Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-12-02
CHAPTER XIII.
From Brown to Gray

From Brown to Gray.
you, Marta--you are still thereI"
Lanstron exclaimed in alarm when he
heard her voice over the tunnel tele-
phone. but safe!" he added in re-
lief. Thank God for that! It's a
mighty load of my mind. And your
mother?"
Safe, too"
"Well, you're through the worst of
IT, There won't be any more fighting
around the house, and certainly West
erling will be courteous. But where
is Gustave?"
"Gonel"
"Gone" he repeated dismally.
wait until you hear how he went, "
Marta said With all the yividness of
her impressions, partisan for the mo-
ment of him and Dellarme. she
sketched FelleF's part with the auto
matte.
AS he listened. Lanstron's spirit was
twenty again.
81 can see him." he said. "It was a
full breath CT fresh air to the lungs
of a suffocating man. T."
Marta was of in interruption in the
full tide of an appeal.
you muet--I promised-you must
let him have the uniform againl" she
begged. you must let him keep his
automatic TO take 1t away would
be like separating mother and child;
like separating Minna from Clarissa
Eileen"
Better than an automatic--a bat.
terry of guns!" replied Lanstron. This
is where win use any influence l
have with Partow for all it is worth.
Yes, and he shall have the iroa cross.
It is for such deeds as his that the
iron cross was meant"
"Thauk YOU" she said. ITS worth
something to make man as happy as
you will make him. Yes, you are real
flesh ana blood to do this. Lanny."
Her point won with surprising ease,
when she had feared that military
form and law could not be circum-
vented, she leaned against the wall
In reaction. For twenty-four hours
she had been without sleep. The in
terest OF her appeal for Teller had
kept up her strength after the excite
ment Of the fight for the redoubt was
over Now there seemed nothing left
to do.
That's fine Of you, Lannyi" she
said. you've taken IL like a good
stole, this loss of your thousandth
chance. You really believed in it,
didn't you?'
Forgotten already, like the many
other thousandth chances that have
failed" he replied cheerfully "one
OF the virtues of Partows steel au.
donations is that. being fearless as
well as passionless. they never cry
over split milk. And now" he went
on soberly. I'VE must be saving good
by"
"Good-by. Lanny? Why. what do
you mean?" She was startled.
Till the war is over" he said. land
longer than that, perhaps. II La Tir
remains in Gray territory"
You speak as If you thought you
were going to losel"
Not while many OF our soldiers are
alive. IL they continue to show the
spirit that they have shown so far:
not unless two men can crush one
man in the automatic-gun-reeoil age
/ But la Tir is In tangent and already
In the Grays' possession, while we act
/ on the defensive. So | should hardly
be flying over your garden again"
But there's the telephone. Lanny
and here we are talking over 1t this
very minute," she expostulated
You must remove it, he said. III
the Grays should discover 1t they
might form suspicion that would put
you in an unpleasant position"
The telephone had become almost {
familiar institution in her thoughts
Its secret had something OF the fasci
nation for her OF magic.
'Nonsense!" she exclaimed. II an
going to be very lonely. want L
learn how Teller is doing-I want L
chat With you. So decide not TO le
It be taken out, And. you see. hav'
the tactl,al situation. as you soldiers
call il, IA in my favor. The worl
of removal must be done at my enC
Of the line, You're quite helpless Il
enforce our wishes. And. Lanny, 1
rins ,ae bell youn answer. won
your"
Il couldn't help At" he replied.
Until thenl You've been fine abou
everything todRyi"
Until theni"
When Marta LEFT the tower she knew
only that she was weary with tn
mind-weariness. the hody-weariness