb-proofs to
| be cut down miserably in the open
| by the storm of shells from the Ger
| man guns. Throughout the miles of
tunnel ran thrill of terror, for the
exact location where the blow would
be struck could not be determined.
Sentries were driven into the CORR
| doris with the fiat of the sword, since
no one had taste to be blown to
atoms by the explosion of thousands
| of pounds of powder. The purpose of
with a huge charge of explosives and
then capture Metz by rushing brigades
| through the opening.
The governor fought bravely to
overcome the plans of the enemy and
restore confidence among his men. He
started a score of counter-tunnels
whiting sound of the mysterious tap
ping; he sent out regimen in every
direction to engage the enemy hand
to hand. But, inexorab}e as death,
the noise continued, day an night
At the end of three days his nerves
were worn to shreds and his SPLEEN
| did army which had borne the hor-
rors of disastrous campaign and
| long siege as well, was little better
than a hystericaI mob. AS he sat at
his desk in the winter dusk, head on
his chest, he realized that if the tun-
nels of the Germans were carried
through he would not only lose his
well won reputation, but probably life
| itself
He looked up with a start as the
door swung open. Before his chief
stood General Moran, his comely face
alight with excitement and hope.
"Excellency,'' cried the vice COVER
nor. waving all ceremony, 1.-THE po-
wishes to see you. She declares she
| can thwart the plans of those who
| are tunneling!"
"Bring her. said the governor.
briefly.
Soon the general returned. usher
/ German maiden of perhaps twenty,
with low. wide forehead from which
| the f1axen hair, ripping a bit, was
drawn neatly back. A long, thick
| braid hung over each shoulder. Her
eyes were deep blue and innocent.
| She had been but a few days con-
fined. and the cell had not yet robbed
her of the healthful color of lip and
| cheek.
"You are the spy?" began the gov
ernor, bluntly.
| The girl met his glance placidly
cellency,' she answered, in per-
| feet French.
The governor frowned "You were
found on q remote part of our fortifi-
cations, in conversation with a Ger
man soldier"
| at was my brother. had not seen
him for many months I told him
nothing of the conditions here, nor
did he ask
well, we will let that pass. You
are not on trial yet. What do you
know of this German tunnel?"
| "You mean what do 1 know of the
tapping sound?'
| The governor stirred impatiently.
Eyes; but it is the same thing, is it
,,not?"
| She replied, choosing her words
with care:
| "a force is working against you, to
Undermine your Notifications. I know
what and where that force is. and can
show you how to checkmate it,
"Your priee?''