The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-05-20
The Women In Room 27

we could not spludge on the pay of d second lieutenant-it was right enough that they help pay the bills.
 But Graham well knew the French character and he could not for the life of him comprehend why three French women. of whatever strata of society, should pay for the entertain ment when men were in the party Ut isn't done, that's all"' Thinking it over. Graham came to the ccncIu- sion that his leaving his post at Arcachon was for the best. IT French women were entertaining American officers and paying the bills, 1t was something to be investigated ana 1n- vestigated quickly.
 While our troops were in France one characteristic of theirs stood out above all others in the minds of the French women. It was one almost universal among both the officers and the men-the habit of treating all women with respect. It seemed be- yond the conception of the average American that a woman could do the work of a spy. Germany also knew this trait of the Americans and when ever she wanted information from them, if possible, she sent women after it.
 The women in Germany's secret service were attractive, prepossessing, sEave and polished. They were at home either in the drawing room or in the peasants home. They had been well trained in the art of taking ad- vantage of the chivalrous nature of our men. Many a pleasant. quiet hammered woman, laying herself out to comfort a poor, homesick boy, sickened with all the horrors of war ;,, e +I,a man government and while so sym pathetic and helpful was all the time carefully plying him with questions Nnd gaining much information of value to the German high command. They were extremely clever, these women spies.
 Graham lost no,time in reporting to us the conversation that he had over heard on the train; and although we did not connect the spendthrift French women with the leak at Camp Hunt. nevertheless, our training had taught us never to overlook the most trivial happening. So Lieutenant Greene was called in and assigned to
 investigate these women.
 Lieutenant Greene was the Beau Brummel" of our force. Well equipped by nature and training to pass IS an innocent young fellow just out from home, his open, frank countenance and smiling. blue eyes would never lead one to suspect that behind it all lay one of the keenest and brightest minds in the service. More than one clever operator had discovered. when
 it was too late, that instead of mak
 ing tool out of this young officer. the tables had been turned and she instead was the dupe. Greene. by preference, would have been at the front, but he was tGo valuable here and although the work was extreme ly distasteful to him, he was just the type to deal with the women we en- countered in our work. He had been universally successful in his assign ments involving women.
 'Lieutenant" instructed. "you will proceed to Arcachon prepared to re- main there indefinitely. You are tc work in uniform. Your pass states that you are just out of the hospital and that yousbelong to siege bat tery on the front. In the Grande hotel are three young women who are making a practice Lf entertaining American officers; you will study these women, watch their movements. note what they are doing, whom they entertain, what is said at the enter tanments and who says it. You will observe what these women do when there are no officers around. Do not make their acquaintance, but see If yCu can learn who and what they are no love making until you are further instructed. We shall check them up as far as the French status is concerned, so you will not have to cover that angle. Here are your papers. Goodbye and good luck.' Dangerous Fool.
 As fast as the train would take ht tY,N tnn Dr1f q established himself at the Grande hotel. He made point of becoming confidential with the manager. tell ing him that he had been she'll shocked and was just recovering from the effects of 1t. He didn't care to meet anyone and asked for table by himself and a quiet room. Greene was one tC' attract attention any where and, even while he was being shown his room, the younger of the three women was busily engaged In making inquiries about him from the manager. News among such people travels quickly, and by the time Greene had returned to the lobby his story was all over the hotel. His re- quest that he be left alone gave him an opportunity to study the other guests at his leisure and few tact full questions enabled him to learn which of the guests were known as Madame Boudin, Madame Fountain and Mile. Brisson. Even on the night of his arrivel these women were en- tertaining a party of young officers from Camp Hunt Greene without ap- parent effort. succeeded in securing table adjacent to the party and was able to see and overhear all that went on at that table. Wine flowed freely, and it was not very long before the tongues of the officers were loosened and Greene was hearing them tell