The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1917-05-26
A Valuable
Cigarette
By DONALD CHAMBERLIN

When the pan-European war broke
out was seized with a desire to go TO
Europe and see something of it, but l
did not get off until the allied forces
had made a. landing in Saloniki. l
+ proceeded by way of the Mediter-
ranean to Naples and from there took
another vessel to Greece. On this sec
ond voyage 1 was sitting on deck one
day in my steamer chair when a lady
passed me, leaving behind her a dain-
ty handkerchief edged with lace. OF
course, 1 arose from my chair, picked
up the handkerchief and, going after
the lady, handed it to her, calling her
attention to the fact that she had
dropped it.
She thanked me in broken English,
adding: II judge from your accent
that you are either English or Ameri-
can. I think you are American" I
admitted that was, and she said she
had been in America and since she
seemed desirous Of chatting about my
country drew two chairs together and
we sat down side by side.
The lady was about twenty-five years
old and had a very winning way with
her.
We chatted together for a whole
morning. 1 gave her my card and she
gave me her name, which was Anna
Lefevre. Whereupon 1 said, You must
be French" At this she laughed and
replied, II am a citizen Of the world" !"
We met frequently on deck and
smoked together, Mile Lefevre smok-
ing cigarettes, my pipe. She did not
enlighten me as to where she was go
ing, where was her residence or, in
deed, tell me anything about herself.
When we separated at the end Of the
voyage l expressed a wish that we
might meet again. At this her face
took on peculiar expression and she
said she was not quite sure that she
would like to meet me again. l asked
her why, but got no reply.
After landing in Greece l made my
way to Saloniki. l remained with the
army there some time making friends
with the British officers. At that time
the Saloniki forces were expecting to
advance, and l thought I would have
a chance to see something of war. But
/ was disappointed in this and, becOm-
ing tired of waiting, concluded to move
on, when something turned up far more
interesting to me than a battle.
Being invited to dine with the COM
mander of one of the allied forces, I
found several ladies present, one Of
them my companion on shipboard-
Mile. Lefevre. She paled slightly at
meeting me and for moment seemed
to hesitate to recognize me but, quick
ly making up her mind to do so, she
advanced toward me with a proffered
hand and smile that was plainly
forced. Some of the officers present
took notice of our acquaintance and
asked where we had met. Something
in their manner told me that they were
more than casually interested in our
acquaintance.
| confess the dinner was not an en-
joyable one. The officers present seem
ed interested in something beyond COM
paniOnShip.
When the time came for smoking
cigars and cigarettes they were passed.
Smoking by women is very common
in Europe, though members of the sex
contine themselves to cigarettes. Mile
Lefevre, who sat directly opposite me,
produced her cigarette case and said
to me:
Il have some of those cigarettes you
liked Oh shipboard. Try one"
Instead of handing me the case she
selected one for me, accompanying it
by a look that evidently meant some
thing, though / could not interpret it,
l took the cigarette, lighted it and gave
a few puffs, when it went out. l was
about to light it again, when the donor
gave me another look, this time of
mute appeal. This time 1 understood
and refrained from relighting the weed.
| was handed a cigar and instead OF
the cigarette, which l laid on a plate
before me, smoked the cigar.
When we rose from the table |
caught frightened glance from Mile.
Lefevre. Then she dropped her eyes
to the partly smoked cigarette on the
plate. l glanced around to see that |
was not observed, then carelessly took
it up and as we were passing out of
the dining room put it in my vest
pocket.
I never saw Mile Lefevre after the
dinner party broke up. That night be-
fore going to bed l took the partly
smoked cigarette from my vest pocket
and unrOlled it. Ore end had been
filed with tobacco; tie rest contained
closely rolled very thin paper on which
was written information concerning
the allied forces in Greece and, more
important still, a secret message from
some Greek officials to the emperor of
Austria.
l was puzzled what to do in the
matter. 1 could not find it in my heart
to cause the woman to be shot for a
spy. l tossed all night considering
what action to take without result. In