“‘Wait!’ she called.  ‘Hold, for I hear movement above.’

“A few minutes later Marie returned to the telephone.  ’Down in the middle of the village are many soldiers.  I know not why they are gathering there, but I think perhaps they may be going to shoot some of our noble Frenchmen.’

“‘Down by the square?’ questioned the captain.

“‘Yes.’

“’Put away your telephone and go to the floor above.  Watch the square and you shall see what the French gunners can do.  The people are in their houses?’

“‘Yes, monsieur, they dare not go out at night.  It is forbidden.’

“’Good!  Do as I have directed, and go no more to the telephone until tomorrow night at this time, unless something of importance develops, then call for me.  I shall leave orders to be summoned immediately.’

“Not fully understanding what the captain was about to do, the child hastened upstairs and, opening the door slightly, peered down the street.

“It was at this moment that a giant shell from a French battery exploded fairly in the middle of the square, with a terrific shock and roar.  It was followed by several other heavy explosions.  Then silence settled over the night.

“This silence, however, did not last for long.  The forest in which so many German troops were being massed was bombarded all through the night, as were the entrenchments to the rear of the village where the enemy was busily engaged in fortifying themselves.

“The child shuddered.  She was troubled.

“‘It is for France that I have done this,’ she said to comfort herself.  ’Already the Prussians have killed many here, and for what?  For nothing save that they are French.  It is terrible.’

“On the following day Marie picked up further information.  She also learned that the Germans had suffered heavily from the previous night’s bombardment, and that they were amazed at the exact information possessed by the French.

“Each night the child spoke with the French captain over the telephone, and each night the French obtained information of great value to them.  Though Marie did not know it, the Germans had by this time satisfied themselves that some one in the village was communicating with the French forces, and a careful watch was being kept on every inhabitant of the place.  Marie, all ignorant of this, continued to keep the French informed of the movements of the enemy.

“One night, after a day of heavy fighting on both sides, during which the Germans had been slowly pushed back, Marie was giving Captain Grivelet her report of the operations on the German side for that day.  She had communicated everything down to the smallest detail and was just replacing the telephone in its niche when she thought she heard a sound behind her.  Marie turned quickly.

“The child’s head grew dizzy; she nearly fainted with fright, for there, gazing sternly at her, stood a Prussian officer.