Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1914-12-17

action. but they soon broke the pre-
cision OF the opposing fire.
Now shells coming frequently fell
short or went wide. The air cleared
Then a chance shell. striking at the
one point which the man who fired
II six thousand yards away would have
chosen as his bull's-eye, obscured Eel
Ter and the automatic and Its gunners
in the havoc of explosion. Teller must
have been killed. The dust settled;
she saw Dellarme making frantic ges-
lures as he looked at his men. They
we're keeping up their fusillade with
unfiinching rapidity. Through the
breach left in the breastwork she had
glimpses, as the dust was finally dis
sipated, OF gray figures, bayonets fixed.
pressing together as they came on
fiercely toward the opening. The
Browns let go the full blast Of their
magazines. Had that chance shell
turned the scales? Would the Grays
get into the breastwork?
All Marta's faculties and emotions
were frozen in her stare OF suspense
at the breach. Then her heart leaped,
cry in a gust of short breaths broke
from her lips as the Browns let go
rasping, explosive. demoniacal cheer.
The first attack had been checked!
After triumph, terror, faintness, and
closing of her eyes, she opened
them to see Teller, with his old straw
hat-brim torn and crownless now
still on his head, rise from the debris
and shake himself like dog coming
ashore from a swim. While the engi-
neers fastened to repair the breach
he assisted Stransky, who had also
been knocked down by the concus-
sion, to lift the overturned automatic
off the gunner. The doctor, putting a
hand on the gunner's heart, shook his
head, and two hospital-corps men re-
moved the body to make room for the
engineers.
For once Dellarme's CHEEKY smile
deserted him. There was no one left
to man the automatic, so vital in the
defense, and even II somebody could
be found the gun was probably out OF
commission. AS he started toward 1t
his smile, already summoned back,
was shot with surprise at sight OF the
gun in place and stranger In blue
blouse, white hair showing through
crownless straw hat, trying out the
mechanism with knowing fingers. Del
larme stared. Teller, unconscious OF
everything but the gun, righted the
cartridge band, swung the barrel back
and forth, and then fred shot.
"You-you seem to know rapid
firers!" Dellarme exclaimed in blank
incomprehension.
Eyes, sir!" Teller raised his finger,
whether in salute as a soldier or as
a gardener touching his hat 1t was
hard to say.
But how-where?" gasped Del
larme.
This time the movement Of the fin
ger was undoubtedly in salute, In per-
feet, swift, military salute, with head
thrown back and shoulders stiff. Eel
Ter the gardener was dead and buried
without ceremony.
"Lanstron's class, school for Off
GERS, sir. Stood one in ballistics, prize
medallist control Of gun-f1re. Yes, sir,
know something about rapid-irers,"
Teller replied, and fired q few more
shots. "A little high, little low
right, my lady, right"
Stransky was back in his place next
to the automatic and firing whenever
head appeared. He rolled his eyes
in a characteristic squint Of scrutiny
toward the new recruit.
beats spraying rose-bushes for
bugs, Ell, old mani" he asked.
Eyes, a lead solution is best for
gray bugs!" Teller remarked pun
gently, and their glances meeting,
they saw in each others eyes the Joy
of hell.
"A pair of anarchists" exclaimed
Stransky, grinning, and tried shot
for another head.
AS II In answer TO prayer, gum
ner had come out of the earth. SUI
ficient to the need was the fact. 1t
was not for Dellarme to ask questions
of a prize-medallist graduate of the
school for officers in blue blouse and
crownless straw hat. His expert sur
vey assured him that before another
rush the enemy had certain prepare
tions to make. He might give his
fighting smile q recess and permit
himself a few minutes rela4ation.
Looking around to ascertain what
damage had been done to the house
and grounds, he became aware of
Marta's presence for the first time.
Miss Galland, you-you weren't
there during the hghtingr he cried
as he ran toward her.
EYES," she said rather family.
"IfaI had known that l should have
beer scared to DEATH"