Evening star., 1922-06-04


was one night addressing
a large audience in a public hall In
Edinburgh concerning the insidious
efforts of the Germans to secure our
undoins, of the marvellous system OF
Prussiar espionage in our midst. and
even the preparation of German uni
forms to be used as a 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 well kno"n Scottish
peer, and at which the ellie of Edin-
burgh were present, had been a black
one. indeed, 1t was Tuesday, June S,
1915. and at midday the nation had
received a profound shock at the
news that Lord Kitchener had been
drowned off the Orkneys. At Hooge
the Germans were advancing and oc-
cupying the British trenches. the
Austrians were advancing in the
Trentino, while the admiralty had
of Jutland. The spirits of the nation
were falling on that. one of the
blacklist days of the war.
X * 4 X
7 COULD feel that my audience. that
sea of pale faces which showed
dimly across the footlights, was de-
pressed Therefore I had taken a
cheerful note of optimism and urged
them to 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 7 bowed my ac
acknowledgements. and then, after the
usual vote of thanks. I passed iHo
the anteroom and was putting on
my coat when the hallkeeper came to
me and said:
There's a young lady who wishes
to speak to you. sir. She says she
can wait if you are engaged"
"Ah, an autograph hunter, I sup
\Rose," I said. with a smile. Very
Tell her to bring up her book
"a lecturer. like every other. l
bnany applicants for specimens
uneven scribble.
don't think the young lady
.nts an autograph, sir" was the
lans reply. She wants to see you
20 speak to YOU
VERY we'll. In ten minutes" said.
May the lady come in. sir?' asked
the hallkeeper, putting his head inside
the door.
Certainly" l replied. and the next
moment a tall. dark k-haired. extremely
good looking girl was ushered in. She
was quietly dressed. and her bearing
was that of a lady
II co hope. Mr.. lie Queux, that you
will forgive me for troubling you. l
have come here tonight expressly to
see you and to ask your advice upon
we'll upon a private affair of my
cern to me-
II haven't the pleasure of your
name" ] said
Ida DufieId," she replied. I'm
sorry I haven't a card. But I'm stay
ing with my mother at the Caledo-
nian Hotel. We live in London-in
Deanery street"
We'll. Miss Duffield." 1 said. ~ith
some curiosity, what is the circIm-
stance which is distressing you""
She hesitated. Then she said:
1T would take some time to ten you
here. and no doubt you are tired
after speaking SO long and want to
get back to your hotel. Would you
see me if called upon you tomorrow
morning"
Certainly. I'm at the North Brit
ish, at the other end of Princes street.
But I have to leave for York at
1880. I'm lecturing there tomorrow
night. 1 could see you at $50. Is
that too early?"
Not at all. If Stay late tonight
my mother might think 1t strange.
1 shall be so glad if you will see me
in the morning" she added.
X *x
DUNcTUALLY at $50 next morning.
l while stood in the entrance hall
of the hotel. she came in, and, put
ting out her hand. greeted me. Then
I took her into the circular lounge
beyond, a rather gloomy room. which
is usually deserted. and there we sat
together.
Well" she said, '-mhat I'm about
to tell you will at once strike you as
curious And you will, no doubt. sus
pect that 1t is all my fault. But I
tell you now 1t is not. know / have
been indiscreet, but-well, it was be-
cause 1 was terrified"
"Of WHAT"
: Let me tell you the whole circum-
stances" she said IT know that you
have had 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"
1T am ready to listen" said.
We'll. in the first place, my mother
is head of war hospital at Deau-
Vile, on the French coast. and 1 am
a voluntary nurse there. My father
established 1t and defrays its whole
cost. Our patients are mostly French
poilus, my mother and myself and
the whole staff speaking French fair
Iy well. Indeed. my mother is French.
We esta blished it in December, 1914,
and 1t has been going on ever since,
with $50 beds
Very generous Of your father" I
SAID, inwardly rejecting that the cost
of such a hospital must be very con-
siderable.
IT dare say you know Deauville. 1t