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The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, April 24, 1915, NOON EDITION, Image 19

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Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1915-04-24/ed-1/seq-19/

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liberately severed the telephone line.
In an instant Janvier had leaped
upon him and held his postiol at his
head.
The man, surprised by the sudden
attack, threw up his hands. Janvier
disarmed him. Then only did he look
into his face. The next instant he
was staggering under the blow.
"Philippe!" he exclaimed.
"Jean!"
"You! A German spy!"
Philippe bowed his head. Jean
hastily pulled the revolvers from his
brother's belt
"Philippe," he said in a broken
voice, "you must pay the penalty of
your espionage. But spare me the
suffering of having to capture you.
Walk down the road to where the
sentry is posted and there hand your
self over. Tell a plausible tale which
wiE account for your presence, so
that they may understand you are at
tempting to deceive them. You will
be -shot but I shall not be responsi
ble for your death. I shall watch
from this field and if you fail I shall
myself hand you over to justice." f
"A pretty plan," sneered his broth
er. Janvier, looking into his face, re
alized .with amazement that the man
had grown to be his exact counter
part A light came to him.
"You were passing yourself off as
myself?" he asked.
"Yes, Jean. Well?"
"Philippe, will you not spare me
this shame in our father's name?"
Suddenly, with a military salute,
Philippe left his brother' and started
away down the road. Jean Janvier
watching, saw him accosted by the
sentry, heard his reply; a moment
later he heard the discharge of a rifle.
He crept stealthily forward, hoping
that the traitor had paid the price
without inquiries or the shame of a
court-martial. But, as he drew near,
he saw Philippe being marched away
by the picket
Half an hour later Capt Janvier
walked into the camp where the spy
yas being held pending the hasty
convening of a court-martial. . The
officer in charge, who had not inter
rogated the man and had only caught
a glimpse of his face, was unknown
to Janvier. However, the latter, as
his senior, issued his commands.
"I wish to interrogate the prison
er," he said, displaying his papers,
which showed him to be in charge o
one of the advanced companies.
The younger officer conducted him
to the hut in which the spy was im
prisoned. The sentry, at the door ad
mitted him and resumed his pacing,
Janvier entered. ,
Philippe, seated upon the floor, was
writing a last letter by the light df a
piece of candle that had been sup
plied him by the goofi-hearted sentry.
He looked up at his brother.
"So you have come to gloat over
me," he said.
"No, Philippe," answered Jean Jan
vier wretchedly. "I was writing a let
ter home an hour ago. I told father
that I was sure you were fighting on
the side of France, As an Alsatian
I can understand that you might hon
orably have chosen the German side,
but a spy!"
"An honorable profession, brother,
for a man who is debarred from more
active service by physical disqualifi
cation," replied Philippe. "An injury
to my arm, brother, makes it impos
sible forme to wield a rifle or sword."
"But how comes it that you are on
the German side?"
"I have no kindly thoughts of
France or my family who have dis
carded me," burst out Philippe im
petuously, rising and standing before
Jean with folded arms.
And Jean Janvier, looking at him,
felt his heart moved with pity. Phil
ippe was still the same lovable, er
ratic brother as of old. Hitherto he
had felt grieved for his father's sake
only; now it was for Philippe.
"You realize your fate,"' he said
gently. "Come, Philippe, there is
some mystery here. Tell me how you
came to choose the German side." "
He was astonished at the vehe-i
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