Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-19
SYNOPSIS:

The story opens in the West Crest pri-
vate hotel. in an English seacoast town.
when England has been at war one month.
Mrs. Sanderson. the proprietresS; her son.
Charles. serving in the English admi-
rally: Mr. Pollock. the Justice OF the
peace: his daughter. Molly, nineteen
Christopher Brent. Moliy's hance; Mrs.
Miriam IIF. widow of thirty-hve. the
latest arrival at the hotel: Miss Myrtle.
a spinster; Fraulein Schroeder. color
less little German woman, claiming
twenty years Of English naturalization:
Pennicuik. young English soldier. ana
Fritz, a servant in the house, ERE the en-
tire occupants OF the hotel Christopher
Brent is looked upon by al the other
hotel occupants. excepting Molly and Mrs.
Lee. as irresponsible IDIOT, due 70
acts and conversation he affects. especial
II when war taiS. which Is uppcrmnSt
in all conversation. Is conducted in his
presence. 4 young English girl. hys.
terical enthusiast breaks In on the hotel
party one morning. carEYinr n basket OF
white feathers. one Of which she IS going
20 present 10 every man she meets WHO
has not enlisted. Molly makes known her
engagement 10 Brent. hut states that
when the war broke out her father took
a dislike TO him because he had not en-
listed. Brent counts as something Of a
mystery in tho household. In n CONVEX
sation with Mrs. Lee, Brent brings UP
the subject Of carrier pigeons. RrPnt
tells Molly he knew Mrs. Lees husband
In South Africa years before. i'rrrt
starts 10 l1Ehf the CRATE IRE. Wnen frlIz
rusnes into the room and putS ont the
blaze. saying Madam never permits
this FIRE 70 h. lighted" Mrs SaraerSon
introduces her son Charles 10 Brent.
Brent is noticed by Mrs. Lee while he IS
examining the fireplace The two find
wireless cutit connecting with She
aACpole. and receive s usrssage regard
ing troops. Mrs. Sandcrson and her son
discuss their wireless outfits. when they
find the detectnr smashed. Pigeons are
evidence
sons premises many Of which are served
in pies AMI others served as carriers,
fact observed and noted at once by
Miriam and Errnt. Brent inSfalS die
tGphone in the living room Of the hotel
and hears the entire conversations held
therein by the German spies. He learns
Of an intended plot 10 signal German
submarine from the hotel bv burning the
hotel 70 the ground. the occupants along
with II. The pintters devise scheme OF
bringing Pollock into conference and
telling him that Brent and IrS Ice
are German spies. and as Justice ~ The
peace he should arrest them. Pollock
threatens arrest Of Brcnt. Molly. l,sliev-
ing Brent 70 bs. Mrs. lees dupe, decides
70 save him. She steals n paper from
Miriam's drawer and confroHts Brent
with evidence Of Mrs Lees trsachery.
Mrs Lee prprhears her telling Brent
what she has found and 10 save the sit
nation Miriam pleads guilty 10 Molly.
Molly calls Charles in 10 take action with
Miriam. and their conversation results
in Charles disclosing 10 Miriam that he.
too. is a German spy. He welcomes her
10 his own little band of spies Miriam
aids Mrs. SaudeFson. Fraulcin Schroeder,
Fritz and Charles in their getaway after
the guests had gone to bed saf the
bomb had been set. Charles 70
main behind long enough to see there
was no hitch. Fritz 70 get rid Of
Pennicuik. and these two later were 70
join Mrs. Sandcrson and Fraulein in the
automobile Miriam had telegraphed her
fwo supposedly German SPY corfederates
TO have awaiting promptly