The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-01

mander. You know where the troops
are. AS soon as you reach them ask
them to take you to their generl Il
Tell him OF the conference held in ouI
house and where you found the paper
which you will give him."
Clochette at once put on a hat and a
wrap and sailed forth. There was lie
pocket in her dress, and she carried
the scrap of paper in her hand.
Directly opposite the Dubois home
lived German family. One Of the
girls, Gretchen, was at window
when she saw Clochette come out
tightly grasping paper in her hand.
and hurry away. Gretchen had seen
the generals ride up to the Dubois
home. and since they came from diff
ferent points she had inferred that
they had met there for a purpose.
When she saw Clochette emerge so
hastily with the paper in her hand
1t flashed upon her that Clochette had
become possessed of information of
the German movements and was TAX
Ing 1t to the French commander.
1t happend that these two girls were
interested In the same man. Pierre
Vented was the son Of a German
Alsatian and Frenchwoman. Pierre
had been born twenty years after the
cession Of the province to Germany.
and, his parentage being divided be-
tween German and French, he cared
little whether he lived under the rule
of president or kaiser AS to the
two girls who were interested in him.
he had not shown a decided prefer
ence for either.
Gretchen was not only interested In
baking Clochettes move from patri-
otto motives, but from feeling Of an
tagonism due to rivalry. On seeing
the French girl hurry away Gretchen
snatched up hat and coat and ran
after her. Keeping behind her, Crotch
en- soon saw that she was making
toward the French army. Gretchen
was about to catch up with her rival.
with view to prevent her taking the
supposed information to the French
commander, when who should appear
on the scene to complicate matters
but Pierre Vented. He emerged from
a crossroad and met Clochette at the
crossing while Gretchen was still at
some distance behind. Vented Joined
Clochette and walked on beside her.
The girls had each been working on
Vented, the one to make him
Frenchman, the other German but
thus far neither had succeeded. The
fact that Clochette was doubtless hur
wing to the French headquarters with
information that might lead to a
German defeat was sufficient in itself,
but that Vented should be a party to
the act was maddening Indeed, It
was too much for Gretchen. She hur
ried on and overlook the others. Not
being in mood to act automatically,
she spoke Mt random.
"What have you in your hand?" she
asked OF Clochette.
Olochette made no other reply than
to look at her rival defiantly.
II saw the generals 60 into your
house. They held council Of war
there. That paper you hold so tightly
Is information you obtained by caves
dropping, and you are carrying 1t to
the French army. Pierre, take 1t from
herr
"Why should do that" asked
Pierre.
Because your father was a German.
and you should be loyal to the kaiser"
Il am neither loyal to the kaiser nor
to the president. If Clochette has q
paper 1t is hers, not mine nor yours.
and l see no reason why she should
be compelled to give 1t up"
"If you permit her to carry that In.
formation to the French army" cried
Gretchen, "you need not consider me
your friend any more!''
Pierre stood irresolute. He was not
ready to thus choose between the two
girls.
II do not fear" said Clochette, "that
Pierre will rob me Of anything I have
in my possession"
SioSuette, uc Suiu i IedT tudC ii
you 60 to the front you may be shot"
81 will risk that" was the reply.
"You had better give me the paper"
do understand you to demand 1t
Of me because Gretchen commands
you to do so on pain Of being dismissed
by herY
mot exactly" stammered Pierre.
Meanwhile firing was heard at the
front, and missiles began to spit about
the trio. At this point a spent bullet
struck Clochette's hand, and the paper
futtered to the ground. While Clo-
Ghetto was grasping the empty fingers
Gretchen stopped and picked up the
paper AS soon as Clochette saw that
her rival possessed her treasure she
said TO Pierre:
Gretchen called upon you to decide
between us when had the paper. Now
call upon you to do so. And you
must decide. too. between France and
Germany. Take 1t to the Germans or
to the French, whichever you like; II
to the Germans, you need never COM
municate with me again; IL to the
French, | shall love you forever"
Pierre looked from one girl to the
other several times. Presently it was
plain that he had made up his mind.
GIVE me tha DaDar" ha said IN