Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-09-13


my family. my income, was true-ex-
cept that I'm German, not French"
She gave him an amused look.
But you see, you are not as clever
as you thought" she informed him. "If
you'd only been frank with me, could
have been of so much greater help to
YOU"
"You could?" he said. as a look of
mystifcation spread over his face.
How? Why?"
II have not been quite honest with
you" Ethel said
He seized her roughly by the arm.
''You have not lied to me about the
deet?" he threatened.
"No. no! That was absolutely true"
Streetman released her then.
"Then what do you mean?" he asked.
SO long as she had not deceived him in
that quarter it mattered little to him
what she might have done.
81 told you" Ethel explained, 81
told you there was no Engishman in
my life. lied. There was-a cap
tain in the English army. Before
met you we were engaged. He thew
me over for some other woman-a
woman with money. | hate
himw Streetman saw no reason TO
doubt her. AS Ethel flung herself into
the character of a woman scorned she
did her best TO convince him Of the
truth of the old adage that hell had no
FYv- n, -. ID
the success of her ruse she hurried on
to elaborate her fiction. Eyes, l hate
him. she repeated. 81 hate their
army! hate all Englishmen. 1t is
for you-for Germany / would serve"
she told him. THAT is why have not
done more for you. l thought you
were working fc France, England's
ally. England-how hate her! I
want TO see her dishonored. defeated,
ruined by your people"
''You-you?' Streetman cried. as a
great light broke over him. "And
never dreamedr' he murmured. as he
seized both her hands. He was not
rough now-but eager, impulsive. Eyes,
it is true" he said then. 81 am Ger
man. l serve the Wilhelmstrasse."
"Then let me serve it. too" Ethel
begged, much as she had besought
Larry Redmond only short quarter of
an hour before. But then she had been
in earnest. Think what Ia woman
could do; and a clever woman" she
urged. "Take me with you, wherever
7 hn fyr1
The idea pleased Streetman.
Yes, you wouldr he exclaimed.
"And you shall go. You shall go with
me tonight"
"WhereT she asked him.
"To Brusselsr'
"Brussels-but why there?"
He told her then the very heart of
the German plan.
Germany will invade France
through Belgium" he informed her.
"In two weeks we shall be in Paris"
But Germany's treaty with Bel
gium-you forget thatr' Ethel remind
ed him. She could not believe that any
country that retained the merest yes
tige of honor would so debase herself
"Belgium's territory must be sacred, I"
she said.
He released her hands then. He
needed even them to express his scorn.
Treaty? Bah! What is that-a
scrap of paper!' he cried.
But are you sure?' she pressed
him. This, she knew. was information
opd hfu information aF +ba ,rroo foot
moment to the English war office.
Yes, yes! I'm surer' he declared
THAT is the plan worked out by The
great general staff, and we must go to
Belgium tonight, You win meet me in
an hour at Chariug Cross. Tomorrow
we shall be in Brussels"
where shall VT stay in Brussels?"
81 am sent to the Grand hotel" he
explained. 81 shall pass myself off as
Monsieur de Lorde. You shall be
Madame de Lorde"
Madame de Lorder' she repeated.
as If to fix the name indelibly upon her
memory.
"In Brussels we shall await instruc-
TONS" he continued. when they come
we shall do much-you and for the
Vaterlanu. Good-by. my dear,
until tonight He started to CO. But
he turned back suddenly as If the urge
of great events had not quite oblit-
Grated all thought of his relations with
Ethel. He LEANED toward her. Now"
he said, NOW you won't refuse to kiss
me?"
She could scarcely do otherwise than
submit to him now. He put his arms
around her. and when he had taken
his kiss he said, "In an hourw Then
he hurried away.
Ashamed, Disguised, Ethel wiped
her lips with loathing. And in anoth-
er moment she had thrown open the
door behind which Captain Redmond
waited.
"Larry-Larryr she called.
what is it?" be cried, springing
quickly to her side. Her tragic man
ner alarmed him.
She turned away from him; for she
could not bear to face bis honest eyes
as she told him what she felt she must.
II hoped I'd never have TO tell you
this" she said. "but nov that 1t has
come. I've got to. Larry. the man
married is a German spy"
"A German spy? Your husband ?
But it can't bel" he exclaimed
But it isw she insisted 81 only
just found out. Till now / thought he
loved me-a little Puf he didn't He's