Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-12-16
CHAPT %.
Ten Yeara

His Excellency the chief OF staff of
the Grays was seldom in his office. His
Excellency had years, rank, prestige
The breast OF his uniform sagged with
the weight OF his decorations. He ap-
peared for the army at great func-
tons; his picture was in the shop
windows. Hedworth Westerling, the
new vice-chief OF staff, was content
with this arrangement. His years
would not permit him the supreme
honor. This was for a figurehead, while
he had the power.
His appointment to the STAFF ten
years ago had given him the field he
wanted, the capital itself, for the play
or his abilities. His vital energy, his
impressive personality. his gift for
counting the influences that counted.
whether mans or woman's, his astute
readiness in STOPPING to some meas
ures that were In keeping with the
times but not with army precedent.
had won for him the goal OF his ambi-
ton. He had passed over the heads OF
older men. whom many thought his
betters, rather ruthlessly. Those who
would serve loyalty he drew around
him; those who were bitter he crowd
ed out of his way.
In the adjoining room. occupied by
Westerling, the walls were hung with
the silhouettes OF lnfantrymen. such
as you see at maneuvers. in different
positions OF firing, crouchinR in shall
low trenches, standing in deep
trenches. or lying fat on the stomach
on level earth. Another silhouette.
that OF an infantryman running. was
peppered with white points in arms
and legs and parts of the body that
were not vital. to show in how many
places a man may be hit with a small
caliber bullet and still survive.
In this day OF universal European
conception, If Westerling were to win
in war II would be With five millions
five hundred thousand more than when
he faced d young Brown officer over
the wreck OF an aeroplane-includin
the reserves; each man running. firing
crouchinS, as was the figure on the
wall, and trying TO give more OF the
white points that peppered the sill
houette than he received.
Now Turcas. the assistant yice-chief
of stan, and Bouchard. chief OF the di.
vision OF intelligence. standing on
either side OF Westerling's deck. await.
ed his decisions on certain matters
which they had brought to his atten.
ton. Both we're older than Wester-
ling, Turcas by ten and Bouchard by
fifteen years
Turcas had been strongly urged in
inner army circles for the place that
Westerling had won. but his manner
and his ability to court influence were
against him. lath OF man and stiff
az lath. pale. with thin. tightly.drawn
lips, quiet, steelgray eyes. a tracery OF
blue veins showing on his full temples.
he suggested the ascetic no loss than
the soldier while his incisive brevitv
Of speech, Favored now and then with
pungent humOr. without any infection
In his dry voice. was I'm Keeping with
his appearance. lie arrived with the
clerks In the morning and frequently
remained after they were gone AS a
master Of detail Westerling regarded
him as an invaluable assistant. with
certain limitations, which were those
Of the Digeonhole and the treadmUu
As for Bouchard. nature had meant
him 20 be a wheelhorsa. He had never
bad any hope OF being chief OF staa