Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-11-26
BY this time the colonel command.

BY this time the colonel command.
ing the regiment, who had noticed the
excitement from a distance. appeared.
forcing a gap for his passage through
the crowd with sharp words. He, too,
recognized Lanstron. After they had
shaken hands. the colonel scowled as
he heard the situation explained. with
the old sergeant, still holding fast to
Stransky's collar, a capable and in
sistent witness for the prosecution;
while Stransky. the fire in his eyes
dying. to Goals, stared straight ahead.
1T is only a suggestion. Of course"
said Lanstron, speaking quite as q
spectator to avoid the least indication
Of interference with the colonel's au-
thority, but 1t seems possible that
Stransky has clothed his wrongs in a
garb that could never set well on his
nature II he tried to wear 1t in prac-
tice. He is really an ~individualist. En-
ragged, he would fight well. I should
like nothing better than a force Of
Stranskys II I had to defend a redoubt
in a last stand"
Eyes, he might fight" The colonel
looked hard at Stransky's rigid profile,
with its tight lips and chin as firm as
II cut out Of stone. you never know
who will fight in the pinch, they say
But that's speculation. It's the ex-
ample that l have to deal with"
He is not of the insidious, plotting
type. He spoke his mind openly" sug-
gested Lanstron. "If you give him the
limit Of the law. why, he becomes a
martyr to persecution. / should say
that his remarks might pass for bar
rack-room gassing."
Very WE'LL" said the colonel. taking
the shortest way out Of the difficulty.
1--WE will excuse the first o%ffense."
Eyes, sir!" said the sergeant me-
chanically as he released his grip Of
the offender. 1--WE had two anarchists
in my company in Africa" he observed
in loyal agreement with orders. They
fought like devils. The only trouble
was to keep them from shooting limo
cent natives for sport"
Stransky's collar was still crumpled
on the nape of his neck. He remained
stock-still, staring down the bridge of
his nose. For a full minute he did not
vouchsafe SO much as a glance upward
over the change in his fortunes. Then
he looked around at Lanstron glover
ingly.
Il know who you are!" he said.
you were born in the purple. You
have had education, opportunity, posi-
tion-everything that you and your
kind want to keep for your kind. You
are smarter than the others. Yon
would hang a man with spider webs
instead Of hemp. But l won't fight for
you! No. I wont!"
He threw back his head with a de-
termination in his defiance so intense
that 1t had a certain kind Of dignity
that freed It of theatrical affectation.
Eyes, / was fortunate; but perhaps
nature was not altogether unkind to
YOU" said Lanstron. "In. Napoleonic
times, Stransky, l think you might
even have carried a marshal's baton in
your knapsack."
"You-what rot!" A sort of triumph
played around Stransky's full lips and
his Jaw shot out challengingly. mo,
never against my comrades on the 9th
er side of the border!" he concluded,
his logged stare returning.
Now the colonel gave the order to
fall in; the bugle sounded and the CEN
tipede's legs began to assemble on the
road. But Stransky remained a statue,
his rife untouched on the sward. He
seemed Of a mind to let the regiment
go on without him.
"Stransky. fall In" called the SER
geant.
Still Stransky did not move. A COM
rade picked up the rifle and fairly
thrust It into his hands.
s"Come on. Bert, and knead dough
with the rest Of usl" he whispered.
Come on! Cheer up!" Evidently his
comrades liked Stransky.
mol" roared Stransky. bringing the
rife down on the ground with a heavy
blow.
To BE CoNTINUED)