The herald., 1917-07-05
1.-THE CELLS SECRET
BY ANNA L. HEATH.

A small body of German troops NJ
der Captain Henk occupied littl
town somewhere In France. The in
habitants had fled with the sole eS
CeptiOn of Old Louis, n crippled col
bier, who said he'd not leave his littl
shop and garden for any number O
Germans nor for the kaiser himself
Henk liked this dauntless old French
man and often went TO his shop t
talk.
Henk's men had been rummaginj
about the town and reported TO thei
captain that one of the cells I'm tn,
tiny jail was so securely closed tina
IT resisted all 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 eel
! exactly Ike 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 HOlweg took this town. Marie,
the bestowed maid among us, was
known TO possess military secret Of
such import that your COuntrymen
thought any means Justified that
would wiring II from her. They con-
fined her in that cell and daily tried
10 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 defied her foes. AT
last II was thought that a threat
against her honor might avail. A
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 a threat would suffice.
AT nightfall Berg entered Marie's
cell. Morning brought him forth, pale
and trembling. Going TO report. Berg
suddenly laughed wildly, drew his pis-
tol 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 it.
"At nightfall Franz entered Mare's !
cell. Morning brought forth a raving |
mailman, shrieking Of unseen horrors !
and covering in abject fear. For Il |
time none volunteered 10 investigate |
further. Then Lieutenant BOffmann. |
a student, a cold. exact scientist, de-
clared he would learn Marie's secret |
and neither die nor go mad in the \
telling of it.
"At nightfall BOffman entered Ma
rie's cell. In the morning no one
came forth. HOlweg and several of
MS men entered the Jail and opened
he cell door. Alone, Marie lay on her /
'Ot, dead, her hands folded and a /
smile on her lips. Though quite life |,
ess her face glowed with a mystic l,
light. The men looked at her in awe. II
iOlweg looked about for some trace |.
# Boffmann. A strange heap on the
loOr drew his attention. He stOOped [
o examine it. There were bits of
10th, button, gold braid, human L
myers, bones and hair. AS the Ger l
nan touched them they shivered into |
ormless dust. Cold horror seized the {
len and they fled from the room. Out /
ide, the officer grew ashamed of his
ear and returned TO the call. Maries l
Ody was gone. On the cot lay a pa y
er. Holweg caught 1t up and read :,
LOUD these words to his aStOniShed +
len: Berg knew and Berg iS-dead.
RAM knew and Franz is-mad.
'offmann knew and Boffmann is
Othing. Take heed lest a worse thing
efall you AS he finished the paper
in his hand and drifted I
way Ike 5. .Oke. That is ALL sir" I
Louis, save that Holweg I
lmSelf made fast the door and until |
DIV no one has cared to open it," +
Henk was silent and thoughtful dur q
e the rest of his stay and when he c
id gone Louis grinned and muttered: y
twas a good story, my captain. a a
'od story; better than the poor truth Z
lat IN rainy weather that cell roof Z
aked." "