Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-10-13
CHAPTER XXI.
The Last Shot.

NIISo Sollohu'
 Blinking as she came out of the darkness into the bright light. with a lock of her dew-sprinkled dark hair free and brushing her flushed cheek, Marta saw the division chiefs of the Browns, after their start when Lan' stron spoke her name, all stand at the salute, looking at her rather than at him. The reality in the flesh of the woman who had been comrade in service, sacrificing her sensibilities for their cause, appealed to them as a true likeness of their conceptions of her. In their eyes she might read the finest thing that can pass from mans to womans or from mans to mans. These were the strong men Of her peo- ple who had driven the burglar from her house with the sword of justice. Their tribute had the steadfast loyalty of soldiers who were craving to do anything in the world that she might ask, whether to go on their knees to her or to kill dragons for ner.
 q may come in?" she asked.
 "Who if not you is entitled to the privilege of the staff council?" ex- claimed Hle vice-chief.
 The others did not propose to let him do all the honors. Each mur- mured words of welcome on his own account.
 eve are here, thanks to you!"
 And, thanks to you, our flag will float over the Gray range!"
 She must be tired, was their next thought. Four or five of them hurried to place a chair for her, the vice-chief winning over his rivals, more through the exercise of the rights of rank than by any superior alacrity.
 You are appointed actual chief of staff and a field marshall" said the yice-chief to Lanstron. "The premier says that every honor the nation can bestow is yours. The capital is mad. The crowds are crying: On to the Gray capital!' Tomorrow is to be public holiday and they are calling it Lanstron Day. The thing was so sudden that the spectators who de- pressed our securities in the worlds markets have got their due-ruin! And we ought to get an indemnity that will pay the cost of the war"
 Seated at one side, Marta could watch all that passed, herself unob- served. She noted a touch of color come to Lanstron's cheeks as he made a little shrug of protest.
 Then she saw their faces grow busi- nesslike and keen, as they gathered around the table, with Lanstron at the head. They were oblivious of her presence, immured in mans world of war.
 "Your orders were obeyed. We have not passed single white post yeti" said the vice-chief impatiently As the Grays never expected to take the defensive, their fortresses are in- ferior. Every hour we wait means more time for them to fortify, more time to recover from their demorall. zation. Our dirigibies having com mand of the air-we had a wireless from one reporting all clear halfway to the Gray capital-why, we shall know their concentrations while they are ignorant of ours. It's the nations great opportunity to gain enough provinces to even the balance of popu lation with the Grays. With the unre- hitting offensive, blow on blow, using the spirit of our men to drive in mass attacks at the right points, the Gray range is ours!"
 Marta scanned the faces of the staff for some sign of dissent only to find nothing but the ardor of victory call ing for more victory, which reflected the feeling of the coursing crowds in the capital. Though Lanny wished to stop the war, he was only a chip on the crest of a wave. Public opinion which had made him an idol, would discard him as soon as he ceased to be hero in the likeness of it's desires She saw him aloof as the others, in preoccupation, bent over the map out lining the plan of attack that they had worked out while awaiting their
  was taking a paper from his pocket and looking from one to another of his colleagues studiously; and she was conscious of that determination in his smile which she had first seen when he rose from the wreck of his plane.
 This is from Partow: a message for you and the naton," he s,l- nounced, as he spread few thin, type written pages out on the table. "I was under promise never to reveal Its contents unless our army drove the Grays back across the frontier. The original is in the staff vaults. I have carried this copy with me-"
 At the mention in an arresting tone or that name of the dead chief, to which the days events had given the prestige of one of the heroes of old, there was grave attention.
 T think we have practically agreed that the two individuals who were in- |