Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-10-25

| about his 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.
Il never saw that telephone before"
Christophe declared
Don't lie to me! You put il therei"
| 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 har-
boring a spy under your roof" he told
Christophe. 1T is an act of enmity to
us. You must pay the penalty at once"
ION my honor have done nothing
absolutely nothingp' Henri Christophe
cried. Even in that moment his thoughts
were upon his daughter Jeanne rather
than upon himself. He was afraid
for her.
"Our proclamations have told you
what to expect" Sueetman snarled.
at will be a good warning to the 9TH
ers," he added grimly.
The Belgian innkeeper stared at him
as if in a trance
Before God. am innocent"' he as
serted
| The callOus Streetman paid not the
slightest heed to his denials. In a most
brisk and businesslike manner he com
manded the corporal to call In the
guard and make ready firing squad
against the wall outside" he said
Then little Jeanne Christophe opened
one o. the doors timidly. Some errand
had necessitated her entering the room.
And when she saw her fathers ashen
face IT needed little intuition to tell her
that there was some tragedy impend-
ing. Witha low cry she sprang to her
fathers side
My father-my father-what is it,"
she asked him.
IA is a spy" Streetman said con-
temptuously.
Non, non, m'sieur' she cried.
"Waitl Come herev' he or
dered her roughly And Henri Chris
topic whispered to her to obey you
have seen that telephone beforeW
Streetman inquired. Already the cor
poral had returned with four men,
bearing rifles.
mo, no! Never in all my lifev' the
girl walled
Your father hid it there" he In
sisted.
Non. nom m'sieu'' she said with ali
the vehemence she could muster.
Enough of talking" Streetman said
with a cruel glance at her white face
Take him outr' he ordered the cor
poral
For one brief moment father and
daughter clasped each other in a last
| embrace
1T is the end. my little Jeanne!
GoOd-by! Pray for met" Henri Chris
topic said brokenly. And in that in
slant a new dignity came to him-a
dignity such as must have clothed the
ancient martyrs, or that later tragic
| figure, for whom his own daughter was
named-Jeanne d'Arc-when the SUI
preme summons overlook them. "It is
all over, ma petite" he repeated. And
then he drew himself up to his fullest
height and looked at HE unyielding
judge unfinchingly. 81 am innocent.
m'sieur' he said
Those were the last words that Henri
Christophe spoke.
IL .
Impotence. The scene bored him.
Jeanne Christophe burst into q wild
torrent of words. Alternately she ad-
dressed Streetman and her father.
mo, no. nor she shrieked, as If she
could not have that frightful thing
that monstrosity-happen. "Oh. m'sieu!
For the love of Cod My IA
Their | pray you. No.
no! He is my father. l love
thee, l love thee" she sobbed i
"Oh, m'sieu-I beg you"
Take him outw That was Street.
mans only answer.
Little Jeanne would not leave her IA
theirs side. As they dragged Henri
Christophe from the room she still
chung to him. And still she shrieked:
For the love of God! No, no! Oh.
papa, oh, papa! love thee :"
Major Won Brenig looked inquiringly |
at his colleague from the Wilhelm
strasse
You wanted me, captain p he asked |
THE proprietor here is spy" Street |
man said.
"Christophe-a spy? Are you sure?" |
Absolutely surer' Streetman re-
Piled This telephone leads to the
French. And | have settled the affair"
Even as he spoke a scream from out |
side reached their ears-a woman's |
scream. And Immediately there fol-
lowed the sound OF & volley.
Major Won Brenig turned his head
and listened
"Ah. mon perez 1t was Jeanne
Christophe sobbing.
Already she had flung herself upon
her fathers riddled body.
Major Won Brenig east a reproving
glance at bis naughty fellow officer.
Good God-so soon? without in.
vestigationY' he exclaimed. what II
be were innocentY''
But Streetman had no misgivings.
"Ah! 1t will be lesson to these
Others" he said carelessly.
In the adjoining room Charlie Brown