Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-03
CHAPTER X.
Hoist by His Own Petard.

Beg pardon, Miss Willoughty! A
gentleman to see you, by appointment
In his character of Brewster, Sir
Georges butler, the German spy Roe
der made his announcement in fault. |
less fashion.
"Oh. in just minute" Ethel Will |
loughby told him. She knew that it
was Henry Streetman who had re-
turned to see her. And to Larry, whose
hand she had hastily dropped just rs
Brewster threw open the double doors,
she said when the pseudo butler had
gone, 81 may gain some very impor-
tant information from this man. can't
explain more than that now. Will you
wait in that room?" She indicated a
door leading into smaller room adj
joining her sitting room.
YES, my dear--God keep you" Cap
tain Redmond answered And he at
once proceeded to carry out her wishes
Ethel breathed rapid prayer as she
heard Streetman already mounting the
stairs.
"Oh, help me to be brave! Help me
to be clever-for Larry and for Eng
land" She turned then to meet the
man who had betrayed her, and
against whose wits she had now I'M
dertaken to match her own.
Streetman waited until the butler
had withdrawn before he so much as
spoke to her. Then he faced her ex-
pectanty.
"Did you see Sir George?' he de-
manded--almost threateningly, 1t
seemed to Ethel.
"Yes. she replied quietly. though
her every nerve was strung taut to
meet the call upon her woman's
strategy.
"rhe heet-did you find out about
the feet?" He could not get the words
out of his mouth fast enough.
YES. After what you said, what
else could | do?"
"Quite So" He made no attempt to
conceal his insolence. Has it sailed?'
he asked her imNtiently.
r Yes"
"W'here did it go? Quick, tell me-"
by word and look both he menaced
her
THE usual routine" she said non
chalantly. at just split up into its
various squadrons--the Mediterranean.
Baltic, Black sea. South American
fleets, and so on; and they've gone to
their customary destinations"
'Sir George told you that?" The
news was almost too good to be be-
lieved.
"Yes; and he never suspected l was
the least bit interested"
",rhe old fool.' He told himself that
| Sir George was no better than dotard.
I With such as he composing the English
admiralty the spy was sure that Ger
many had nothing to fear from the
British lion. That much-vaunted ami
mails teeth seemed effectually drawn.
What news with your Ethel asked
him, innocenty enough, so far as
Strectman noticed.
II have had none direct from
France" he said, never dreaming that
the time was past when he might de-
ccive her by that little fiction of his.
but war has come" he added. "Of
that am sure"
"And England--will she enter into
IT." she pressed him.
"With her fleet dispersed she will
not dare" he rcioincd with n faint
smile Of satisfaction.
For the sake of France. your coun-
try, that is Il pity" Ethel pointed out.
With Her former doubts REINFORCED
by the revelation of Larry's tale She
could easily pick flaws, now, In Street
mans acting
"Eh? Oh. yes, OF course-yes!" he
hnstcncd to assent. 81 must get the
news ut once to France" he said; and
Immediately he started toward the
doorway, But tha girl said something
then that brought him up sharply
something that he was far from ex-
pecting, Mt that moment when he
seemed at last to hold her more secure
~ than ever before.
"To Germany, you meant. she cor
rccted him. Quiet as was her tone, the
words seemed to him fairly to stab the
air
"What?" he exclaimed.
"Oh, Henry, how can you think me
so very stupld?"
"You are mad"' he PARTED ~ am
loyal 10 France"