“‘I have it!’ she cried exultingly.  ’It was that he wished the little Marie to tell him what the Prussians were doing.  At last the way is opened for her to serve her country.  But—­’ The child, with a wisdom beyond her years, knew what the penalty would be if she were discovered.  ’I care not.  If I shall have served my France I can die with a brave heart!’

“Taking the telephone in her hands—­hands that did not even tremble, Marie called a soft ‘hello!’ There was no response.  Again and again she tried, but without result.  Finally the child gave it up and went back upstairs.

“The thought of the telephone drew her again to the cellar.  Again she called her soft ‘hello.’

“The answer came back in French with a suddenness that nearly caused her to drop the telephone.

“‘Who is speaking?’ she asked in as firm a voice as she could summon.

“‘Whom do you wish?’

“‘I would speak with Captain Grivelet’

“‘He is not here.  I cannot reach him.’

“’It is important.  Find him and tell him that the little Marie would speak with him.  Tell him to come at ten o’clock this evening and Marie will be here at the telephone.  He will understand.’

“Marie put back the telephone and carefully closed the opening.  Now she had a distinct mission to perform, and, throwing a scarf over her head, she went out to the street.  Marie was very bright of face and very friendly with the German soldiers.  No obstacle was placed in the way of her going where she liked.  That day she used her eyes and ears to good advantage and they saw and heard many things.  What especially interested her was the massing of German troops in the forest to the west of the village.  She heard of this through a conversation between two officers.  There also was great activity behind the lines.  There the Germans were building entrenchments, which she could plainly see from the windows of her home.

“The child knew that what she had observed was important, but just how important, of course, she could not know.

“Promptly at ten o’clock that night, after the Padre had gone fast asleep, Marie hastened to the cellar and again called over the telephone.  Captain Grivelet was quickly summoned.

“‘It is the little Marie speaking,’ she called excitedly.

“‘My brave child,’ answered the captain.  ’I knew you would find the way.  We are defeated, but not for long, for the French are being reinforced and are angry.  Can you safely go out into the street tomorrow and then let me know what they are doing?’

“‘I already have been out, monsieur le Capitaine, and I have seen.’

“’I beg of you to be careful.  You are in great peril.  If the Boches discover that you are in communication with us they will shoot you.’

“‘I fear them not.  But I must hasten.  Listen!’ Marie then told the captain all that she had learned, interrupted frequently by exclamations of approval from the officer at the other end.