Middletown transcript., 1914-01-24

dame, can you see the lights on the
semaphore?"
yes"
Count them aloud"
She counted the white lights for me,
then the red ones.
Now" said, .if those lights change
in number or color or position, come
instantly to me. l shall be with
MademoiselIe Elven in the little tea
room"
left her in the shadow Of the cur
tains, and passed through the room to
Sylvia's side. She looked up quietly
from her embroidery frame, then,
dropping the tinted silks and needles
on the cloth, rose and walked beside
me. When we entered the little tea
room she passed on to the lounge and
seated herself on the padded arm.
What is it," she asked.
81 am sorry to tell you," / said
sorry from my heart. You are not
very friendly to me, and that makes
it harder for me to say what have to
say"
What do you meanY" she asked.
guardedly
81 mean that you cannot stay here, 3"
l said. "And you know why"
"Will you explain this insult?" she
asked, hotly.
Eyes. You are a German spy" I
said, under my breath. French troops
will land here tonight or tomorrow"
I weAt on calmly. You will see how
dangerous your situation is certain
to become when Buckhurst is taken,
and when it is understood what use
you have made of the semaphore."
She WINGED, then Strengthened and
bent her steady gaze on me. Her cour-
age was admirable.
Il thank you for telling me-" she
said, simply. Have l a chance to
reach the Spanish frontier?"
81 think you have" replied. Kelly
Eyre is going with you when"
"He? No, no, he must not! Does
he know what am? Did he offer to
go?" she asked, incredulously.
'Mademoiselle, he insists"
Without turning her head she said:
Does he know that it may mean his
death?"
"He has suffered worse for your
sake!" said, bitterly.
''What?" she flashed out, confronting
me in an instant
You must know that" said
three years OF -prison-utter
ruini Do you dare deny you have
been ignorant of this?"
For space she stood there, struck
speechless; then, Call him!" she
cried. call him, tell you! Bring
him here-I want him here-here be-
fore us both!"
Eyre, passing the long stone corri-
dor, looked up as l beckoned; and
when he entered the tearoom, Sylvia,
white as ghost, met him face to face.
Monsieur" she said, harshly, why
did you not come to that book store?"
He was silent. His face was answer
enough terrible answer.
Monsieur Eyre, speak to mel Is it
true? Did they-did you not know that
l made an error-Ihat did go on Mon
day at the same hour? They told me
at the usine that you had gone away
Il thought you had forgotten-that
you did not care"
"Care!" he groaned, and bowed his
head, crushing her hands over his
face.
Then she broke down, breathless
with terror and grief.
Il was not a spy then-truly was
not, Kelly. There was no harm in me
i only-only asked for the sketches
because-because-I cared for you. 1 i
have them now; no soul save myself
has ever seen them"
She raised her head and fumbled In
her corsage with shaking fingers, and
drew from her bosom a packet Of pa
pers.
Here are the sketches" she sobbed;
they have cost you dear! Now leave
me-hate me! Let them come and !
take mel do not want to live any
more. Oh, what punishment on earth!"
Her suffering was unendurable to |
the man who had suffered through !
her; he turned on me, quivering in
every limb.
I'VE must start" he said hoarsely, |
Give me your revolver"
/ drew it from my hip pocket and |
passed it to him.
Scarlet" he began, "if we don't |
reach"
A quick rapping at the door silenced
him; the young countess stood in the
hallway, bright-eyed, but composed, |
asking for me.
THE red and white lights are gone"
she said. There are four green lights
on the tower and four blue lights on
the halyards."