Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-17

Ahead l saw the yellow blur OF cleo
trio arc lights and human forms hurry
Ing hithcr and thither. l had best keep
IN the darkncss-so turned to the
right. and watched and listened AZ
ter standing still for some five minutes
or so my teeth began to chatter and
my feet became cold as ice. Shocld |
move on? The dark shore OF Phlegc-
thon could not be more disspiritins
than this place. iiadcs could be no
worse. and as there is said to he no
escape from that dismal and desolate
region. felt il was my fate never
to get away from this French dock
yard. ! trcmblcd with fear: yes. AIN
not ashamed to admit it. for sinned
in good company Even that treble
dyed villain. Frederick the Great.
showed cowardicc on more than one
occasion. Darkness. even be there no
danger near will damp the courage
OF any woman. In thrce-punrtcrs of
an hour--thc dawn. and perhaps dis
covcry. ] must move on and see what
I could see. Keeping TO the right.
after continually stunt bling over loose
bricks and planks. at length dimly
perceived in front OF me tall build
ing. My eyes were becoming accus-
toned to the gloom. approached cau-
tiously. as silently as | could. but the
t;runting cindcr path beneath my feet
seemed DESTROYS Of informing tho
French Admiralty OF my whereabouts.
outside the building were rows OF
gcanoIiag. and. so far. heard no sound
~ workmen in or abou, the place.
Could find a ladder anywhere? Crop
ing along the outside wall OF the build
ting. keeping 10 the right. I endcavored
TO find means or ascent. but failed.
reached the cd OF the building. and
my feet began to sink in mud. I
stopped suddenly. for heard the sound
Of mans voice.
Curse the building fraternity and
their engagements" ii said. I'm go
ing 10 get drop OF coEnac. Standing
lhout here watching for nothing. knee
deep In mud. does not suit my sixty
years. After the warnings I've had
never to leave the foot OF this ladder
you would think that some orc was
coming to blow up the powerhousc."
SO tho building was the powcrhouse
ITS those foreign spies the govern
arrested at the gate last week-didn't
you know" said another mans voice
They weren't spies"
They were"
What's the good OF spying in this
yard" said the man who had first
That's what you don't Understand.
SupDo3inG VIC were at war. and the
enemy knew the exact position Of this
building, also the new dry dock. down
'hcre. ana othcE thinSS, couldn't they
she'll u.s."
Couldn't reach here b. leagues"
You don't know what you're talk
Ing about. was in the navy ten
years. and ] know what long-range
guns can do
Well. I'm soins to get drop. Are
heard the two men move away.
but | could not be sure OF the way
they went
Fearful as had been that both men
might discover me. now brcathed
more freely. Their conversation had
been decidedly interesting. for | in
terred that the builders would not be
working on the powcrhouse that day.
found the foot OF the ladder. and
reached the first platform. / must get
higher and higher Al length gained
the top story-was there a doorway
or window near? Like cat I
stealthily stole along until came TO "A
small doorway at the end. Still! group
ing. with my hands in front Of me
! like blind person in a strange place,
I found yaelf in a little room which
contained but one small window open
ing
Outside the gloom was tightening.
some where the day was breaking, and
slight breeze came. ] judged from
seward. bearing :altish. tarrish
flavor. Soon 1t would be daylight. and
may &c ab!c " see the OTS OOCk, ana
other objects. the exact location OF
which was required by the German
government. From pocket in my
coat / took out my magnifying glass
and n prismatic compass, both innocent
enough articles, perhaps. in a shop
window: but In this French dock yard
they were weapons OF warfare
] looked round the unIurnished room
again. In the far. left-hand corner
| from the doorway stood a pile Of
boards. behind which. / observed, Il
would be easy TO effect temporary con-
cealHent should hear any one ap-
proach In the opposite corner, near
the door. lay heap of sand and rub
! bish.
II kept we'll within my window
knew l could not be seen by any of
Inc workers o. officials OF the dock
yard II ! were suddenly surprised.
the rubbish heap and the pile Of
boards might save me from arrest. In
| the rubbish l could very quickly bury