The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-02-02

fiashIight from his pocket nd crept
down the steps as he talked. wait"
he said. And in another mtpent be
had so placed the light at thffoot Of
the stairs that it's beams shofupward
through the opening. "That'sit, that's
itr' he exclaimed delightedly He was
still standing upon the cellar floor.
1.-THE lights shining In your fac Look!
Can you see me?'' he asked.
"No, no! The light blinds me, l
can't see you at ally' she tolGshim.
He came up quickly then.
"Good-good! Now listen !.
If somebody peeked dowlt there,
wouldn't they think desper$te wom-
an was standing at the footibf these
stairs waitin' to shoot the frst man
who tried to come down y
Ethel stood there in the glaze Of the
fiashlight had listened to his fans.
"Yes-yes-I believe they would"
Eshe admitted, beginning to understand
his scheme.
"And that's what we've got to make
them believe. Now. hasten. aarlin'-
hasten! IT'S best heiev He
led her behind the cigar coulter for
he had suddenly abandoned Bis previ-
Gus notion of eoncealing her iii the adj
joining room. go and hidef he di-
rected. And she crouched low In the
shadow Of the counter. "Ahlt God is
good to the Irishp' he exulted.l Have
you a revolver?"
"Yes, Larryr' She produced8 small,
nickeled weapon.
He took it from her.
"'Tis rather toy" he said, "But
I suppose 1t will shoot. Then bn't let
the sound of shot brighten {pu into
screaming. I've got to give Ifyself a
bit Of flesh wound just In theEhand."
"No, mo-" she exclaimed In Increased
alarm.
with this it can be only acratch, y
he said. "As soon as / shoot, duck and
hide. Now. here goes!R
He shot himself in the right hand,
then handed the revolver back TO Ethel
who Immediately huddled behind the
counter. Then Larry banged Hhe trap
door shut. And backing away from it.
he waited for the men who as ne knew
would soon come running in.
In another moment they bufst upon
him.
Herr captain-you are wohnded!'
Lieutenant Baum cried.
"'Tis nothing" Larry replied. And
he proceeded to bahdage hisg bloody
hand with handkerchief.
Others Joined the startled knot of
Germans-among the newcomers, Ma.
jor Won Brenig. =. ~
"The spy-the woman spy where
Is she?" he asked.
Larry told him that the woman had
escaped.
The major swore roundly at hat.
And then Larry explained That she
had suddenly produced a revolver and
shot him. Before I could draw my
own revolver she'd got away,nte said
"She raised the trapdoor ar I went
down there" he continued, poi Ting t.
the floor.
The major remembered that ther'
was no outlet to the wine cellaM Ant
tsssishoas @lsesisutfon ne raised IN 3 crap
door, to face a binding burst DE light
He backed away quickly.
"What the devilv' he shouted
| And at the same time Larry lwarnet
him to be careful.
"She must have one OF our poke
flashlights" he said. what d large
1t made of you, major! Andl In til,
dark you could not see her, could you !?
"Nov Won Brenig admitted "Ant
she can pick off our men one by on
as they go down unless we rush her.
Larry closed the door quickly.
"If may make so bold as to sug
gest-" he began; and seeing that tn
major gave him permission to continue
he said, ''If there is no way out Of th
cellar save that, why waste our mel
when oil we need is to leave her Their
to starve-till there's no fight Ia her !?
"Why not leave her there forever?
Won Brenig asked. He was abov
everything, practical man.
"'Tis better still--'tis a just fate TO
spy" Larry agreed.
"Baum-run bayonet through tn
haspw the major ordered. The padlocl
had fallen into the cellar uhheede,
when Larry first opened the trap
Later you will make the Fastening
permanent" Won Brenig said.
CHAPTER XIX.