JACK'S YARNS: NABBING A SPY (1915)

Description

Date: 10 June 1915

Transcript:

NABBING A SPY.

I was sitting near the flagstaff on
The cliff the other day,
And following a steamer that
Was making for the bay.
I couldn't make her out at first,
But then I saw her clear—
'Twas the Evening Star, of Hartlepool,
That calls in weekly here.

She hadn't many passengers,
Not more than two or three,
And, thro' my glasses, I makes out
That one was milit'ry.
An officer from Hartlepool,
Aboard the Evening Star!
"That's strange." I says. "When they come here,
They come by motor-car."

[cartoon of Jack looking out to sea]
'Twas the Evening Star.

I watched the ship till she was in,
And then went home for tea;
But, just as I was sitting down,
A Boy Scout comes to me.
"Come in, my boy, an' sit ye down,
What is your news?" says I.
"I don't exactly know, sir, but
I think I've seen a spy!"

"A spy!" I says. "They're all interned;
They've all been sent away."
"Not all," the little Scout replied,
"There's one come here to-day.
I'm certain, sir, the man's a spy,
(He's just come off the boat,
The Evening Star) altho' he wears
A khaki cap and coat."

[cartoon of Jack and the boy scout]
"He's nosing: about."

"I've followed him right from the quay
For more than half an hour;
He's nosing here, and poking there,
Up at the signal tower.
The man's a German, 'spite his clothes;
You easily can tell
A German, sir." "How's that?" He sniffed,
"Ye know 'em by the smell!"

I thanked the boy, then took a stroll
To see if I could see
This military gentleman.
Yes! there in front o' me
I saw him, notebook in his hand,
And writing feverishly.
But he put it hastily away
Whene'er he noticed me!

[cartoon of Jack watching a man in uniform]
Notebook in hand.

I sheered off then, for fear the chap
Would tumble to my game;
But, bless yer heart, I never missed
A movement all the same.
More than an hour I followed him,
But always out o' sight,
Until at last I felt inclined
To think the Scout was right.

I tracked him to his cottage. "Now,
To prove the thing," says I,
"I must have evidence, of course,
To prove the man's a spy,
And I must get it quickly, too,
Before the man can slope!;
And then the thought came like a flash,
I'd use my periscope!

[cartoon of Jack using a periscope to look through a window]
I used my periscope.

His window it was open, it
Was on the upstairs flat.
But with my periscope to help,
It did not matter that!
I placed it in position. Plans?
Of forts and coastlines, why,
He had there in dozens! Yes,
Too true, he was a spy!

What did I do? Why don't ye ask
Another? He's all right.
I had to damage him a bit,
He would put up a fight.
What's that that you are asking now—
What will his sentence be?
What's all yer hurry? Wait until
He's out th' Infirmary!


Source:
McMann, W. ‘Jack’s Yarns: “Nabbing a Spy”.’ The Brecon County Times. 10 June 1915. 7.

• https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3857668/3857675/74 (link opens in new window)