The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-01-26

Nv AAOb NhoUt 1i CANbf VII ASkpphS
stammered. In a flash he saw that
things looked very black for himself
why did you hide it?' Already
Streetman had found him guilty.
II did not hide it, m'sieur' y
An inspiration seized Strsetman
then. And he took the telephone into
his own hands.
"Who are youT he asked in French,
speaking directly into the transmitter.
The fellow received an immediate
reply. And he said to his men In the
next breath, at was Frenchman who
spoke! That telephone leads to the
French. 1t is the work of a spy And
then Streetman ordered Otto's conirade
Hans to ask Major Won Brenig1 to re-
turn.
Poor Henri Christophe forgot all
about his simple menu. He stood there,
crestfallen. The whole affair was too
much for his befogged brain.
"You were warned against any at
tempt to communicate with the en-
envy" Streetman said.
II never saw that telephone before"
Christophe declared.
Don't lie to me! You put it there"
II swear to you" The innkeeper
held both his hands aloft as he pro
claimed his innocence. But his pro
testations had no effect upon the In
dlgnant Streetman. The man seemed
absolutely relentless, inhuman.
you are either French spy orthar-
boring spy under your roof" he told
Christophe. ''It is an act Of enmity to
us. You must pay the penalty at once"
"On my honor I have done nothing
absolutely nothing!' Henri Christophe
cried. Even in that moment his thoughts
were upon his daughter Jeanne rather
than upon himself. He wss agsSssssssv~s
for her.
"Our proclamations have told You
what to expect" Streetman snQrled.
ut will be a good warning to the 9TH
ers," he added grimly.
The Belgian innkeeper stared at him
as If in trance.
Before God, am innocent" he as
serted.
The callous Streetman paid not the
slightest heed to his denials. In most
brisk and businesslike manner he com
manded the corporal to call in the
guard and make ready firing squad
against the wall outside" he said.
Then little Jeanne Christophe opened
one Of the doors timidly. Some errand
had necessitated her entering the room.
And when she saw her fathers ashen
face 1t needed little intuition to tell her
that there was some tragedy impend-
ing. With low cry she sprang to her
fathers side.
my father-my father--what is itW
she asked him.
IL is spy" streetman s2id con-
temptuously.
mon, non, m'sieu!' she cried.
"Wait! Come herer' be or
dered her roughly. And Henri Chris
topic whispered to her to obey. aYou
have seen that telephone before?"
Streetman inquired Already the cor
poral had returned with four men,
bearing rifles.
"No, no! Never in all my lifel" the
girl walled.
Your father hid it there, in
sisted.
Non, non, m'sieu!" she said with all
the vehcmenco she could muster.
Enough of ticking" Streetman said
with cruel glance at her white face.
Take him outT he ordered the cor
poraL
For one bries moment father and
daughter clasped each other in a last
embrace.
ut is the eld my little Jeanne!
Good-by! Pray for mew Henri Chris
topic said brokerty And in that in
slant a new dignity came to him--a
dignity such as mast have clothed the
ancient martyrs, CT that later tragic
figure, for whom bin own daughter was
natned-Jeanne d'Arc-when the sn-
preme summons overlook them. ut is
oil over, ma petite he repeated. And
then he drew himself up to his fullest
height and looked ut his unyielding
judge unfllnchlngly. II am innocent,
m'sieur' he said.
Those were the last words that Henri
Christophe spoke.
Henry Streetman made gesture of
impatience. The scene bored him.
Jeanne Christophe burst into a wild
torrent of words. Alternately she adj
dressed Streetman and her father.
| mo, no, nor she shEieked, as IL she
could not have that frightful thing
that monstrosity happen. "oh. m'sieu!
For the love Of God! NV IA
Their pray you No.
no! He is my father. love
thee; | love theer' she sobbed. !.
F! "Oh, m'sleu--l beg you--"