Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-11-03

a flashlight from bis pocket and crept |
down the steps as he talked. "Wait"
he said. And in another moment he
had so placed the light at the foot Of
the stairs that it's beams shot upward
through the opening. That's it, that's
it!' he exclaimed delightedly. He was
still standing upon the cellar floor.
''The lights shining in your face! Look!
Can you see meT he asked.
"No, no! The light blinds me. 1
can't see you at ALL" she told him.
He came up quickly then.
"Good-good Now listen! E.
II somebody peeked down there,
wouldn't they think desperate wom-
an was standing at the foot Of these
stairs waitin' to shoot the first man
who tried to come down."
Ethel stood there in the glare Of the
flashlight had listened to his plans.
"Yes-yes-I believe they would"
she admitted, beginning to understand
his scheme.
"And that's what we've got to make
them believe. Now, hasten, darlin'-
hasten! TITS best here" He
led her behind the cigar counter, for
he had suddenly abandoned his previ-
GUS notion Of concealing her in the ad-
: joining room. go and hidew he di-
rected. And she crouched low in the
shadow of the counter. "Ah! God is
good to the Irishw he exulted. "Have
you a revolver"
| eyes, Larryw She produced small,
) nickeled weapon.
He took it from her.
"'Tis rather a toy" he said. "But
I suppose it will shoot Then don't let
the sound Of shot brighten you into
: screaming. I've got to give myself a
g bit of a flesh wound just in the hand"
Y "No, nor she exclaimed In increased
r alarm.
' with this 1t can be only scratch,
l he said. GAS soon as shoot duck and
Q hide. Now, here goes"
He shot himself in the right hand
then handed the revolver back to Ethel
who Immediately huddled behind the
counter. Then Larry banged the trap
d door shut. And backing away from 1t
he waited for the men who as he knew
q would soon come running in.
q In another moment they burst upor
him.
g Herr captain-you are wounded!'
d Lieutenant Baum cried.
2 "'Tis nothing" Larry replied. An(
he proceeded to bandage his blood!
q hand with a handkerchief
Others joined the startled knot o
y. Germans-among the newcomers, Ma
jor Won Brenig.
D "The spy-the woman spy-wher
Is she?" he asked.
% Larry told him that the woman hat
escaped.
The major swore roundiy at that.
q And then Larry explained that sh
had suddenly produced revolver an
T. shot him. Before l could draw m
own revolver she'd got away" he sale
1. "She raised the trapdoor and wen
t. down there" he continued, pointing t
IL the floor
The major remembered that Their
W was no outlet to the wine cellar. An
20 without hesitation he raised the traI
:" door, to face a binding burst of ligh
to He backed away quickly.
TO What the DEVIL" he shouted.
ID And at the same time Larry warne
7 him to be careful.
"She must have one of our pocke
1e flashlights" he said. what a targt
to 1t made of you, major! And in til
IN dark you could not see her. could you /
at mo" Won Brenig admitted. "An
ne she can pick off our men one by or
ne as they go down unless we rush her
IS Larry closed the door quickly.
be IF l may make so bold as to su,
as gest-" he began; and seeing that tt
n, major gave him permission to continu
he said, IF there Is no way out Of tt
cellar save that, why waste our me
when all we need Is to leave her thel
to starve-till there's no fight in her
"Why not leave her there forever
. Won Brenig asked. He was, aboy
: everything, a practical man.
""Tis better still-'tis just fate II
n a spy" Larry agreed.
Y "Baum-run a bayonet through IL
) hasp! the major ordered. The padloC
J had fallen into the cellar unheede
] when Larry first opened the ira
NJ Later you will make the fastenir
~ permanent" Won Brenig said.