The officer whipped the hidden hand round. A revolver banged in the
stilly air. The aim, however, had been turned by a cunning parry,
followed by a dexterous thrust by the nimble Spud. He had pinned his
aggressor right through the breast. The man fell with a groan. As he
tumbled, Sergeant Killem and the guard dashed out. One glance, and the
sergeant staggered a little. "God! Tamson—it’s a staff officer. You’ve
kill’t him."
"A spy, ye mean," said the cool sentry, putting his foot on the dying
man’s chest, and with a jerk withdrawing his bayonet.
"A spy!"
"Ay—see the revolver! He tried tae shoot me."
"That’s queer, man," ejaculated Sergeant Killem, bending down. Lifting
the red-banded cap off the wounded man’s head and unwinding the muffler,
he was startled to see a face clearly German, with the usual student
scar. Opening a British warm jacket, the sergeant also found a
close-fitting tunic worn by the German officers.
"You’re richt, Tamson. By Heaven! he’s got a cheek," muttered Killem, as
he extracted a large six-inch map, a note-book, a woman’s photo, and
other things from the dying man’s pocket. When this search had been
completed they lifted the almost dead German into the guardroom. Spud
now tore out his own field dressing and tried to stanch the mortal
wound, while the sergeant rang the telephone bell in the Divisional
Headquarters.
"Well?" replied an aide-de-camp.
"I’m the sergint on the examination post. A sentry has jist shot a spy
in a motor-caur. He’s dying in the hut."
"Let him die," was the blunt reply. "And I say, sergeant?"
"Yes, sir."
"Search the man and his car. Keep everything till the Intelligence
Officer arrives."
"Very good, sir," said Sergeant Killem, hanging up the ’phone. A further
search revealed many things. Papers showed the amazing daring and skill
of this spy. The strength, guns, morale, and distribution of the Allied
Arms was almost perfect. In the garb of a staff officer he had been
everywhere—an easy thing when one remembers the mighty salaams and
reverential awe which the "Brass Hats" receive from the respectful Tommy
Atkins.
"This is his last trip, onywiy," said the sergeant, casually picking up
the woman’s photo which the spy had carried in his pocket. Spud came
forward to view it.
"That’s an actress," remarked Tamson.
"Ay. English at that."
"It’s the Principal Boy in that big London panto," exclaimed Spud, who
knew the name of every actress, boxer, and racehorse.
"Man, you’re richt; but listen——"
"A motor-caur! That’ll be the officer," said Spud.
A few minutes afterwards the car stopped at the door, and a major of the
Intelligence Staff came in.
"Here he is, sir," said the sergeant, showing him the wounded German in
the corner of the hut.
"Good Lord! it’s Von Darem!" muttered the startled officer.
"Wha, sir?" inquired Killem.
"Oh, the late Military Attaché in London," was the off-hand reply of the
officer.
"Here’s his papers."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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