The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1916-01-28
A Catspaw
BY EUNICE BLAKE

when one day | met a girl with whom
l became acquainted. She said she
had been born in America and had
lived there the most of her life She
was about twenty years old and seem
ed to be very strong for girl. was
doing my travelling on foot, and, since
she was also a pedestrian, we conclud-
ed to proceed together, both being I'M
protected women. | noticed that she
was very Secretive.
However, one evening she gave me
her confidence. She brought forth sew.
eral drawings Oh chronological sub
jects, in which science she protested
to be greatly interested. There were
the magnitied head Of a fly. beetles
wing and a birds foot. The drawings
had Oh them certain marks which she
explained to me and gave the number
of times they had been magnified and
other information. Not having any
taste for or knowledge Of entomology,
l could only look at her drawings and
finished talking about them she told
me that it was possible she might wish
to turn them over to ME to forward
for her to such place as she should
designate. did not see why such a
course should be necessary, since they
could be easily mailed at slight eX-
pense, for they We're on very thin pa
per and of light weight
One day when we We're walking near
some fortihcations my friend seemed
to me to have suddenly become nerv-
Gus. noticed Il man walking near
us, and whenever his back was turned
she cast furtive glances toward him.
That evening Miss Warbeck-the
name she gave me-handed me an en-
velope and asked me to post it when
should be near u mail box. She said
that she had received a telegram to
come home Immediately, her mother
being i'll, and would likely leave by the
first train in the morning, though Of
this she did not seem to feel certain
took. the note and promised to do as
she asked. Before going to bed went
into her room to say goodby to her.
What was my astonishment to find her
gone. with the handbag she carried on
her travels. | noticed that window
was open. and she had left the room
in disorder. Looking out through the
window, l saw that there was shed
directly below. on to which one might
drop and thence to the ground.
l wondered. but said nothing. If
without paying her bill it was no con-
| Germ of mine. Landlords are usually
able to take care of their own inter
ests. l went to bed and to sleep.
My suspicious having been aroused,
determined to get rid of the letter she
had given me at once. 1t was address
ed to some one in Switzerland. After
breakfast | went out, found letter
box and was about to put the missive
in it when | felt hand on my wrist.
and man said politely:
Il will trouble you for that, made
moiselle."
Had l not been familiar with the
fact that the eyes of European govern
ments are always open, especially to
strangers, | would have been more sur
prised than was. However, | was
sufficiently suspicious of Miss War
beck to surrender the letter without
Dnty1, ,i,,,r hot fol
| packed my grip and was about to
leave the house when an officer in uni
form accoSteI NE and asked hurriedly,
Where is the man who was walking
with you yesterday"
Man? There was no man with me. "
well. then, the woman|
Il don't know. She LETT me last
night"
will you please come with me-
mademoiselle|
| dared not protest. but Went with
the man, who took me to military
Office. AMI was questioned by an OH
Ger in uniform. He asked me many
questions about my recent companion,
ttttn tuIttl Oh he III eStuDilNu my Wv IL
identity This | was well able to do
having With NE letters from home and
other evidences that was Il woman
travelling to see the world.
This is perfectly satisfactory" said
The officer You have not been sus-
pectcd: from the first we have sup
posed that you have been dupe. Your
travelling companion is Il man and Il
spy He has been Sketching fortitica-
tions along the border and has com
missioned You to mail his drawings for
him"
He took the drawings from desk
and showed them to me.
But these are merely drawings OF
insect parts r:agnifed," protested.
He then showed me that they were
drawings of forts with lines from and
about them that caused them to look
like what had supposed they were
The marks that had been told ind-
Gated the nlgnitied power really indi-
Gated how many guns there were in
each fort.
Great heavens exclaimed. ITO
think that should have been caught
r.-;th that ,r, p,o cufficinpt IN hoDp mo