Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-05-22
lY1HILE engaged upon a strenu.


public hall in Edinburgh concern
ing the insid:ous efforts of the Ger
mans to secure our undoing. of the
marvellous Vstem of Prussian es-
p.onage in our midst and even the
preparation Of German uniforms to
he used as surprise to us on the
day when the enemy set his iron heel
upon our shores.
The day upon which I addressed
that packed audience. which was pre-
SIDED over by wcll-known Scottish
peer. and ut which the Ell te of Edin-
bursh were present. had been black
ore indeed. 1t was Tuesday. June C.
1915. and at midday the nation had
received profound shock at the
news that Lord Kitchener had been
drowned off the Orkneys At Hooge
the Germans were advancing and
occupying the British trenches, the
Austrians were advancing in the
Tr"ntino. while the Admiralty had
tc'd us that We had lost the Battle
o' Jutland. The spirits Of the nation
ware falling on that, one o. the
blacklist days Of the war
could feel that my audience. that
sea Of pale faces which showed
d.mlv across the footlights. were all
depressed; therefore l had taken A
cheerful note Of optimism and urged
them 70 look and work for brighter
days when Germany should be
crushed
had spoken for an hour and a
quarter and had resumed my chair.
To the applause I bowed my ack-
wledgenents. and then. after the
usual vote Of thanks. l passed into
tho ante-room and was putting on
my coat when the hall keeper came
to mo and said.
There's Young lady who wishes
10 speak TO you. sir. She says she
can wait if you are engaged"
All an autograph hunter, I sup
pose" ! said. with a smile Very
VOL. Tell her TO hr ng up her book .
As lecturer, like every other. l
have many applicants for specimens
% my uneven scribble
II don't think the Young lady
wants as autograph, sir" was the
mans reply. she wants to see you
to speak to you"
Very Well In ten minutes"
said
Nav the lady come in. sir?" asked
tho hall-keeper, putting his head in
side the door.
"Certa!nly." I replied and the next
moment a tall. dark-haired. extreme
l.. al ri -,
She was quietly dressed, and her
bearing was that of lady.
II do hope. Mr.. lie Queux that YOU
will forgive mo for troubling you
have come here ton ght expressly to
see You and to ask your advice upon
we'll, upon a private affair of my
own. one which is of gravest con-
Germ to me"
II haven't the pleasure OF your
name" ! said.
Ida Duffield" she replied. I'm
sorry haven't card. But I'm
staying with my mother at the Gale
DOMAIN Hotel. We live in London
IN DoGnery street"
Well Miss Duffie'd" I said with
some curiosity. what is the circum-
stance which is distressing you?"
he hesitated. Then she sa ID:
1T would take some time to tell
YOU here. and no doubt YOU are tired
after speaking so long and want to
got back to Your hotel. Would you
soc me il | called upon you to;nor-
row morning."
certainly. I'm at the North Brit
ish at the other end of Princes
street But | have to leave for York
nj thirty. I'm lecturing there
tomorrow night. I could see you at
rine-thirty Is that too early"
Not at all. If | stay late tonight
my mother might think it strange.
I shall be so glad if you will see me
in the morning" she added.
Punctually at nine-thirty' next
morning. while I stood in the en-
trance hall of the hotel. she came in.
and putting out her hand, greeted
me Then | took her into the cir
cular lounge beyond. a rather gloomy
room. which is usually deserted, and
there we sat together.
Well" she said. what I'm about
to tell you VIII at once strike you as
curious And you will, no doubt,
suspect that It is all my fault. But
tell YOU now it is not. | know 7
have been indiscrcet. but-well, it
was because | was terri fed"
"Of what"
Let me tell YOU the whole circum-
stances" she said. Il know that yo.:
have had a very wide experience in
contra espionage work. and that is
why I presume to trouble you with
my private affairs and seek your ad-
vice"
II am ready to listen" I said.
Well. in the first place. my mother
Is head of war hospital at Deau-
Vile. on the French coast, and l am
voluntary nurse there. My father
established it and defrays its whole
cost our patients are mostly French
poilus. my mother and myself and
the whole staff speaking French
fairly we'll Indeed. my mother is
French. We established 1t in De-
cember, 1914. and it has been going
on ever since with three hundred
and fifty beds"
Very generous OF your father"
said inwardly rejecting that the cost
Of such a hospital must be very con-
siderable
II daresay YOU know DSauvil!e. 1t
is very fashionable in summer. quite
close to Trouville."
Il was once there during the race
week" | said.
We'll. the hospital Is on the PLACE.
Eight Of those summer villas have