Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-15

My father-my father-what is IT,
she asked him.
He is Il spy" Streetman said con
temptuously.
Non, non, m'sieu" she cried.
wait, Come here" he or
dered her roughly. And Henri Chris
topic whispered to her to obey. You
have seen that telephone bcforet'
Streetman inquired Already the cor
poral had returned with four men,
bearing rifles.
NO no. Never in I'LL my life" the
girl walled
Your father hid it there" he in.
sisted.
+ Non, non, m'sieu." She said with all
/ the ;ehtmcnce she could muster.
/ Enough Of talking" Strcctman said
with cruel glance at her white face,
"Take him out" he ordered the cor
poraI.
For one brief moment father and
daughter claspcd each other in a last
embrace.
1T is the end. my little jeanne.
Good-hy. Fray for me-" Henri Chris
topic said brolenly. And in that in
slant new dignity came to him-a
dignity such rs must have clothed the
ancient martyrs. or that later tragic
figure for whom his own daughter was
d
preme summons overlook them. 1T IL
all over, ma petite" he repeated. And
then he drew himself up to his fullest
height and looked at his unylelding
judge unflnchingly. II am innocent,
III 'sicu.' he said.
Those we're the last words that Henri
Christophc spoke.
Henry Strcctman made Il gesture OF
impatence The scene bored him.
Jeanne Christophe burst into Il wild
torrent of words. Alternately she nd
dressed Strcetman and her father.
mo. no, no." she shrieked, as If SHE
could not have that frightful thing
that monstrosty "Oh, m'sicu
For the love of God Ny ia
ther pray you. Ne
no. He is my father. | low
thee. love thee" she sobbed,
"Oh. m'sieu--I beg you--"
Take him out" That was Street
mans only answer.
Little Jeanne would not leave her fa
Tiers side. As they dragged IIenr
Christophe from the room she still
chung TO him. And still she shrieked;
For the love of God. No, no, Oh
papa. oh, papa | love thee,
Major Won Breng looked inquiringll
at his colleague from the Wilhelm
straSse.
You wanted me, captain" he asked
The 'proprietor here is spy Street
man said
"Chrstophe--a spy? Are YOU Surey
absolutely sure" Streetman re
piled This telephone leads to tn
French And have settled the affair.
Even as he spoke a scream from out
side reached their carS--a woman
scream. And Immediately there fol
lowed the sound Of a volley.
Major Won Brenig turned his hea
and listened.
"Ah, mon pere" 1t was Jcann
Christophe Sobbing.
Already she had flung herself upo
her fathers ridded body.
Major Won Brenig east Il reprovln
glance ut his naughty fellow officer.
"Good God--So soon? Without il
vestigatonf' he exclaimed what
he We're innocentT'
But Strectman had no miSgivings.
"Ah. 1t will be IA lesson to thcs
others" he said carclessly.
In the adjoining room Charlie Brow
and the German sergeant had hear
those shots And now they burst upo
the two officers in great excitement.
what happened? Is it the French
Charlie called.
at is hnished--thc damned spy
Streetman rcioined.
whats happened" Charlie aske
again,
/. ~ matter of war" the major tol
him bricily--"that is not on my COZ
I science" He was far from appioell
> of Strcotman's hasty action.
! "lhe execution Of Il SOY" Strcctma
interposed And the words were hHr
" Out Of his mouth before several III
II YATES squeezed through the entrance
l. the krepcrlcss inn. There were tN
! files, ana between them they bore
slrptchpr, upon which there lay som
u thing covered with II sheet. a lit
distance behind the grueSomc proro
y sion Jeanne Christophc followed so
bing.
e one glance told Charlie Brown VIII
u rested upon that stretcher-that It VI
the body Of someone who but fe
moments before HAD stood there in Il
!, noon and faced the firing squad. q
of respect he removed his hat.
ii did not know who the unfotuna
n might have been. But nevertheless
N was profoundly shocked.
n Poor devil. I'm sorry for him
l. whoever nc was" he said.