The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-12-11


cynicism. Dellarme still hesitated.
recollecting Ianstron's remark He
pictured Stransky in n last stand In "A
redoubt. aLd every soldier was -
precious 10 him as a piece OF gold To
a miser.
zone ought to be enough TO kill me
II you're going TO do II To slow music,
said Stransky. "You might as well
Kill me as the poor fools that your
poor fools are trying to"
Another breath finished the speech:
breath released from ball that
seemed 10 have come straight from
hell. The fire control officer OF regi.
ment OF Gray artillery on the plain.
scanning the landscape for the origin
OF the rine-fire which was leaving
many fallen In the wake OF the charge
OF the Gray infantry. had seen figure
on the knoll. How kind Thank
you!" his thought spoke faster than
words. No need OF range-fndingl
The range 10 every possible battery
or infantry position around La Tir
was already marked on his map. Tie
passed the word TO his guns.
The burst OF thetr first shrapnel.
shell blinded all three actors In the
scene on the crest OF tho knoll with
Its ear-splitting crack and the force Of
It's conclusion threw Stransky down
beside the sergeant. Dellarme. as his
vision cleared. had Just time TO see
Stransky jerk his hand up TO his tenn
pie. where there was red spot, be-
fore another shell burst. a little TO
the rear. This was harmless. as n
shrapners shower OF fragments and
bullets carry forward from the point
OF explosion. But the next burst In
front OF the line. The doctors period
or idleness was over. One mans rifle
shot up as his spine was broken by a
Jagged piece OF shiapnel Jacket Now
there were too many shells to watch
them individually.
IT'S all right-all right, men!" Del
larme called again. assuming lis
CHEEKY smile. 1T takes a lot OF shrap-
mel to kill anybody. Our batteries will
soon answer!"
His voice was unheard. yet its spir-
II was felt. The men knew through
their training that there was no use
OF lodging and that their best protec-
ton was an accurate fire OF their own.
Stransky had half risen, n new kind
OF savagery dawning on his features
as he regained his wits. with in
verted eyes he regarded the red ends
OF his fingers. held in line with tho
bridge OF his nose lie felt OF the
wound again. now that he was less
dizzy. IL was only n scratch and he
had been knocked down like beef In
an abattoir by nm unseen enemy. on
whom he could not lay handsl Deaf.
eningly, the shrapnel jackets con.
tinued TO crack with "ukungs
ukung- as the swift breath OF the
shrapnel missiles spread Tho guns
OF one battery OF that Gray regiment
OF artillery. each firing six I4-pound
shells minute methodically. every
shell loaded with nearly two hundred
proJectiles. were giving thciE.-S ,divid-
ed attention to the knoll.
How long could his company endure
this? Dellarme might well ask. He
knew that he would not be expected
to withdraw yet With q sense Of re-
lief no saw Fracasse's men drop for
cover at the base OF the knoll and
then. expectation fulfilled. he realized
that riile-fire now reinforced the enc.
my's shell fire. His duty was TO re-
main while he could hold his men.
and a feeling toward them such as ne
had never felt before, which was love,
sprang full-nedged into his heart as he
saw how steadily they kept up their
fusillade
Stransky, eager In response TO a
new passion, sprang forward into
place and picked up his rife.
III you will not have II my way,
take II yoursl" said the best shot in
the company. as he began firing with
resolute coolness.
They have a lot OF men down." said
Deiarme. his glasses showing the
many PROSTATE figures on tho wheat
stubble. STEADY! steady We have
plenty OF batteries back In tho hills.
One will be In action soon"
(To BE coNTINUED)