Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-11-23
o supply the mystic word.

W supply luS usSL WORD.
"Courvoisierw she said in low
voice
Good he exclaimed with satisfac-
ton. "The other day to General
Jacques at the fort you offered YOUR
services for France" he ventured.
''Yesr'
He wishes now to take advantage
of your offer"
Il am ready" she answered quietly.
He proceeded swiftly to the bust
ness in hand
THE Germans will be here tonight.
and here the road forks, one turn TO
the right, the other to the 1eft-you
know?"
1T is important, the general saws.
that he should know which road the
Germans take-whence comes the at
tack. You are to inform him
by telephone"
But they Will cut the wires" Ethel
objected.
All that they can find" he agreed.
But last night, while the others slept,
we have strung a wire from the fort
to-that chimney By the merest nod
he indicated the huge fireplace that
projected into the room.
'Here?" she exclaimed.
He bowed.
Il have beneath my coat a tele-
phone" he continued hurriedly. IF
madame will be good enough to change
with t0I
I connect the instrument, the affair
will be simple"
"Of courser' Ethel responded.
The Frenchman stole to the fireplace
and crept inside the wide opening.
And while his head and shoulders
vanished momentarily up the chimney
ae busted himself with his work of at
taching the instrument to the dangling
wire within.
'All Is well?" he called in low
voice, as his deft fingers twisted the
ends of the wire.
at is DONE" the little man declared
He quickly brushed a few clinging
particles of SCOT from his sleeves
THE telephone is in the far corner"
he explained, beneath some tree
branches. 1t cannot be SEEM
"And what am l to do?" she asked.
"At the earliest possible moment
after the Germans arrive and you
have found out which road they take,
call on that instrument An officer
will be waiting every moment from
now on. | have signaled that the con-
nection is made"
81 UNDERSTANDABLE you may depend
on me-" she promised
And he had already reached the door
to take his departure when he came to
are Madame de Lorde?" he inquired in
his quaint English.
"YesY
"Now it is perhaps best that you be
told" he continued. Before
you came a gentleman in the service
of your country, gentleman who met
you in Brussels-he ask for you"
Ethel started at his announcement.
And she drew nearer to him.
Captain Redmondw she exclaimed
IN low voice.
-ssh-madame" he warned her.
"It was he" he whispered.
"Is he hereY' she asked eagerly.
"He could not wait He must re-
turn to his work." he enlightened her.
But what was he doing hereY she
demanded in alarm.
The little Frenchman waved her to
a nearby chair
"Not so close, madamev' he begged.
She sat down obediently.
what was he doing here?" she
asked.
He came to arrange about the tel
ephone," the fellow told her. at Is
his plan"
His plan! Then he will come
back"
'He could not be certain, madame"
"But he's alive, and we'll" She
could hardly wait for his answer.
eyes, madame, quite So"
ooh, thank Godr' Ethel murmured,
In a tone of vast thankfulness.
Her felloW-spy smiled at that-a
hdppJ oLIAAC.
81 am glad I have told you," he
said. II had thought perhaps it was
On affair of the heart. He had the
look. And now, madame, for
what you will do permit me to thank
you. It is for France"
"And for Larryr' Ethel murmured
softly.
It was Etheps turn to warn him
then. For a door opened. Henry
Christophe had returned.
"Good day, m'sieur' the little man
said cheerfully. And he departed
"Ah, madameI Dinner is readyp
Christophe announced to Ethel. "And
where is the American gentleman
81 fancy he will be here directly"
she told him.
"Ah, good, good! But we must not
spoil the chicken" he said He had
taken especial pains with that chick
en-, and he wished it to be served at
just the proper moment.
81 sayp' Mr.. Brown exclaimed. 81
just happened to glance out of my win
dow. What's going on over thereT
"Why, nothing, m'sieup' his host re-
piled happily. "And your dinner is
ready. 1t is delicious, promise you"
Curiously enough, Mr. Browns in
terest in dinner had suddenly abated
"But something is happening! Look
for yourselfp' he urged