Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-09-12
CHAPTER XVII.
A WaII-and a Firing Squad

y
serted.
81 hope not They are not a bad peo-
pie" the more moderate major replied
"Oh, major-have my English clothes
my civilian clothes-arrived from
BerlinY Streetman asked.
Eyes. They are upstairs with my
kit"
Good! Then l can start tonight for
the British trenches" the spy ex-
claimed.
The older man looked at him some
what obviously.
You think then that your plan to
be captured by the English will sue
ceedr'
at must succeed. This is map of
their positions" He drew a paper from
his breast pocket and unfolded it. "The
very keystone to their entrenchmentsr'
he eXulted. 1T will be here at trench
27"-Streetman made mark upon the
map-''it will be here that | shall be
found he said.
Trench PIP Won Brenig repeated.
Yes! 1 shall be skulking around
and be taken prisoner. Then | shall
give the English false informal ton
about a surprise attack that will en-
able you to break through their lines
and smash themr'
Splendid! Splendidv' Won Rrenig
cried. "By the way" he added, as an
important detail came into his mind
"a man arrived here this afternoon
from the Wilhelmstrasse on a special
mission"
Eyes? Who is hep"
"a Captain Karlr' Major Won Brenig
said. You know him?"
mo! And / must meet hi b."
You don't suspect"
mo, nor Streetman assured him.
"At the Wilhelmstrasse few Of us know
one another; still we cannot be too
careful"
He dimes with u.s." the major ex-
planned.
"And then we shall look him over"
Streetman said with satisfaction.
"Auf wiedersehenw And Major Won
Brenig went to his room, congratulate
ing himself the while upon the fact
that he had so resOurceful an assistant
in that able young officer from the Will
helmstrasse.
Henry Streetman lighted cigarette,
tossing the still blazing match into the
fireplace. And he had not waited long
before Henri Christophe appeared.
Major Won Brenig wishes to dine at
once" the spy told him. How soon
can you be ready?"
"In fifteen minutes, m'sieu."
Good! There will be three of us
Major Won Brenig, myself and Captain
Karl"
Eyes, m'sieu." Henri had already
turned to hurry back to the kitchen
when bright blaze in the fireplace
met his astonished eyes. 1t was en-
tirely too warm an afternoon for fire.
Only a mailman would have built one.
why, what is that?" he exclaimed
Il lit a cigarette" Streetman said.
Il threw my match there" And to one
of the soldiers he added, Put it out
at onceT'
The man Otto hurried to the fire.
place.
Yes. yes. m'sieu! 1t is nothingl
Only some tree branches-it can do no
HARM" the innkeeper protested
In the meantime Otto had extin-
guished the blaze. He had crawled
bOdiI-- inside tho orroat oDaDipu of +I,a
fireplace, to make sure that he did his
work thoroughly. And now he emerged,
sooty but triumphant, bearing some
Continuance in his arms.
Here is a telephone!" he announced
proudly.
What Streetman exclaimed. And
he FASTENED to examine the find. "Oh,
no! What's this?" he asked.
Henri Christophe was no less sur
prised than the others. He took the in
strument from Otto and turned it over
curiously.
"Why, m'sieu-it is telephone" he
said with an air of the utmost mystifi-
cation.
II know, / know-but what Is it do
ing there?" Streetman asked imperi-
ously.
81 do not know, m'sieu." Christophe
stammered. In a flash he saw that
things looked very black for himself.
''Why did you hide it?" Already
Streetman had found him guilty.
81 did not hide it. m'sieur
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. 1T was a Frenchman who
spokeI That telephone leads to the
French. 1t is the work of spy" And
then Streetman ordered Otto's comrade
Hans to ask Major Won Brenig TO re-
turn.
Poor Henri Christophe forgot all
about his simple menu. He stood there.
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.
81 never saw that telephone before"
Christophe declared.
Don't lie TO me! You put it thereT
81 swear TO you" The innkeeper
held both his hands aloft as be 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 a French spy or har-
boring a spy under your roof" he told
Christophe. LIT is an act of enmity to
us. You must pay the penalty at once"
ION 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 proclamations have told you
what to expect" Streetman snarled.