Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-12-03
TheLastShot
FREDERICK PALMER
(coOyHsht. islI BY Chariss scrbner's son.)

e results, had to ear them. He real
lied In practice the truth OF Partow's
saying that there was nothing he had
ever learned but what could be Of serv-
Ice to him as an officer.
Finding enough work to dot" Par
tow would ask with Q chuckle when
they met in these days; for he had
made Lanstron both chief OF intelli-
gence and chief a~erostatic officer.
Young Colonel Lanstron's was the duty
Of gaining the secrets Of the Gray
star and keeping those Of the Brown
and organizing up-to-the-moment ell
cheney in the new forces of the air.
He had remarked truly enough that
the injury to his left hand served as
a better reminder against the folly OF
wool-gathering than a string. even a
large red string, tied around his fin.
ger. Thanks to skillful surgery. the
fingers, incapable of spreading much.
were yet serviceable and had a firm
grip of the wheel as he rose from the
aeroplane station on the Sunday morn
ing after Marta's return home for a
fight to La Tir.
He knew the pattern weaving under
his feet as n knows that OF his W
garden from an overlooking window.
Every detail of the stan map, ravines.
roads, buildings, battery positions, was
stitched together in the flowing reality
of actual vision. No white posts were
necessary to tell him where the
boundary between the two nations lay.
| The line was drawn in his brain.
Now that Lanstron was the organ
izer of the aviation corps his own
flights were rare. Mostly they were
/ made to La Tir. His visits to Marta
were his holidays. All the time that
she was absent on her journey around
the world they had correspondent. Her
letters, so revealing Of herself and her
peculiar angles Of observation, formed
a bundle sacredly preserved. Her
mothers joking reference about her
| girlish resolution not to marry a SOL
der often required to him. There. he
sometimes thought, was the real OBJ
stacle to his great desire.
When he alighted from the plane he
thrust his left hand into his blouse
pocket. He always carried it there,
as If 1t were literally sewn in place.
In moments Of emotion the SCARED
nerves would twitch as the tellrale Of
his se%nsitiveness; and this was some
thing he would conceal from others no
matter how conscious he was Of 1t him
self. He found the Galland veranda
deserted, In response to his ring a
maid came to the open door. Her
face was sad, with a beauty that had
prematurefy faded. But 1t lighted
~pleasurably in recognition. Her hair
was thick and tawny, lying low over
the brow; her eyes were a softly
luminous brown and her full lips sensi-
tive and yielding. Lanstron, an init
mate OF the Galland household, knew
her story well and the part that Marta
had played in 1t.
Some four years previously, when a
baby was in prospect for Minna, who
wore no wedding ring. Mrs. Galland
had been inclined to send the maid to
an institution, where they will take
J good care Of her, my dear. That's
what such institutions are for. 1t is
quite s~candalous for her and for us
never happened in our family before!'
Marta arched her eyebrows.
I'VE don't know!" she exclaimed
softly.
How can you think such a thing,
let alone saying it-you, a Galland!"
her mother gasped In indignation.
THAT is, II we go far back" said
Marta. AT all events, we have nc
precedent, so let's establish one by
keeping her"
But for her own sake! She will
have to live with her shame!" Mrs
Galland objected. Let her begin
afresh in the city. We shall give her
a good recommendation. for she is
really an excellent servant. Yes, she
will readily find a place among
strangers"
still, she doesn't want to go, and II
would be cruel to send her away"
Cruel! Why, Marta, do you think
I would be cruel? oh. very well. then
we will let her stay!"
Both are way at church. Mrs. Gal
land ought to be here any minute, but
Miss Galland will be later because OF
her children's class" said Minna. "Wil
you wait on the v%eranda?"
He was saying tAat he would stroll
in the garden when childish footsteps
were heard In the hall, and after a
curly head had nestled against the
mothers skirts Its owner, reminded OF
the importance Of manners In the
I, world where the stork had left her
made a curtesy. Lanstron shook q
small hand which must have lately
been on intimate terms with sugar or
Jam.
How do you do, flying soldier man? p
chirruped Clarissa Eileen. 1t was evi'
dent that she held Lanstron In high
favor.
Let me hear you say your name
said Lanstron.
Clarissa Eileen was triumphant. She
hsd been waiting for days with the
revelation when he should make that
old request. Now she enunciated II
with every vowel and consonant cor
rectly and primly uttered; indeed, she
repeated 1t four or FIVE times in proof
Of complete mastery.
"A pretty name. I've often wondered
how you zane to give 1t to her." said
Lanstron to Minna.
"You do like IT." exclaimed Minna