All for a Scrap of Paper A Romance of the Present War

he had said to Professor Renthall, his old opinions remained unshaken. It might be right, it undoubtedly was right, to defend the

nd as a traitor to his country, but st

rd. War was a violation of all that was best and noblest in

ets was this bloody carnage which was convulsing Europe. Almost every vehicle that passed was placarded with a call to war. Every newspaper

orrespondents protesting against the whole horrible

wanted war. That he had struggled against war, and that during the whole of his reign, war had been kept at arm's length. If the Kaiser loved war, the paper urged, the country would n

und his way to the smoke-room after dinner, he met a

t first, but were eventually led

rnwall, Richards by name, "that I h

t st

e of France, and was fast finding its way into the vitals of England. That Germany was called by God to purify Europe, and that he who was anointed by God to reign over Germany, felt it his duty to fight against this scourge of materialism and immorality. In no other way could Europe be saved from infidelity a

rmant told

of the most religious men he had ever met. Of course the man is m

h had seemingly blighted his life. He was alone in London; he had no friend to whom he could go. Of course a hundred places of amusement wer

noticed. Sitting in it, he would be completely hidden from the rest of the room, and yet could command a view of a great part of it. The place was quite empty

hen two men entered and summoned a waiter. The

ed around. "We are lucky," he

. The English people are the most unsuspicious in the world. No matter what national

d Austrians," and the

ht it wise to educate us in England, we speak the language like natives,

uicken. Surely he had s

ell, but both face an

r. Even if they looked towards him, he was

like, we go where we like, and they welcome us. It is true, since the war broke out, they have taken all sorts of precautions against what they call German spies. Bu

eign accent. He would pass anywhere as an Englishman. He had an air of assurance too, as though it were his habit to move in good

t's an out-of-the-way

was at a little fishin

of it, the whole th

his disguise. It was the man who had called himself Count von Weimer-an Alsatian whose sympathies were so strongly

s playing the part of an eavesdr

work together, so it will be all right. As you know, I was instructed to obtain information on certain naval matters, and I had a great difficulty in getting it. You see, I couldn't get introduced in the right quarters. By and by

satian

ve which presented certain difficulties, but, having considered everything, I thought it best to risk it. You see, I went down as a l

en laughed he

manner befitting my role. I knew that a Count von Weimer lived in Alsace, knew al

f li

t on his father's side, and is a sort of peace-at-any-price fellow. Rather a nice chap, but brought up with his father's notions. As luck would have it, a match had been arranged between Nancarrow

are me the

empt to get introduced to the old fool just then, but in Continental fashion I prais

st

rds carefully. I was a rich man charmed by the place, and was on

act

three days later I was introduced to the Admiral. Your line of work has not drawn you into contact with this class of man. A typical John Bull, my dear chap. Blunt, straightforward, above board. No diplomacy, no arrière pensée, but l

al position. Of course one can't take a house without some palaver, and one meeting led to another. Naturally I offered my cheque as a deposit, and a guarantee of my good faith. I was invited to dinner, and then, without

that was

ould have seen me, the mild-eyed Alsatian pleading the uselessness of a big navy, and he, to prove me in the wrong, giving me all sorts of information. Of, course, when I had suck

tish are

angerous fools too, in a way. They are what we are not, and what w

ds to that; but don't you think William forced the pace too soon? Surely he meant to crush France, and control her navy befor

al with Russia and the Balkan States while William marches to Paris; the

enerally put u

ing against us? Aren't facts speaking aloud? In about three weeks we have armies within twenty miles of Paris. In another week that capital wil

we play our lit

ds more, go around as Englishmen. Doesn't John scorn a spy? That's why we can go everywhere. At present I am London born, never having been out of England in my life.

we are

playing. They were just contented with their contemptible little army, and they allowed us to learn their secrets, not dreaming that England will be a vassal sta

aiser had not only made Germany an armed camp, and had strained every nerve to construct the greatest and most powerful and complete fighting machine the world had ever known, but he had sent an army of spies to the country to learn her secrets and fasten upon her we

y, that they had not taken greater precaution to make sure no one was near. But the room was peculiarly shaped, and it was di

oking through the fronds of the palm, he saw that the two men were conversing eagerly. Behind him was

domestic portion of the little hotel. A waiter looked at hi

e manager, at

felt how much in earnes

sir," he

Bob said to the manager a minute later, and he e

e smoking-room?" asked the m

m each with a whisky-an

r, I'll swe

"You guard your door carefully, and I'll go in at

hich he had first entered the room,

empty; the tw

e do anythin

en you leave the room, and then made their way out. I'll speak to the hall-porter. There are very fe

wo gentlemen have just gone out in a hurry. They said t

nise them?" as

e before," was the porter's reply

r. I daresay you are right. London is just infested with the

ling himself Count von Weimer had by lies and fraud found his way into Admiral Tresize's house, and thereby obtained valuable information about our Navy, staggered him. From the conversation of the two men, moreover, it was evident that Germany had always meant to go to w

the criminal ma

adness. There was an aw

r he had just bought, and

ILES OF PARIS. FRENCH GOVE

of General Joffre and Sir John French. They were trying to draw the Germans from

very unsatisfactory. Th

sweeping al

is muscles hardening as he read. The article in graphic language described the countless hordes in the German army. It told how the writer rode hour after hour in a swiftly moving motor-car, al

d to the minutest detail. Nothing was lacking. Every need was supplied as if by m

ns be overcome? Were

ad said,

General to the newspaper correspondent. "You

ected towards the distant object. A few seconds later there was

was a huge fighting m

inions intended

was determined to win? What would be the result? Where w

h the devil's weapons. If I did, I should have to give up my faith in Christ and His salvation. The sword would take the place of the Cross. I should have to say that the life and w

he only

onging to take his part in helping England to drive back this huge fighting octopus

"Love your enemies; . . . if a man strike thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also," could volunteer to tak

the

h, he had lost the woman he loved. Nancy could never be his now. She had driven him fr

ked at it. Yes, that was what she thought of him. A coward! And all the t

oor, and a servant en

" said Bob to himself