Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-11-23
CHAPTER XII.
At the Lion Dor.

Ing checkers in an inn called the Lion
dor. 1t was still August-still the
finest of summer weather. And in the
carefree minds of those two idlers
there was not the slightest reason for
them to fOregO their customary after
noon diversion, even if their great and
powerful MISUNDERSTANDING and
France-were at that very moment
crouched and ready to spring at each
others throats In Belgium all was
peaceful And the very sun seemed
to shine upon that tiny country with
just a little more beneficence than it
had over the rest Of the world For
Belgium, fortunately, there was no
dread of war. Secure in the conviction
that she had no enemies, her people
went about their affairs with the same
light-hearted content that they had
come to regard, through the years, as
their natural heritage.
VOLTA, messieursr' the inns sole
waiter, Louis, exclaimed as he laid up
on the table the change that was due
the two guests. And Behold, gentle
manner as he placed before them two
liquor glasses filled with an amber
ambrOsia
The players thanked him And in
that moment one of them brought the
game to a swift termination by the
execution of a mastery move toward
which he had long been maneuvering.
The two peasants tossed off their
cordials then. They had already risen
from thei" chairs when the innkeeper
himself, one Henri Christophe, entered.
You're going already?" he ex-
claimed, reluctant to see good custom
ers leaving. at is not late"
''My wife expects me-" one of them
replied with a humorous grimace you
understands"
MATS oui! I comprehend perfectly"
Christophe answered He knew the
fellows wife-a somewhat tempera-
mental woman, with a sharp tongue.
And he had no wish to bring down an
avalanche of ill-will upon his excellent
hosiery. SO he babe his departing
guests gOod-by.
AS they passed through the open
doorway, chattering, he turned to an
other man who sat in a corner of the
room reading a newspaper. He was
Frenchman-that Other-and a stran-
ger to the innkeeper.
Something for mOnsieur?' Henri
Christophe inquired pleasantly.
A viii
haps," the stranger replied, and re-
turned to his reading of his newspaper.
He had just lighted q cigarette and
had filled his lungs with the first salts
flying puff when a newcomer strobe
through the doorway This latest ar
rival wore q cap and q long, linen
duster And there was something in
his aspect that did not wholly please
the little man at the table, as he cast
a quick, sidewisc glance at the tall III
truder. Perhaps it was the small, leu
ton mustache that adorned the upper
lip of the tall man in the dustcoat. At
all events, the Frenchman's eyes mar
rOwed to two Sits. And though he
seemed rapt in his paper he neverthe-
less watched every move that the other
made
The tall man paused for moment
at the cigar case that stood just inside
the outer door; and drawing a pipe
from his pocket he filed and lighted It.
Then he crossed the room and looked
down at its other occupant.
DO you speak Engltsh?" he in
CURED.
The man told him that he could.
Can you tell me how far it is to
TourvilleT' Larry Redmond asked.
The tall man was no other than the
Irish captain.
Ten milesr' the Frenchman replied
promptly.
Exactly" Larry questioned.
There was a slight yet still notice
able pause as the little man looked up
at him searchingly.
Exactly" he said with a peculiar
emphasis on the word.
Exactly" Larry said once more.
And when the wiry Frenchman sprang
up from his seat and looked signif-
cantly into his eyes Captain Redmond
no longer DOUBTED that they understood
each other You have the PASSWORD
he whispered.
''Exactly?' the other repeated
finally.
You have been waiting long, my
friend?" Larry asked him.
You were expected yesterday" his
confederate replied.
Il could not leave then. 1t is busy
back there inside their lines" Captain
Redmond explained.
His fellow spy started at that. And
he looked at him with undisguised sur
prise.
You have been with the German
army?' he exclaimed, as if the feat
were scarcely to be believed.
''No, not yet! But tonight shall be
in the German army. l must Join my
regiment at once He pulled aside
his buster, revealing the fact that he
was already in the German uniform.
The long linen coat effectually con-
cealed his dress, for there was nothing
about his leather puttees to betray it
At shall be a aptain-Captain Karl -
Larry continued.
The Frenchman regarded him