Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-10-22
CHAPTER VIIl-contInued.

Now DeIIarme disposed his men in
fine back Of the ridge of fresh earth
that they had dug in the night, ready
to rush to their places when he blew
the whistle that hung from his neck,
but he did not allow them a glimpse
over the crest.
Il know that you are curious, but
powerful glasses are watching for you
to show yourselves; and if a battery
turned loose on US you'd understand"
he explained.
Thus the hours wore on, and the
church clock struck nine and ten.
Never a movement down therei"
called the sergeant from the crest to
Dellarme. Maybe this is Just their
final bluff before they come to terms
about BOdlapOo"-that stretch of At
rican jungle that seemed very far
away to them all
Let US hope sol" said Dellarme
seriously.
Choosing to go to town by the
castle road rather than down the ter
race to the main pass road, Marta,
starting for the regular Sunday ser
vice of her school, as she emerged
from the grounds, saw Teller, garden
shears in hand, a figure of stone
watching the approach of some field
batteries. The question of allowing
him to undertake his part as a spy
had drifted into the background of her
mind under the distressing and ever
present pressure of the crisis. He was
to remain until there was war. She
was almost past him before he real
lied her presence, which he acknowl-
edged by a startled movement and a
step forward as he took off his hat
She paused. His eyes were glowing
like Goals under a blower as he looked
at her and again at the batteries.
seeming to include her with the guns
in the spell of his fervid abstraction.
Frontier closed last night to pre-
vent intelligence about our prepare
lions leaking out-Lanny's plan all
alive-the guns coming" he said, his
shoulders stiffering, his chin drawing
in, his features resolute and beaming
with the ardcr of youth in action
troops moving here and there to their
places-engtnaer preparing the de-
fenses-autO'natics at critical points
with the nfantry-field-wire laid
field-telephanes set up-the wireless
splitting caissons full-planes and
dirigibles ready-search-lig in po-
sition-"
There the torrent of his broken SEN
fences vas checked A shadow passed
in front of him. He came out of his
trance of imageries of activities, so
vividly clear to his military mind. to
realize that Marta was abruptly leav.
ing.
Miss Galland." he called urgently
Firing may commence at any min.
ute You must not go into town."
But I musr!" she declared, speak
ing over her shoulder while she
passed. 1t was clear that no warning
would prevail against her determined
mood
Then I shall so with you!" he said
starting toward her with a light step
1T is not necessary, thank you!'
she answered, more coldly than she
had ever spoken to him. This had
magically quick effect on his atti
tude.
Il beg your pardon! l forgot" ht
explained in his old mans voice. hi:
head sinking, his shoulders droopins
in the humility of a servant who rec
ognizes that he has been properly re
buked for presumption. Not a gun
ner any more-I'm a spy!" he thought
as he shuffied of without lookin.
toward the batteries again, though tn,
music of wheels and hoofs was nov
close by.
Marta had a glimpse of him as sh,
turned away. He is what he is be
cause of the army; a victim of a cult
q habit" she was thinking. Had h
been in any other calling his fine quail
tiles might have been of service to tn,
world and he would have been happy.
company of infantry resting
among their stacked rifles changed
the color Of the square in the distanc
from the gray pavement to the brown
Of q mass of uniforms. In the middl
Of the main street a major of the bri
gade staff, with q number of JUNO
officers and orderlies. was evidentl
waiting on some signal Sentries wer
posted at regular intervals along tn
curb. The people in the houses an
shops from time to time stopped pacE
ing up their effects long enough to 8
to the doors and look up and dow
apprehensiveiy. asking bootiess, neI
vous questions,
Are they coming yet2"
DO YOU think they will Gomez"
Are you sure it's going to be war
VIII they shell the town.
"Theyell be time enough for 70
GHYS tn MhTHu TIE pENNIEi