The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-11-03

| what gl00mily. "BuI somewhere ne
| must have a copy of the admiralty
Instructions to the feet. These would
be in his denartment; and we must
know at once what 0r1ers have been
given to the ships at spithead-where
they are going when this review Is
over"
The spy, Roeder, saluted again.
81 have done my best" he said apol-
ogetically.
II am sure you have" Streetman re-
piled. 1--WE know the Wilhelmstrasse
does not lightly overlook stupidity in
one of it's servants" he observed grim
~. And then he motioned toward the
double doors that led into the hall.
"See if anyone's coming" he said.
Roeder-or Brewster-opened the
doors and peered down the length of
the passage.
"No one is in sight; and / hear moth
ing" he reported.
"Now lock that door, Streetman
commanded, pointing toward the one
behind which he knew that Miss Will
loughby must be dressing
The butler regarded him in alarm.
Pardon, mein Herr--but Is 1t
safer" he ventured. "She is wom-
an"
"Do not be alarmed" Streetman re-
assured him. Miss Willoughby Is
easily handled She believes that l
work for the French secret service"
"Then she Is foot" his subordinate
declared.
mo, nor' Streetman protested.
"We must not criticize the tools that
serve u.s." And as he spoke he went
to the telephone in corner of the
room. Picking up the instrument. he
paused and turned to the butler with
look Of amusement. "Sir George
Wagstaff- Sir George Of his majesty's
navy-would be rather surprised IL he
knew that from his house we were
communicating with our friends, the
Germans" he observed.
"Ratherw his henchman responded,
with CLEAN Of humor in his eyes.
"Now lock that doorw Streetman
ordered once more. "And now to re-
port to headquarters again" he ex-
claimed, when the butler had turned
the key noiselessly in Miss Willough-
by's door, Hello! City, 4225w he
said in low but distinct voice.
Meanwhile the butler lowered near
by.
you think, mein Herr, there will be
warp he asked respectfully.
II do not know. But we are ready.
And if war does come, 1t will be Ger
many's hour-the day at last" He
turned to the telephone once more, and
began speaking into the transmitter.
Hello! City, 1926? Hello! Are you
there? Who is speaking =.
Twenty-six fourteen? Hello!
, am thirteen seventeen" he said, Civ.
, ing the number by which he was
, known in the German secret service.
Eyes! We have no news of the Eng
!. lish feet; we have tried everything.
Very well! Goodbye
He put down the instrument, and
|
plexity was upon his face as he
wheeled about.
, What is 1t, mein Herr?" his com
, panion asked in an anxious voice. ais
1t bad news" He had long worked In
conjunction with Streetman, and. he
was quick to detect signs Of trouble
upon him.
"They say they must know tonight,
without fail, the destination of the
English feet" Streetman replied.
He cast quick glance toward Ethel
Willoughby's boudoir. $50, Miss VII.
loughby. you have some work to do!
he muttered, to himself more than to
his confederate. "Now, unlock that
door, he ordered. "Ah! that is done
and we were not interrupted" he said
in relieved voice, when the def
Brewster had once more succeeded In
turning the key silently in the lock
h To expedite his prowllngs about the
house at all hours of the day or night
Sir Georges butler had seen to it that
such things as hinges and locks
;. whether upon doors or desks-wert
we'll oiled 1t was his genius for de
. tails of that sort that had led to his
assignment to his present duty.
Henry Streetman dropped upor
Miss Willoughby's settee in an att
tude of relaxation that revealed some
what the marvellous strain which at
tends the performance of exploits in
separable from his profession.
Dangerous work, eh, Herr Roeder
And poor payv he vouchsafed in ;
sudden burst of good-felowship. Fo
the moment he seemed almost human
Herr Roeder pulled himself togethe
stifly.
i ut is not for the money that I an
here" he answered proudly. ut II
for the Fatherlandw Despite tn,
l guarded tones in which he spoke, Their,
. was an earnestness born of SINGER,
y patriotism that made his words rim,
convincingly. One look at the man.
face, afiame with an almost fanat
zeal, showed him to be the sort t,
: whom country may well trust he