The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1916-10-26

"In fifteen minutes, M'Sieu."
Good! There will be three Of us
Major Won Brenig, myself aud Captain
Karl"
ayes. m'sieu." Henri had already
turned to hurry back to the kitchen
when a bright blaze In the fireplace
met his astonished eyes. It was en-
tirely too warm an afternoon for a fire.
Only a madman would have built one.
"Why, what Is that?' he exclaimed
| II lit a cigarette" Streetman said.
II threw my match there" And to one
OF the soldiers he added, "Put 1t out
at 0ncer'
The man Otto hurried to the Hre-
place.
Eyes. yes. m'sieu! 1t is nothing
Only some tree branches-it can do no
HARM" the innkeeper protested.
In tue meantime Otto had extin
guished the blaze. He had crawled
bodily inside the great opening Of the
fireplace, to make sure that he did bis
work thoroughly. And now he emerged.
sooty but triumphant. bearing some
continuance in his arms.
Here is telephone!'' he announced
proudly.
"What!' Streetman exclaimed. And
he fastened to examine the lind. "Oh.
ho! What's this?' he asked.
Henri Christophe was no less sur
prised than the others. He took the In
strument from Otto and turned 1t over
curiously.
"Why, m'sieu-it is telephone" he
said with an air Of the utmost mystic.
cation.
II know, know-but what Is 1t do.
ing there?" Streetman asked imperl.
ously.
81 do not know, m'sieu," Christophe
stammered. In fash he saw that
things looked very black for himself.
'sWhy did you hide it?" Already
Streetman had found him guilty.
Il did not hide 1t. m'sieu!
An inspiration seized Streetman
then. And he took the telephone Into
his own hands.
"Who are your" he asked in French, !
speaking directly into the transmitter. |
The fellow received an immediate |
reply. And he said to his men in the |
next breath, lit was Frenchman who |
spoke! That telephone leads to the |
French 1t is the work Of spy" And
then Streetman ordered Ottos comrade
Hans to ask Major Won Brenig to re-
turn.
Poor Henri Christophe forgot all
about bis simple menu. He stood there,
crestfallen. The whole affair was too
much for his befogged brain.
"You were warned against any at
tempt to communicate with the en-
envy" Streetman said.
II never saw that telephone BEFORE"
Christophe declared.
"Don't lie to me! You put it therew
81 swear to you" The innkeeper
held both his hands aloft as he pro-
claimed his innocence But his pro-
testations had no effect upon the In
dignant Streetman. The man seemed
absolutely relentless, inhuman.
You are either French spy or bar
boring spy under your roof" he told
at Is an act of enmity to
US. You must pay the penalty at once"
'On my honor have done nothing
absolutely nothingw Henri Christophe /,
cried. Even in that moment his thoughts
were upon his daughter Jeanne rather
than upon himself. He was afraid
for her.
"Our proclamatons have told you
what to expect" Streetman snarled.
1T will be good warning to the 9th
4rs." he added grimly.
The Belgian innkeeper stared at him
ls If in trance.
"Before God, am innocentp he as
ierted.
The caIlous Streetman paid not the
highest heed to bis denials. In a most
,r.sE aud businessIike manner he CON-
handed the corporal to call In the
,1ard and make ready firing squad
against the wall outside" he said.
Then little Joanna Christophe opened g
rs o the doors timidiy. Some errand
ad necessltated her entering the room. o
md when she saw her fathers ashen -"
nee IT needed little intuition to tell her U
hat there was some tragedy impend- ?
1g With low cry sha sprang to her
ather's side.
MY father-my father-what "a ft7" "
be asked him. q
"He is a spy" Streetman said con-
y
"Non. non, m'sIeuF' she cried.
"Waitl Come herer be or =,
Fred her roughly. And Henri Chris T"
'phe whispered to her to obey. @You q,
ave seen that telephone beforeT .