El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-06-24
The Spy
A Short Story.


have a place as goyerness in d
German family. One day my en-
ployers and a number of their guests
arranged an excursion by steamer
down the Rhine and / and my two pu-
pills went along.
We went ashore near NiederwaId
where there were many sights TO be
seen, among other things the Iayiu.
cut of a new park, the work on which
was being done by military prisoners
from the fortress.
1t was growing disk when we passed
the place where they were working and
we had to hurry not to miss our boat.
I had all I could do to watch my two
pupil! who were interested in every
thing We passed and whom 1 lost
sight of time and again.
They had Just run a little ahead,
when one of the prisoners addressed
me in French.
II heard you talking to the children
he said so / know You are French
VIII you do something for me2 / am
Lieut. Regnier. held prisoner here as
spy"
'Anythin- I can I replied.
VIII you mail a letter to France fO-
me@' he asked. looking about eau
tiOuSIy- Il have il here"
I could not resist Ny pupils were
some distance ahead and there was no
one in sight
Couldn't you escape? I will help
YOU" I whispered Here is my long
cloak. I can give you a dark petticOat
too. in a second"
He looked at me as If in a trance
but quickly made up his mind
Mon Dieu." he exclaimed. cit is
worth trying
In a moment he was disguised and
looked quite plausible in the dusk We
walked towards the steamer, the spy
following closely behind me. The sen
try opened the gate to let us through
and we were safe.
But how long would it be before the
prisoner was miSSed2 And would not
our party, discover that there was
stranger among US
Fortunately there was quite a crowd
at the landing and we got on board
unnOticed. I told the spy to go below
to the cabin where / Joined him shortly
afterwards. 7 told him who I was and
what to do when we went ashore. We
arranged that he was to hide himself
in our park and during the night I
would bring him more suitable
clothing
At the supper table the master OF the
house suddenly turned to me and said;
DO you know. Mile Gerard. that there
IS a french spy among the prisoner
we saw this afternoon"
Poor fellow, 1 wish I had seen
him"
Good thing you didn't" laughed
one of the guests, ''Or YOU would prob
ably have helped him to get away
Fortunately the subject was dropped
Late in the evening I went to the
pantry. packed a small grip with
bottle OF wine and some cold meat and
this together with q travelling suitcase
and wig I gave TO Lieut. Reginer,
whom I found in the appointed place.
also forced him TO take some
money.
Il do not like to take your money"
he said. If / am caught il viii be
years before YOU get it back 7 only
need enough to get to Metz where L
have friends and the day after to-
morrow 7 shall be in Paris As soon as
I have arrived I shall send you a
telegram"
ct shall be so happy when I get it,"
I said But please sign it Marie and
they viii think il is from my sister
who is about to pass an examination"
We parted and ] saw him disappear
Into the darkness, but L did not sleep
wink that night.
The next morning the telephone rang
and when the master of the house had
answered the call he was quite ex-
cited.
"The French spy has escaped" he
said Il hope YOU did not assist him,
Mile Gerard He said this jOkingly,
Lut added: II had to tell that YOU were
with us so YOU viii have to look out
for yourself"
Ny heart beat madly when 7 strived
to appear calm, and take part in the
conversation To my great relief
everybody felt quite convinced that the
spy was still hidden at Niederwald and
that he had no chance Of reaching the
frontier.
It was a dreadful day to me. no
ticed that I was being watched and 1t
took all my self control to appear un-
concerned and I nearly cOTapS~ when
was alone in my room in the eve
ming.
The next morning 7 forced myself to
ask If the SPY had been caught and felt
greatly relieved when they told me he
had not, but that il was certain he was
still at Niederwald. for I knew then
that within few hours he would be
in Paris But these hours were dread
full, for if ne was caught was almost
sure 10 be arrested as an accomplish
Towards evening one of the servants
handed me a telegram and I felt like
new person when 7 read Passed
the examination with hOnOrs. Marie
A few DAYS later 7 received a draft
from Paris, but felt happy only when I
received a letter from my sister who
praised me for what I had done and
told me that Lieut. Regimen had sue
ceeded i'm proving his innocence and
had received an apology from the Ger
man government