The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-17

thing through the mails that would incriminate her. Her only kaea1ajng mail was from American officers, who, having enjoyed her hospitality while in Biarritz, were still keeping up the the acquaintance by mail. Some of the letters intercepted, if they had been sent to the command ing general, would have resulted in a quick court martial for the writers. They told of battles, locations Of di- visions, strength of units, and much other information that was absolute ly forbidden by general orders.
 Mrs. Powells French maid was in l terviewed by the chief of the French secret police, and she was instructed to say that her presence was needed at once at her home, as her father had died. At the same time a wom- an of the French service was substi- tuted in her stead. The substitution was made without Mrs. Powell realiz ing the duplicityy, but the new maid could not learn anything that in the slightest degree gave us a clue as to this mistress of the game was operat ing or how she sent out her mes SageS.
 In order to enable the French to have ample time to search the house, a motor trip of a week through the mountains tC Clermont-Ferrand was arranged. While we were away the French secret police searched every inch of her house from cellar to gar ret; the panels in the rooms were sounded for secret recesses; desks and tables were examined for hol- 1 low hiding places; all her papers were gone over. But the French i had their trouble for their pains Not single item was found that would 1 give us any encouragement.
 She was remarkably clever, was this woman.
 i One of Mrs. Powelps customs that afforded our officers much pleasure was the farewell parties which she always gave to the officers. who, having been discharged or cured from the hospital, were leaving fer the | front In France the trains always seem to be either leaving or. arriving at midnight, and her farewell party was always given to last until train time. The end was trip to the sta i ton to see the officer started on his i journey.
 Mrs. Powells house, of a semi bungalow type, was attractive. The living room, occuping the entire front
 
 nished, with here and there cozy corner to add to it's comfort. When ever dancing was on the program, the centerof the room was cleared and the rugs taken up. Here to the music of a phonograph, the officers danced away the time. The dining room opened off the living room through an archway that was partly closed by heavy portieres, while directly opposite this archway was an en- trance on the porch, which over looked the ocean. Always at these parties there was a buffet lunch fer those who cared to eat, and there also seemed to be an endless wine- cellar; for there was always plenty of the various kinds of French wines on ice for the thirsty. It was her boast that her home was her friends home, and anyone who was invited was Supposed to leave fLrmality out side the door-and, indeed, these parties were delightfully."- informal.
 One night, when Mrs. Powell was giving a farewell party to Lieuten- ant Jones (not his right name), who was leaving on the midnight train to rejoin his regiment. she made her faux pas and her method of sending out her information was discovered. At the time there was several couples dancing a waltz, and Mrs. Powell and Lieutenant Jones were dancing to- gether, while I was sitting out the dance with a French girl. This girl and l were in the living room seated on a couch that was placed agains st the partly closed portieres of the archway. During this time I was studying Mrs. Powell and debating whether, after all, we were net on the wrong trail The passing of Mrs. Powell and the lieutenant into the dining room for drink broke up this line of thought, and I was about to ask the young French girl for a dance when l suddenly became aware of voices on the other side of the portieres. Mrs. Powell and the lieut. enant had seated themselves on an other couch directly behind us, with only the nortieres between.
 She had been immune so long that she had grown careless and either did not see us when she passed into the dining room or had forgotten where we were sitting; or possibly she con- sidered me just another dupe; and so of no consequence. Anyway, I was able to overhear the conversation.