The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-12-01

! Chrlstophc declared.
Don't lie TO me. You put II there"
81 swear to YOU" The innkeepeI
held both his hands aloft as he pro
claimed his innocence. But his pro
tcstatiuns had no effect upon the In
dignant Streetman. The man seemed
absolutely relentless. inhuman.
You are either n French spy or hnr
boring spy under your roof" he tolt
Christophe. 1T Is an act Of enmity L
us. You must pay the penalty at once.
"On my honor have done nothing
absolutely nothing" Henri Chrlstoph,
cried Even In that moment his thought,
were upon his daughter Jeanne rather
than upon himself. He was afraid
for her.
Our proclamatlons have told yor
what to expect" Streetman snarled
at will be a good warning to the 9th
ers." he added grimly.
The Belgian lnnkeeper stared at hin
as IL In a trance.
Before God, | am innocentw he as
serted.
The callous Streetman paid not the
slightest heed to his denials. In n mOst
brisk and buslnesslike manner he com
manded the corporal to call In tn,
guard and make ready a firing squad
against the wall outside" he said.
Then little Jeanne Christophe opened
one o the doors timidy. 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. With 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'sleu" she cried.
Watt Come herer he or
dered her roughly. And Henri Chris
tophe whispered to her to obey. You
have seen that telephone beforeY
Streetman Inquired Already the cor
poral had returned with four men,
bearing rifles.
NO, no! Never in all my life" the
girl walled
Your father hid it there" he in
sisted
mon, non m'sieu!' she said with all
the vehcmence she could muster
Enough of talkingw Streetman said
with cruel glance at her white face,
Take him out" he ordered the cor
pOral.
For one brief moment father and
daughter clasped each other in a last
embrace
"lt is the end. my little Jeanne!
GQod-by! Pray for met" Henri Chris
tophe said brokenly. And in that in
stant 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'OvertoOk them. at is
all over, ma petite" he repeated. And
urn hN hlN" lllllSIll hy " MS lullGHl
height and looked at his unyielding
judge unhinchingly. Il am innocent,
M Sieu!" he said.
Those were the last words that Henri
Christophe spoke.
Henry Streetman made gesture of
The scene bored him.
Jeanne Christophe burst into wild
torrent of words. Alternately she ad-
dressed Streetman and her father.
"No, no, nor she shrleked, as If she
could not have that frightful thing
that monstrosity-happen. "Oh, m'sieu
For the love of God! 80. My IA
her pray you. No,
no! He is my father. love
-hee, love thee" she sObbed.
'Oh, m'sieu-I beg you"
"Take him out" That was Street
mans only answer
Little Jeanne would not leave her fa-
hers side. As they dragged Henri
Jhristophe from the room she still
'lung to him. And still she shrieked
For the love of God! No. no! Oh
,apa, oh, papa! | love thee. :"
Major Won Brenig looked inquirlngly |
It his colleague from the Wilhelm
trasse.
You wanted me, captalnY' he asked. |
THE proprietor here is a spy" Street
nan said.
"Christophe-a spy? Are you surey'
Absolutely sure" Streetman re-
lied. This telephone leads to the
french. And | have settled the affair"
wen as he spoke scream from out
Idle reached their ears-a woman's
cream. And Immediately there fol-
owed the sound Of a volley.
Major Won Brenig turned his head
nd listened.
"Ah, mon perez 1t was Jeanne
hristophe sobbing.
Already she had flung herself upon
er fathers riddled body.
Major Won Brenig cast reproving
lance at his naughty fellow officer.
Good God-so soon? Without in
ha exclaimed. "What IL
e were innocentT'
But streetman bad no misgivmgs.
IA! 1t will be a lesson to these
hers he said carelessiy.
In the adjoining room Charlie Brown
I'd the Gerwan sergeant had heard
ose shots. And now they burst upon
e two officers in great excitement.
what happened2 Is 1t the Frenchr'
larlie called. S
ut is fnished--the damned spyp 9
reetman rejoined.
What's happened% Charlie asked
rain.