The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-01-05
"A friend of France!

L
"CourvoisIerw she said in a low
voice.
"Goodr' he exclaimed with satisfac
tion. THE other day to Genera
Jacques at the fort you offered you
services for France" he ventured.
"Yesr'
"He wishes now to take adyantag,
of your Offer"
81 am ready" she answered quietly
He proceeded swiftly to the bust
ness in hand.
1.-THE Germans viii be here tonight
and here the road forks, one turn t.
the right, the other to the left-yor
known
at is important, the general says
that he should know which road tht
Germans take-whence comes the at
tack. You are to inform hin
| by telephone"
"But they will cut the wires" Ethe
| objected.
"All that they can find," he agreed
"But last night, while the others slept
we have strung wire from the for
to-that chimney BY the merest noe
he indicated the huge fireplace thai
projected into the room.
"Here?" she exclaimed.
He bowed.
II have beneath my coat tele
phone" he continued hurriedly. III
madame will be good enough to change
places with me and keep watch, while
connect the instrument, the affair
will be simple"
"Of courser Ethel responded.
The Frenchman stole to the fireplace
and crept inside the wide opening.
And while his head and shoulders
vanished momentarily up the chimney
he busted himself with his work OF at.
taching the instrument to the dangling
wire within.
"All is weli?" he called in low
voice, as his deft fingers twisted the
ends Of the wire
1T is DONE" the little man declared
He quickly brushed few -clinging
particles of SCOT from his sleeves
',Fhe telephone is in the far corner,
he explained, beneath some tree
branches. It cannot be seen"
"And what am I to dog' she asked
AT the earliest possible moment
after the Germans arrive and you
have found out which road they take,
call on that instrument. An officer
will be waiting every moment from
now on. Ihave signaled that the con.
nection is made"
" understand-and you may depend
on me-" she promised.
And he had already reached the door
to take his departure when he came to
a sudden halt. "Now may ask you
are Madame de Lorde?' he inquired in
his quaint English.
"YeS!' I'll
Now 1t Is perhaps best that you be
told" he continued. "Before
you came gentleman In the service
OF your country, gentleman who met
you in Brussels-he ask for you.Y
Ethel started ut his announcement.
And she drew nearer to him.
Captain Redmond!'' she exclaimed
In low voice.
SSH ssh Inadame' he warned her.
at was he" he whispered.
SIS he hereT she asked eagerly.
"He could not wait. He must re-
turn to his work." he enlightened her.
But what was he doing here" she
demanded In alarm.
The little Frenchman waved her to
a nearby chair.
"Not so close, madame!'' he begged.
She sat down obediently.
"What was he doing here2" she
asked.
HE came to arrange about the tel
ephone." the fellow told her. 1T is
his plan"
His plan! Then he will come
back"
"He could not be certain, madame"
"But he's alive, and we'll" She
could hardly wait for his answer.
Eyes. madame. quite So"
"Oh. thank Godw Ethel murmured,
in tone Of vast thankfulness.
Her fellow-spy smiled at that--a
happy smile.
II nm glad I have told you," he
said. II had thought perhaps it was
an affair of the heart. He had the
look. And now. madame, for
what you will do permit me to thank
you. 1t Is for France"
"And for Larryr' Ethel murmured
softly.
1t was Ethel's turn to warn him
then. For door opened. Henry
Christophe had returned.
Good day. m'sieur' the little man
said cheerfulIy. And he departed.
SAh, madamel Dinner is readyr'
ChristOphe announced to Ethel. "And
where Is the American gentlemanY'
II fancy he will be here directly"
she told him.
"Ah. good. good! But we must not
spoil the chicken" he said. He had
taken especial pains with that chick-
en-, and he wished 1t to be served at
just tie proper moment.
IT sayg' Mr. Brown exclaimed ~
Just happened to glance out of nv win
dow. What's going on over thereY'
EsWW