of Monsieur Henderson, who is a
foreigner. We could get no information whatever. I appealed to the
burgomaster and he said he would try to find Mrs. Denton for us the
next day. In the morning came to us this woman, who said she was the
person we sought. If we promised her safe conduct to Dunkirk, she would
go with us. She had wanted to go to Dunkirk for some weeks, but the
Germans would not let her pass the lines. We suspected nothing wrong,
for she admitted she was aware that her husband is in Dunkirk, and she
wanted to get to him. So we brought her to you."

Patsy faced the woman resolutely and said in French:

"Why did you wish to get to Dunkirk?"

"He has said it. To find my husband," replied the woman in a surly tone.

"What is your name?"

No reply.

"Answer me!"

The woman eyed her obstinately and remained silent.

"Very well. Release those children, Monsieur Rondel. Madam, you have
imposed upon us; you have tricked us in order to get to Ostend at our
expense. Now go, and take your children with you."

She pointed dramatically at the door, but the woman retained her
position, only moving to cuff the boy, who was kicking Henderson on his
shins. Then, setting her hands on her hips she said defiantly:

"They promised me passage to Dunkirk, and they must take me there."

"Who promised you?"

"Those men," pointing to them, "and the burgomaster."

"Yes," admitted Henderson, "we agreed with the burgomaster to take her
out of the country. We signed a paper to that effect."

"But she is a Belgian. And she is not the person she claimed to be."

To this neither Rondel nor Henderson had an answer.

"See here," said Uncle John, "I'll untangle this matter in a jiffy. Here
is money; give it to the woman and tell her to get out--or we'll eject
her by force."

The woman grabbed the money eagerly, but after placing it in an ample
pocket she said: "I will go no place but Dunkirk. I will not leave you
until you take me there."

But here the lieutenant interfered. He suddenly faced the woman, who had
not noticed his presence before, and she shrank back in fear at sight of
his uniform. The boy and girl both began to cry.

"I know you," said von Holtz sternly. "You are the wife of a spy who has
been condemned to death by both the Belgians and the Germans, since he
betrayed them both. The last time you came to Ostend to annoy us you
were driven out of the city. There is still an edict against you. Will
you leave