Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-07-06
1.-THE CELLS SECRET
By ANNA L. HEATH.

A small body of German troops I'M
der Captain Henk occupied a nttie
town somewhere in France. The in
habitants had fed with the sole eX-
ception of Old Louis. Il crippled cob
bier, who said he'd not leave his little
shop and garden for any number or
Germans nor for the kaiser himSelt.
Henk liked this dauntleSS old French
man and often went to his shop to
talk.
Henk'S men had been rummagng
about the town and reported to their
captain that one of the cells in the
tiny Jail was so securely closed that
il resisted I'LL their efforts to open it.
Henk went down to the Jail and or
dered his men to force open the
door. They did so and found the cell
exactly like the others and empty save
for stool and low cot.
That night Henk sat talking in the
cobbler's shop and idly asked the rea-
son for the closed cell. Louis was
evidently reluctant to explain, but
after some urging told this story to
the German:
years ago, sir, in another war,
some of your men and an officer
named Hoiweg took this town. Marie,
the best-loved maid among us, was
known to possess military secret of
such import that your countrymen
thought any means justified that
would wiring it from her. They con-
fined her in that cell and daily tried
to force her to play the traitor.
Hunger, thirst, cold. threats, abuse,
brides and blows, all alike failed to
open her lips. Pale, silent and proud,
our French girl defed her foes. AT
last it was thought that n threat
young German named Berg was
chosen TO pass the night in Marie's
cell. His position was most hateful
To him and he hoped from his heart
that threat would suffice.
AT nightfall Berg entered Marie's
cell. Morning brought him forth, pale
aud trembling. Going to report, Berg
suddenly laughed wildly, drew his PTS
:oI and shot himself dead. For time
his fellows were shocked into silence.
Then Franz, Il coarse, brutal fellow,
stepped forward and boosted that he
would learn the maids secret, nor
would he blow out his brains in the
telling of ii.
AT nightfall Franz entered Marie's
cell. Morning brought forth q raving
mailman, shrieking of unseen horrors
and covering in abject fear. For a
time none volunteered to investigate
further. Then Lieutenant BOffmann
student, cold, exact scientist, de-
clared he would learn Marie's secret
and neither die nor go mad in the
telling of 1t.
AT nightfall Boffman entered Ma
ries cell. In the morning no one
came forth. HOlweg and several OF
his men entered the Jail and opened
the cell door. Alone, Marie lay on hel
cot, dead her hands folded and q
smile on her lips. Though quite life
less her face glOwed with mystic
Tight. The men looked at her in awe
Holweg looked about for some trace
of Boffmann. A strange heap on the
floor drew his attention. He stopped
to examine It, There were bits Of
cloth, button. gold braid, human
fingers, bones and hair. AS the Ger
man touched them they shivered int
fOrmleSs dust Cold horror seized thu
men and they fled from the room. Out
side, the officer grew ashamed of hi:
fear and returned to the call. Marie:
/ body was gone. On the cot lay pa
/ per. Holweg caught it up and reat
aloud these words to his astonishet
men: Berg knew and Berg is-dead
| Franz knew and Franz is-mad
/ Boffmann knew and Boffmann is
/ nothing. Take heed lest worse thin,
befall you AS he finished the pape
/ crumhled i'm his hand and drifte'
away like smoke. That is all. sir,
concluded Louis, save that HOlwe
himself made fast the door and unit
now no one has cared to Opet it,"
Henk was silent and thoughtful dur
ing the rest of his stay and when h
had gone Louis grinned and muttered
Twas good story, my captain,
good story; better than the poor trutl
that in raDy weather that cell roo
/ leaked"