Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-01-14

was all that 1 purported to be. Firstly,
he would keep my passport for awhile.
American passports had been forged,
and it would be advisable to have mine
critically examined. Meanwhile the
colonel would be pleased to provide me
with quarters. There was a vacant
room in the house which would be at
my disposal. and he would be happy
to have me eat at his mess.
This suited my plans exactly. 1
would be a guest at headquarters and
might get passed through the lines
without having to go to Holland or
some other neutral region. The colonel
showed me to ny room himself and
later took me to lunch with him, in
Producing me to the officers of his mess.
Having lunched, l was permitted to
go where liked and spent the after
noon visiting all things, not on the fir
ing line, pertaining to war, in which
they being new to mel was greatly
interested. During my perambulations
l noticed a sergeant who seemed to be
everywhere was. If / stood gaping
at some enormous guns that had re-
Gently reached the front, he was not
far away examining a pile of firearms
taken from the enemy in a recent fight.
Ii l was curiously observing an arm
ed auto he was tossing about some
empty shells and fragments that had
been sent from German guns. How
ever. presuming that my seeing him
near me so frequently was coincidence,
l thought nothing about it.
AT the evening meal Colonel Arnoux
rallied me on the softness of my voice
and the absence Of a beard. saying
that would make up well for a wo-
man. l told him that during my uni
Versity studies when a Greek play was
given l was assigned a woman's part.
Thereupon the colonel remarked that
German men spies had been captured
disguised as women and laughingly
suggested that l might make a good
thing doing secret service work for
the French in woman's clothes. See
ing that l did not take kindly to the
suggestion, he turned the subject.
The next morning l was awakened
by an officer-one ! had met at the
mess ta~ble-opening my door. carrying
some articles of woman's apparel. He
ordered me in a very decided tone to
put them on. Astounded beyond meas
ure, | asked him what he meant,
w%hereupon he told me to do as he babe
me and at once. Being impressed with
the fact that he meant me harm if 1
disobeyed, | robed myself in the arti-
cles and was ordered out into another
room where a dozen officers and men
stood staring at me critically.
After they had looked me over 1
was ordered back to my room and left
to change my clothes. When | at
tempted to emerge again l found a
sentry at the door who pushed me
back with his gun.
1t was evident that something had
gone wrong, but what it was l could
not tell. l remained in confinement
all day, but when evening came it
brought Colonel Arnoux, who, dismiss
ing my guard, invited me to come out.
II must apologize to you." he said.
"for the treatment you nave received.
The truth Is, a woman who greatly
JOo al hSO OoL imp -
few days ago and mysteriously disap-
peared. l gave her a permit to visit
her brother in the trenches, but it
was learned that no such person was
there. 1t was apparent that she was a
spy. and we suspected that she was a
man in woman's clothes. This after
moor she was caught hiding in an aban-
dOned trench in orr rear
1 shuddered, at the same time breath
ing a sigh of relief.
II congratulate you," the colonel con-
tinued. upon having escaped death,
and 1 admit that your escape was a
narrow one. Upon your inspection in
woman's apparel by a number of per-
sons who had seen the other party nine
out of twelve pronounced you the same
person as she. For my part I was
convinced of your identity with her
the moment / say you. You were to
have been shot tomorrow morning"
Pale as death, 1 caught at a mantel
for support. The colonel went to a
closet. took out a bottle and a glass,
poured out a tumbler half full of liquor
and babe me drink it. Having been
thus tided over the shock. l pulled N.Y.
self together and told Colonel Arnoux
that. with his permission, l would take
my departure.
"Would you like to see the person.
who you were supposed to be-" he
asked.
'"Thank you. 40. Is the party man
or woman?'
"Woman-a refined lady"
81 suppose. in that case. she will not
be proceeded against"
The ~colonel's face took ON a curious
expression.
"She is not a spy" l asked.
"a very fragrant case of spying"
"But," l stammered. "you would not
execute a woman?'