Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1914-11-19

II wonder II they are expecting us!
said the judges son a trifie huskily'
In an attempt at humor. though he
was not given to humor.
Just waiting to throw bouquets!'
whispered the laborer's son. He, too,
was not given to humor and he, too,
spoke q tribe huskily.
"And well fix bayonets when we
start and they win run at the sight
of our STEEL" said Eugene Aronson.
He and Hugo alone. not excepting Pill
zer, the butchers son, spoke In their
natural voices. The others were try
ing to make their voices sound natu-
raj, while Pliers voice had devel-
oped q certain ferocity. and the liver
patch on his cheek twitched more fire.
quently. why. Company b IL In
'front.' We have the post Of honor. and
maybe our company will win the most
glory Of any in the regimentl" Eu-
gene added. "Oh. well beat them!
The bullet II not made that win get
mel"
your service VIII be over IN time
for you TO help with the spring plant
Ing. Eugene" whispered Hugo. who
was apparently preoccupisd with many
detached thoughts.
"And you to be ct home sucking
lollipops!" Pilzer growled to Hugo.
THAT would be better than murder
Ing my fellowman to get his property.
Hugo answered, 30 soberly that It did
not seem to his comrades that he was
Joking this time. Pilzer's snarIing ex-
clamation Of white feather!" came in
the midst Of chorus Of indignation.
Captain Fracasse, who had heard
pnly the disturbance without knowing
the cause, interfered in low, sharp
tone:
silence! AS l have told you be-
fore, silence! We don't want them to
know that we are here. Go to sleep!
You may get no rest tomorrow night"
But little Peterkin, the question In
his mind breaking free of his lips, un-
Willingly asked:
"shall-shall we fight in the morn
ingf"
II don't know. Nobody knowaI" an
swered Fracasse. I'VE wait on ORDERS
ready to do our duty. There may be-
no war. Don't let mo hear another
peep from you'll" 4 IN ~ ~.
Now all closed their eyes. In front
Of them was vast silence which
seemed to stretch from end to end Of
the frontier. while TO the rear Was tina
rumble Of switching railway trains
and the rumble Of provision trains and
artillery on the roads, ana In th@ dasr
lance on the plain the headlight Of .
cut q swath In the black
night. But the breathing Of most 0e'
the men was NOT that Of slunbers
though Eugene and Fflxsr~ slept
Hours passed Occasfonaf
restless movements told Of efforts to
force sleep by changing position.
TITS the waiting that's sickeuing!"
exploded the manufacturers son I'M
der his breath, desperately.
$50 I say. I'd like to be at Il and
done with the suspense!" said the
doctors son.
"They say n JON are shot through
The head you don't know what killed
you It's 90 quick. Think Of thatf"
exclaimed Peterkin. budding closer 10
Hugo and Bhivering.
Eyes. very merciful." Hugo whis-
,ered, patting Peterkin's arm.
"Sh-h-h! Silence. l tell you'll" com
handed Fracasse GROSSLY. He was
'alling into half doze at last.
IN marching order, with cartridge
Jokes full. on Saturday night, the SD
II the Browns marched out Of bar
'acks to the main pass road One
after another left the road at |
! given point, bound for the position
mapped in Its instructions. Dellarme's. |
however, went ON until It was oppo-
lite the Galland house.
I'VE are depending on you" the |
colonel said to Dellarme, giving his |
hand a grip. You are not to draw
81 till you get the flag"
mo, sir" Dellarme replied.
Mind the signal to the batteries
Keep the men screened-warn them |
1ot to let their first baptism of shell |
ire break their nervesl" the colonel !
added in a final repetition of instruc- |
ions already indelibly impressed on
he captains mind. /,
Moving cautiously through q cut.
Dellarme's company came, about mid
hight, to a halt among the stubble Of
/ wheat-ield behind q knoll. After
he had hidden the men to break ranks.
be crept up the incline.
Eyes, it's therel" he whispered when
he returned. "on the crest Of the
knoll a cord is stretched from stake
10 stake" he said. explaining the rea-
Son for what was to be done, as was
he aes~kar.n r1narsH A