Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-10-02
TCOntinued ]


q The war was a week old-a week
, which had developed other tangents
and traps than La Tir-on the morn
ing that the first installment of junior
officers came to occupy the tables and
desks. Where the family portraits had
hung In the dining-room were now big
maps dotted with brown and gray
flags. Portable field cabinets with
sectional maps on a large scale were
arranged around the walls of the draw
dng-room. In what had been the loung-
ang-room of the old days Of Galland
prosperity, the refrain of half dozen
telegraph instruments made medley
with the clicking of typewriters. Cooks
and helpers were busy in the kitchen;
for the staff were to live like gentle
men; they were to have their morning
baths, their comfortable beds, and
regular meals. No twinge Of indiges-
tion or of rheumatism from exposure
was to interfere with the working of
their precious intellectual processes.
Mo detail of assistance would be lack
1ng to save any bureaucratic head time
and labor. The bedrooms were appor-
tioned according to rank-that of the
master awaited the master; the best
servants bedroom awaited Francois,
his valet.
When Bouchard, the chief of iutelli-
genoe, who fought the battle of wits
and spies against Lanstron, came, two
hours before Westerling was due, the
last Of the STAFF except Westerling and
his personal aide had arrived. Bouch-
ard, with his iron-gray hair, bushy eye
brows, strong, aquiline nose, and
hawk-like eyes, his mouth hidden by
"a bristly mustaohe, was lean and sat
urnine, and he was loyal. No jealous
Thought entered his mind at having to
serve a man younger than himself.
HE did not serve a personality; he
served q chief Of staff and a profess
sion The score of words which es-
capped him as he looked over the ar
rangements were all of directing criti-
oiem and bitten off sharply, as IL he
regretted that he had to waste breath
In communicating even thought.
'I tell nothing, but you tell me
everything" said Bouchard's hawk
eyes. He was old-fashioned; he looked
his part, which was one of the many
points Of difference between him and
Lanstron as a chief of intelligence.
It lacked one minute to four when
Hedworth Westerling, chief of staff in
name as we'll as power now, alighted
from the gray automobile that turned
in at the Galland drive. His Excel
lency had not occupied his new head
quarters as soon as he expected, but
this could have no influence on results.
III he had lost fifty thousand men on
the first two days and two hundred
thousand since she war had begun.
should he allow this to disturb his
well-being Of body or mind? His we'll
being Of body and mind meant the ulti-
mate saving Of lives.
Confidence was reflected in Wester-
Hing's bearing and in his smile of COM
mand as he passed through the staff
rooms, Turcas and Bouchard in his
train, with tacit approval of the ar
Hangements. Finally, Turcas, now vioe
chief of staff, and the other chiefs
awaited his pleasure in the library,
which was to be his sanctum. On the
massive 5eventeenth-century desk lay
a number Of reports and suggestions.
Westerling ran through them with &C.
customed swiftness Of sitting and then
turned to his personal aide.
"Tell Francois that will have tea
On the veranda."
From the fact that he took with him
me papers that he had laid aside, sub
ordinate generals, with the gift of un-
spoken directions which Is a part of
their profession, understood that he
meant to go over the subjects requir.
ing special attention while he had tea.
Everything is going well-well!"
he added.
"Well!" ran the unspoken communi
cation Of confidence through the staff
So well that His Excellency was
calmly taking tea on the veranda! For
the indefatigable Turcas the detail;
for Westerling the front OF Jove.
He had told Marta only two weeks
ago that he should see her again II
war came; and war had come. With
the inviting prospect of few holiday
moments in which to continue the in.
terview that had been abruptly cor
cluded in hotel reception-room, he
started down the terrace steps. Above
the second terrace he saw a crown of
IRHUIF MINI nam