Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-11-30
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The callous Streetman paid not the
slightest heed to his denials. In most
brisk and businesslike manner he COM
manded the corporal to call in the
guard and make ready a 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 it needed little intuition to tell her
that there was some tragedy impend-
Ing. With a low cry she sprang TO her
fathers side.
My father-my father-what is it?''
she asked him.
'H} is spy" Streetman said con-
temptuously.
mon, non, m'sieu.' she cried.
wait! Come herer' 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 Iffe.' the
girl walled.
your father hid it there" he in
sisted
mon, non, m'sieur' she said with all
the vehemence she could muster.
Enough Of talkingp' Streetman said
with a 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.
at is the end, my little Jeanne!
GOOd-by! Pray for mer' Henri Chris
topic said brokenly. And in that in
slant 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 su-
preme summons overlook them. ut is
all over, ma petite" he repeated. And
then he drew himself up to his fullest
height and looked at his unyieIding
judge unfiinchfngly. 81 am innocent,
m'Sieuv' he said.
Those were the last words that Henri
ChristOphe spoke.
Henry Streetman made a gesture Of
Impotence. The scene bored him.
Jeanne Christophe burst into a wild
torrent of words. Alternately she ad-
dressed Streetman and her father.
cLo
could not have that frightful thing
that Observation-Disclosures. ooh, m'sieu!
For the love Of God! My IA
Their l pray you. No,
no! He is my father. I love
thee, I love theer' she sobbed. q.
"Oh, m'sieu-I beg you"
'Take him outr' That was Street
mans only answer.
Little Jeanne would not leave her IA
TIERS side. AS they dragged Henri
Christophe from the room she still
chung to him. And still she shrieked:
For the love of God! No, no! Oh,
papa, oh, papa! 1 love thee. :"
Major Won Brenig looked fnquiringly
at his colleague from the Wilhelm
strasse.
you wanted me, captain?" he asked.
'The proprietor here is a spy" Street
man said
Christopher spy? Are you sure?''
Absolutely surer' Streetman re-
piled. This telephone leads to the
French. And l have settled the affair."
Even as he spoke a scream from out
side reached their ears-a woman's
scream. And Immediately there fol-
lowed the sound Of a volley.
Major Won Brenig turned his head
and listened.
"Ah, mon PEREZ" It was Jeanne
Christophe sobbing.
Already she had flung herself upon
her fathers riddled body.
Major Won Brenig cast a reproving
glance at his naughty fellow officer.
"Good God-so soon? Without in
vestigation?" he exclaimed. what if
he were innOcent?''
But Streetman had no misgiyings.
"Ah. 1t will be a lesson to these
others" he said carelessly.
In the adjoining room Charlie Brown
and the German sergeant had heard
those shots. And now they burst upon
the two officers in great excitement
"What happened? Is it the French %
Charlie called.
1T is fnished-the damned spyr
Streetman rejoined.
whats happened?" Charlie asked
again.
"A matter of war;" the major told
him briefy-''that is not on my con
science" He was far from approving
| of Streetman's hasty action.
1.-The execution of a spy!' Streetman
interposed. And the words were hard
| ~ out of his mouth before several pri-
Yates squeezed through the entrance to
/ the keeperless inn. There were two
| files; and between them they bore a
| stretcher, upon which there lay some
| thing covered with a sheet A little
distance behind the gruesome process