The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-07-19
THE CELLS SECRET.
BY ANNA L. HEATH.

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A small body of German troops I'M
der a Captain Henk occupied n little
town, somewhere in France. The in
habitants had fed with the sole eX-
ception of Old Louis a crippled cob
bier, who said he'd not leave his little
shop and garden for any number of
Germans nor for the kaiser himself.
Henk liked thistdauntless Old French
man and often went to his shop to
talk.
Henk's men had been rummaging
about the town and reported to their
captain that one of the cells in the
tiny jail was so securely closed that
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 and4 found the cell
exactly like the others and empty save
for a stool and low cot.
That night Henk sat talking in the
cobblers 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 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,
bribes and blows, all alike failed to
open her lips. Pale, silent and proud,
our French girl defied her foes. AT
last it was thought that n 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 Nheart
that threat would suffice.
cat nightfall Berg entered Marie's
cell. Morning brought him forth, pale
and trembling. Going to report, Berg
suddenly laughed wildly, drew his pis-
toll and shot himself dead. For time
his fellows were shocked into silence.
Then Franz, a 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 Marlc's
cell. Morning brought forth a 'raying
madman shrieking Of unseen horrors
and covering in 'abject fear. For
time none volunteered to investigate
further. Then Lieutenant Boffmann,
a student, a cold, exact scientist, de-
clared lie would learn Maries lsecrct
and neither die nor go mad in the
telling of IL.
"At nlghtfall BOffman entered Ma
rie's 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 her
cot, dead, her hands folded and a
smile on her lips. Though quite life
less her face glowed with Il mystic
light. 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,s human
fingers, bones and hair. AS the Ger
man touched them they Shiyered into
fOrmless dust. Cold horror seized the
men and they fled from the room. out
side, the officer grew ashamed of his
fear and returned to the call. Maries
body was gone. On the cot lay pa
per. Holweg caught it up and read
aloud these words to his astonshcd
men: Berg knew and Berg is-dcad.
Franz knew and Franz is-mad.
Boffmann knew and BoG'mann is
nothing. Take heed lest Il worse thing
befall you AS he finished the paper
crumblcd in his hand and drifted
away like smoke. That IS all, sir"
concluded Louis, "saVe that IIolwcg
himself made fast the door and until
now no one has cared to open It,"
Henk was silent and thoughtful dur
ing the rest of his stay and when he
had gone Louis grinned and muttcred
"Twas good story, my captain, n
good story; better than tile poor truth
that in rainy weather that cell roof
leaked"