The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-10-13
trying to threaten me-" he answered,
more than puzzled by her attitude.


You still love me; and now thai I've
learned about the fleet, you still mean
next week to arrange matters with
your people to announce our mar
riage-"
"Of course, Of coursew he broke in
upon her hurriedly. He had forgotten,
for the moment, all about that plausi-
BILE promise of his. AS matters stood
on the continent he had thought it
more than likely that another week
would find him out Of England for
good. But now he congratulated him
self that he had made her that prom
Use. So far as he could see, that false
hope he had held out to her was all
that stood between him and the Tower
Of London-and likely worse. Ser
tainly we'll announce our marriage"
he assured her. "All that told you Of
my family my income, was true-ex-
cept that I'm German, not French"
She gave him an amused look.
"But you see, you are not as clever
as you thought" she Informed him. "If
you'd only been frank with me. / could
|
you"
"You could?" he said, as a look OF
mystiication spread over his face.
"How? Why?"
II have not been quite honest with
you" Ethel said.
He seized her roughly by the arm.
You have not lied to me about the
fleet?' he threatened.
"No, no! That was absolutely true"
Streetman released her then.
"Then what do you mean?" he asked.
So long as she had not deceived him in
that quarter it mattered little to him
what she might have done.
81 told you" Ethel explained, az
told you there was no Englishman in
my life. l lied. There was-a cap
tain in the English army. Before
met you we were engaged. He threw
me over for some other woman-a
woman with money. 1 hate
himw Streetman saw no reason to
doubt her. AS Ethel flung herself into
the character Of a woman scorned she
did her best to convince him Of the
truth Of the old adage that hell had no
fury such as hers. AS she perceived
the success Of her ruse she hurried on
to elaborate her fiction. Eyes, l hate
him." she repeated. II hate their
army! l hate all Englishmen. 1t is
for you-for Germany l would serve"
she told him. THAT is why I have not
| done more for you. l thought you
were working for France, England's
| ally. England-how l hate her!
want to see her dishonored, defeated,
ruined by your people"
"You-you?" Streetman cried, as a
great light broke over him. And
never dreamed!' he murmured, as lie
seized both her hands. He was not
rough now-but eager impulsive. yes,
it is true" he said then. Il am a Ger
man. l serve the Wilhelmstrasse."
'Then let me serve it, too" Ethel
| begged. much as she had besought
Larry Redmond only a short quarter of
an hour before. But then she had been
in earnest Think what Ia woman
could do; and clever woman" she
urged. Take me with you, wherever
you go. l would be useful"
The idea pleased Streetman.
Yes, you would" he exclaimed.
"And you shall go. You shall so with
me tonight"
"Where?' she asked him.
"To Brussels
"Brussels-but why there?"
He told her then the very heart of
the German plan.
through Belgium" he informed her.
I'm two weeks we shall be in Paris"
But Germanys treaty with Bel
gium-you forget thatw Ethel remind
ed him. She could not believe that any
country that retained the merest yes
tige Of honor would so debase herself
"Belgjum's territory must be sacred"
she said.
He released her hands then. He
needed even them to express his scorn.
Treaty? Bah! What is that-a
scrap of paper!" he cried.
But are you sure?" she pressed
him. This, she knew, was information
-uHu VI TIE
moment to the English war Office.
"Yes, yes! I'm surew he declared.
THAT is the plan worked out by the
great general staff, and we must 60 to
Belgium tonight. You will meet me in
an hour ut Charing Cross. Tomorrow
we shall be in Brussels
"Where shall we stay in Brussels?"
81 am sent to the Grand hotel" he
explained. 81 shall pass myself off as
Monsieur de Lorde. You shall be
Madame de Lorde."
Madame de Lorde!' she repeated
as If to fix the name indelibly upon her
memory.
"In Brussels we shall await instruc-
TONS" he continued. "When they come
we shall do much-you and for the
Vaterland. Good-by, my dear,
until tonight" He started to go. But
he turned back suddenly as If the urge
OF great events had not quite oblit-
Grated all thought OF his relations with
EtbaI ua Iaonnd touorJ bor sNar,