Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1916-09-08
wo
International
Spies
By ETHEL HOLMES

did not interest other powers. Since
then we have awakened to the fact
that every government has a spy sys.
tenn within the territory of every other
government. England, France, Italy
and other powers keep secret service
workers in other countries. OF all the
Germans have the most perfect and
extended organization. And yet some
of the principal fields of the working
of the German propaganda in America
have originated with the British secret
service men. While these systems may
have been strengthened and enlarged
since the opening of the war, there is
reason to believe that they have always
existed.
Austria and Russia have always been
watching each other on account of the
persistent encr0achment ef the two on
the Balkans. Some years ago two Rug
sian girls, sisters, went to Vienna as
spies for the cZar Upon the intentions
Of the emperor of Austria regarding
schemes to carve Austrian provinces
out Of Balkan territory. One of these
SAAio' Wal pOSlLIOu db
copyist in the Austrian foreign efflce
The other. Vera, kept house for the
two in rooms in an apartment building
Since they were in the pay Of the Rus
sian government they did not want for
anything.
Maria was under the orders Of Cas-
par Grenthall. q man who conducted
one of the bureaus of the department
in which she worked. He was hand
some and otherwise attractive man.
and when he made love to her she re-
ciprocated. When they were not en-
gagged in the Office he took her out to
the gardens and other places OF Am6se-
ment and by his kindness gradually
won her heart.
1t was not long before Grenthall pro
posed marriage to Maria. Though she
loved him. she hesitated to accept him
Indeed, his being Il spy complicated
the affair, making her very unhappy.
Then suddenly Maria received a
shock. One day when abe was at work
a girl occupying a deSk beside her
slipped bit Of paper among those be-
fore her. Maria unfolded 1t and read
that she was suspected of purloining a
certain document that had passed
through her hands. GrenthalI had won
her in order to 6nd out II she were
stealing such documents Her room
would be searched that evening.
Maria was not only disturbed at dis.
covering that Grenthall had deceived
her, but in terror at the suspicion that
existed against her. Either her life or
a long Imprisonment would pay the
penalty. AS soon as Office hours were
over she went to her room and told her
sister what had occurred. She had
stolen the paper in question. and 1t
was concealed In their apartment
Taking it from its hiding place. she
was thinking what to do with It when
there was a sound of persons coming
up the stairs without She had only
time to thrust the paper into her
bosom when the door was thrown open
and in walked GreAthall, accompanied
by several men. He made no apology
for his entrance or for having played
the spy upon Maria. He and his men
began IA search OF the rooms
Evidently he had expected to sur
prise Maria and. IL the missing paper
was In her possession, to fnd It con.
cealed In her apartments. Not finding
1t after a thorough search. 1t occurred
to him that 1t might be on her person
He sent one of the men with him for
a woman to make the search When
she arrived he told her to ind out
whether Maria had the paper
Maria. when the man Whe had won
her heart to betray her entered, gave
him look OF anger. then. when the
searching began. fell upea her sisters
neck, sobbing piteously. While the
two women were clasped in each 9th.
er'S arms. their b0soms close I'D
against each other. Vera centrtved to
take the paper from her sisters bosom
and slip it into her own.
Maria was the one suspected. but IT
was not to be expected that Vera would
be let off without examination; Be
lieving that she would be SEARCHED,
she cast about for some means Of get
ting rid Of the paper. She started to
leave the apartment, but Grenthall or
dered her back. When the woman
came she made the search In one Of
the bedrooms, the men remaining else
where. Vera was with her sister
Maria was required to take oG her
clothes, which were carefully exam
ined by the searcher and laid upon q
table. While her back WAS turned
Vera contrived to slip the paper into
pocket OF one Of the garments that had
been examined. Her sister saw her do
this, and hope sprang up within her.
When the search was finished and
nothing found the result was reported
to Grenthali. Having done all he could
In the matter. he withdrew his as
sistants and went away while Maria
was dressing
The paper was valuable enc for the
Russian government, and the sisters
were anxious to save It That night
Vera, dressed as a boy, stepped cut Of
the apartment and gained q lower suit
without being noticed. The next morn
ing. though watch had been estab
lished, she got to the street and away
without being recognized. Maria went
to tlIG. foreign office. but was dis.