The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-12-19
"You, There, In Your Straw Hat and
Blue Blouse"

II was the grapple of cold steel with
cold steel and muscle with muscle, in
the billowing, twisting mob OF wres.
tiers, with no sound from throats but
etraining breaths; with no quarter, no
distinction of person, and bloodshot
eyes and faces hot with the effort OF
brute strength striving, in primitive
desperation, to kill in order not to be
killed. The cloud of rocking, writhing
arms and shoulders was neither go
ing forward nor backward. It's move.
ment was that OF vortex. while the
gray stream kept on pouring through
the breach as II Il were only the first
flood from some gray lake on the
other side OF the breastwork
Marta had come to the edge OF the
veranda, at once drawn and repealed
feeling the fearful suspense of the
combat, the savage horror of 1t, and
herself uttering sounds like the strain,
ing breaths Of the men. what place
for her to be- Blu: she did nos think
OF that. She was there. The dreadful
alchemy of war had made her n
stranger TO herself She was mad
they were mad; all the world was
mad!
One minute 100 two, perhaps not
three-and the thing was over. She
saw the Grays being crushed back and
realized that tho Browns had won,
while the last details OF tho lessening ]
tuwrlt fvod her attention with their
gladialorlal simplicity Here. indeed,
IL was a case Of man 20 man with the
weapons nature gave him
81 thought SOL" cried Teller AT.
tacks on frontal positions by daylight
are going out OF fashion!"
II was he who mcrclfully arrested
the shower of hand-gronades that iol.
lowed the exit OF the enemy Two OIL
the guns OF the castle batteries hay
ing changed their position. were MAX. !
ing havoc enough at pointblank range, |
with "a choice of targets between
the Grays huddlcd on the other side
OF The breaslwork end those in retreat /
one OF the Grays. his cheek bearing /
the mark OF q boot heel raised him- /
self, and. IN defiance and Che sausfac- |
ton OF the thought to his bruises and f.
humiliation. pointing his finger at Eel {
Ter Marta heard him say:
you there in your straw hat and |
blue blouse. they've seen you "a man
fighting and not in uniform! If they 1
catch You it win be a drumhcad and a
firing squad at dawn!
That's sol" replied Teller grayely. |
but they'll have to make a better |
job Of il than you fellows did il they're /
going to-"
lie turned away abruptly but did not !
move far. Ills shoulders relaxed into |
the gardeners stoop. and he pulled !
his hat down over his eyes and low
cred his head as II TO hide his face. |
Ho was thus standing. inert, when a !
division stan-ohlcer galloped into the (
grounds
"Where Is Major Dellarme?"
When he saw Dellarme's still body |
he dismounted and In tide OF feel. /
ing which. for the moment. submerged
all thought OF the machine. stood, 4
head bowed and cap off. looking down
az Dellarme's face. 4
Il was very fond OF himl lie was at
school when was teaching there.
But a good death--a SOLDIERS DEATH"
he said "Ill write 70 hia mother my. |
self" Then the voice OF the machine
spoke who Is in commando
Il am, slrl" said tho callow lieuton-
cnt, coming up. but the men OF the
company spoke.
Bert stranskyl" they roared.
II was not according to military etl-
quette, but military etiquette meant
nothing TO them now. They were
above IL in veteran superiority.