Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-22
DAILY SHORT STOR
BAD MARksMANSHiP.
IOriginal.l


cause and when their effort collapsed
were led out in squads. placed with
their faces TO a wall and shot down like
dogs.
Victor Fournier. an artist. who had
entered the army when all young
Frenchmen We're needed there. was
one morning ordered to lead his com
pany to the Rue B. and dislodge the
communists from behind a barricade
of paving stones they had erected
across the street
Fournier gave the order TO march.
There was a sharp tap on the drum,
followed by others reverberating be-
tween the tall houses on either side,
and the company moved forward.
They'll have a hard fight for that
barricade." said a bystander to another.
Louise Dechatelle lives III that sec
ton and has "a wonderful influence. She
has an iron will and the courage of
lion
The soldiers tramped on until they
turned into the street where the barri
cade had been placed. then marched by
the flank aud proceeded shoulder 10
shoulder with cooked rifles. When they
were yet 300 yards away from the bar
ricade bullet sang sptefuily over
| their heads. They paid no attention
10 il, moving steadily 81, their captain,
with drawn sword, marching HI their
head. Then coming nearer they dis
1IuUui~bad A NUonau IuoL.iup over tho
barricadp. Doubtless the other de
tenders were crouchug below, waiting
ID signal TO spring up and pour a vol
ley into the faces of the advancing
troops.
That must be Louise Dechatclle,"
muttered n soldier to the man next To
him on his right. i promise you w0il
have bloody time taking that work.
| If you want men TO tight just give
them woman TO lead
The maid of Orleans, for instance"
| replied the other.
When the attacking force came with
in hundred yards OF the barricade
| the woman mounted ii and, taking aim
| at the captain, fired. The bullet went
wide of the marA The woman threw
fridge aud, taking aim again at Four
| nier, sent bullet over his head.
They're keeping mighty dark" NUT
| tered the man who had spoken of Lou
| Use Dechatelle 'They're waiting till
| we're right against them
BY this time the troops We're within
| half block of the barricade. The wo-
| man could be plainly seen raising her
| weapon for another shot. She was evil
| IDENTIFY trying TO bring down the cap
| tain trusting that THIS, followed by
| vOlley i'll the mems faces, would drive
them back in disorder. The captain
| saw her object, but paid no attention to
| her. tramping on. followed by his men,
| till they came directly under the barri-
cade There stood a girl, with eyes
| atanle, her hair partly uncoiled, color
| in her cheeks, the impeFsonatiOn OF
| beautiful fury. Taking u final deliber-
ate aim at the captain, she sent bull
| let, this time tearing the sleeve Of his
coat, but doing no further injury.
| Springing on to the barricade where
| she stood he looked down on the other
side To his establishment not man
was there The girl had been the sole
| defender.
You have made a gallant defense,
| mademoiselle" he said, but l cannot
compliment you on your marksman-
ship
A squad of prisouers-men, some wO-
men and bOy-was standing up
against a wall waiting 10 be sent to
their long home. Captain Fournier.
who, with his company, was on duty
at the prison stood near u platoon of
his men. who were commanded by
sergeant The captain was in charge of
the execution. a woman turned for
moment and looked calmly upon the
soldiers.
Sergeant" said the captain, that
is the woman who single handed de
Tended the barricade in the Rue b.
Tell the men
The sergeant saluted and informed
the men that they were to execute
Louise Dechatel'U
At the first fire seven-eighthS Of the
communists fell. Louise Dechateile
remained among those left standing.
After the second fire she stood alone.
| Turning she looked at the executioners
with the same impressive face as before.
Captain Fournier gave the order Pre-
sent armsr Then advancing he sa-
luted her and said
"Nsdemoiselle, | am the man who
owes his life to your poor marksmsn-
ship. You did your best to kiln me and
| failed. My men Of their own accord
have declined 10 fire OH you. | shall in
tercede in your behalf with the com
mandeT OF Paris"
What men marching against her bar
riCade could not do. what a platoon OF
executioDeTs could not do. WAS accom-
plished 10y magusnimity. Mile. Decha-
telle burst into torrent Of tears.
The prisoner WAS returned to the
jail and at Captain FOurnier's request
was held TO await further action. The
next day he called for her. and she was