New-York tribune., 1912-02-25
BY L. J. BEESTON

"And escaped from Paris in balloon" added the boy
with the silken mustaChc.
bah! What lies get about growled his opponent.
"Your opening in this game, Fritz than your
last. | shall mate you in six moves Six months since
had Il really good game at chess. | wish
JX/ER da?7 The shril yell Of the sentry came into
w the room. 1t was answered by a shout almost as
loud followed by sounds OF scutile. The Prussan on
the sofa took leap to the door and rushed out. He re-
turned in a few seconds.
n prisoner said he curtly.
Bring him in ordered the German Graf.
\ man with deathly, lvid face whose knees sh,..
under him. brought into the room by two troopers.
The flesh Of his chest showed beneath his ragged gray
blouse He fixed his dcspairng eyeballs upon the Com
mandant
"Who are you?'
"Corneillc Bordcnave. | was a SchOolmaster. ! am
a franc-tireur.'
is that all you have to say?"
isn't that enough;
The bearded giant raised his eyebrows This ,r-.-
lcncc in the face of death was admirable.
you spying:
Take him out and shoot hm!"
"Thanks, Monsieur" The speaker dropped German
Thc troopers seized his arms An expression Of c-
traorCinary contentment capcd into the captives wild
eyes. The officers exchanged glances.
"Wat," cried the Commandant. Look here-Eoi
have no desire to live"
~" Bordcnavc passed his hands down his shiyerng
figure "Oh, yes, life is a suprcmcly delightful thing
said he
The bov with the silkcn musache Shuddcrcd al thar
frightfu tone and all that it conveyed.
The Commandant looked long at the shivcnng n-
tive, and Heaven only knows what was passing IN '.
thoughts But his face was quite lmmObIc ~ DE- -..
at last "Ycs, shoot him. but search him first
For Bismarck's most secret plans scotted the ..r.
officer.
drawing it from the prisoners blouse.
The officer ran his eye ovcrit and low whistle Of sur
prise broke from him. His companions ventured 10 look
ovcrhis shoulder and their eyes opened wider and wide
BY Iovc!" cried one in English.
"GOH in HmmeL! il must be the man. Whisper
the other
1t was the LIsse3 baSsy given to the schoolmas,--
bv the supposed King OF Prussia, in eXchangc tr his
liberty, and for which Bordcnavc had sold his soul.
The Commandant tapped it with the kuuga'o o., a,5
right forcingcr, looking at the captive with d ~'r.
parting his bearded lips.
You know what this ISL he cried not hars..
BOrlcnaVc set his teeth.
tits a permit signed by the Emperor, sate eonlu.
for yOu through our lines.
Bordcnavc refused answer, cursing himself ior v-
ing forgotten to destroy It,
The German tore 1t TO fragments with IeSurolE a''
BorIcnavc brcathcd again. So he was to die "i.,-
~Do you understand the jest that was played upon
yOu. went the other.
Bordcnavc stared.
Il see that YOU DO not. will explain The storg
spread You believed that you held prisoner his Ma
csty the Emperor and YOU let him go in exchange i"-
this paper He was really Lieutenant Strackolz, who
resembles him strangely. II Joke, YOU under
stand. Your Count Dagobcrt nicely fooled. The
paper is not worth the rags that cover you my ncn
Bordcnavc began 20 muttcr incoherent cries. "-
okc?" he echoed husky Il did not betray my mas'.-
thcn9" His bewildcrcd brain failed at first to undo
stand all that this 10 him; but as It's full mean.
became clear he felt crushing weight lifted from ..
heart \ stream OF blood rushed into his face His r
flashed with a strong light. He was Transformed.
n Joke. Monsieur ie Commandment" he Shou',.
"You are in earnest? PaydicM YOU must be, or y,
would not have destroyed that paper Now Chris a"t
His angels be thanked. God above Thou art mcrg',"
tomc."