Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-10-27

things looked very black for himself.
why did you hide it2" Already
Streetman had found him guilty.
Il did not hide it, m'sieuw
An inspiration seized Streetman
then. And he took the telephone into
his own hands.
"Who are you" 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, ut was a Frenchman who
spoke! That telephone leads to the
French. 1t Is the work of a 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,
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.
II never saw that telephone before"
Christophe declared.
Don't lie to me! You put it therew
IL 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, tnhuman.
You are either French spy or har-
boring spy under your roof" he told
Christophe. at is an act of enmity to
US. You must pay the penalty at once"
"On my honor have done nothing
absolutely nothingr' 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.
ut will be a good warning to the 9TH
ers," he added grimly.
The Belgian innkeeper stared at him
as If in trance.
Before God, am innocentw 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 Of the doors timidly. Some errand
had necessitated her entering the ROOM
And when she saw her fathers ashen
face 1t 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.
"a, is a spy" Streetman said con-
temptuously.
"Non, non, m'sieu" she cried.
"Wait! Come here" he or
dered her roughly. And Henri Chris
topic whispered to her to obey. "You
have seen that telephone before?"
Streetman inquired. Already the cor
poral had returned with four men,
bearing rifles.
"No, no! Never in all my lifeT the
girl walled.
your father hid it there" he In
sisted.
mon, non, m'sieuw she said with all
the vehemence she could muster.
Enough of talkingv' Streetman said
with a ole Of hnr xUhffn fanQ
Take him outw he ordered the cor
poral.
For one brief moment father and
daughter clasped each other in a last
embrace.
at is the end, my little Jeanne!
Good-by! Pray for mew Henri Chris
topic said brokenly. And in that in
slant new dignity came to him-a
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 his unyielding
judge unfinchingly. II am innocent,
m'sieu" he said. =.
Those were the last words that Henri
Christophe spoke.
Henry Streetman made gesture of
impotence. The scene bored him.
Jeanne Christophe burst into wild
torrent of words. Alternately she adj
dressed Streetman and her father.
mo, no, mol" she shrieked, as IL she
could not have that frightful thing
that onstrosity-happen "Oh, m'sieu!
For the love of God! My IA
Their l pray you. No,
no! He Is my father. love
thee, l love thee!" she sobbed.
"Oh, m'sieu-I beg you"