"SPY OR-?"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20324, 3 August 1929, Page 8 (Supplement)

"SPY OR-?"

A MYSTERY OF THE WAR. Mystery stories enjoy a perennial popularity; war books aie having a great vogue at tho moment. For a war-time mvstcry-thriller, then, the prospects of success aro surely bright, especially when it is as well written as " Bretnerton: Khaki or Field Grey ? " The story, begins in the Beau Gcsto manner, at the end. It was the last full day of war, and victory was in the air. All along the line tho Germans were retiring and the Allied troops pushing for ward helter-skelter, almost dazed by the sudden turn of the tide. But tho German retreat, though fast becoming disorganised, was by no means a rout, and occasional hold-ups occurred whero German troops, well-disciplined veterans, "returned the Allied firo with interest.

At one such point Captain Gurnoy and his company were advancing with caution through a small wood when they came upon a chateau in the midst of it. Gurnoy, with his servant, was on the point of making a dash across tlio open coin Iyard when ho suddenly drew back amazed. For inside the chateau, of all ineongurous things at such a moment someone was playing a piano. The sound came out clearly; every note was distinct, played with a prim masculine touch. The air was "Just a Song at Twilight"; but as ho listened a round went off inside the chateau. The piano faltered but did not pause, and presently tho tune changed to " Tipperary." Gurney, thinking it was one of his own non-com/s who was doing this mad thing, dashed in, determined to give him a good cursing. But the sight that met his eyes was far stranger. At tlio end of a lung room was a man seated at a ( grand piano. Ho was now leaning forward in his chair and a glance at his uniform showed him to be no British sergeant, but a German officer of high rank. Gurnev. however, armed with his automatic, was re.-idy for such a surprise, and it was no! this discovery which pulled him up with a jerk. Upon a sofa at the sido of the room lay a girl in evening dress, sleep ing peacefully, a girl obviously of high birth and breeding. Thinking it better to deal with tlio man first, Gurney moved quickly to the piano, but he soon saw that the man was dead from a bayonet wound in his chest Then, as ho propped him back in his chair, came the greatest shock of all. for t.he face of the German officer was the face of 'lis old coinnany commander, Gerard Rrothorton, affectionately known as G 8.. who ■ had been in the samo battalion as Gurnev for noarlv two years and whom he had seen and spoken to onlv the day be fore accompanied by a staff officer. Here, then, is tho mystery. What was OI(. doing in the chateau' Was he a British spv in tho Herman army." or n fJerrnn spy in the British nrmv? Who bad killed him ? Who was tho girl ? u 'hy was sho thero in evening dress? How had she died ?

All these questions are cleared up for Iho reader in an absorbing story which mart from the adventitious retraction of the mystery, gives a faithful picture drawn with humour and restraint, of life in wartime.

"Brethor'on: Khntci or Viold Grey?" by W. F. Morris (Geoffrey Bios).