Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-12-24
TheLastShot
FREDERICK PALMER
tcooydsht. 1914 by Charles scIbaer. sooS

we know is what is written In our in
structions. and We shall act on them
when the thing starts. Then We are
in command. Meanwhile. get ready!"
Then the major became aware OF q
young woman who was going in the
wrong direction. Her cheeks were
flushed from her rapid walk. her lips
were parted. showing firm, white
teeth, and her black eyes were re-
garding him In a blaze of satire or
amusement: an emotion, whatever 1t
was, that thoroughly conferred his at
tention.
"Mademoiselle, I am very sorry. but
unless you live In this direction" he
said very politely, you may not go any
farther. Until we have other orders
or they attack every one is supposed
to remain in his house or his place OF
business"
This Is my place Of business!"
Marta answered, for she was already
opposite a small, disused chapel which
was her schoolroom, where a hall
dozen Of the faithful children were
gathered around the masculine impor-
lance of Jacky werther, me Of the
older boys.
Then you are Miss Galland!" said
the major, enlightened. His smile had
an appreciation Of the irony Of her &C.
cupation at that moment. Your chill
dren are very loyal. They would not
tell me where they lived, so We had
to let them stay there"
Those who have homes" she said,
Identifying each one Of the faithful
with a glance, have SO many broth
ers and sisters that they will hardly
be missed from the flock. Others
have no homes-at least not much Of a
one"-here her temper rose again
taxes being SO high in order that you
may organize murder and the destruc-
ton Of property"
Nov really, Miss Galland." he be-
gan s%olicitously, Il have been assigned
to move the civil population in cast of
attack. Your children ought"
After school! You have your duty
this morning and l have mine!" Marta
interrupted pleasantly. and turned
toward the chapel.
They are putting sharpshooters in
the church tower to get the aero
planes, and there are lots Of the little
guns that fire bullets SO fast you can't
count 'em-and little spring wagons
with dynamite to blow things up
and" Jacky Werther ran on in a
series of vocal explosions as Marta
opened the door to let the children
go in.
yet you camel" said Marta with a
hand ~caressingly on his shoulder.
1T looks pretty bad for peace. but
we came" answered Jacky, round
eyed, in loyalty. Wed come right
through bullets cause. we said we
would IL we wasn't sick, and we wasn't
sick"
MY seven disciples-seven!" ex-
claimed Marta as she counted them.
And you need not sit on the regular
seats, but around me on the platform.
II will be more intimate"
That's grand" came In chorus.
They did not bother about chairs. but
seated themselves on the floor around
Martais skirts.
The church clock doomed out It's de-
Eberate strokes through ten, the hour
set for the lesson, and all counted
them-one-two-three. Marta was
thinking what a dismal little effort
theirs was, and yet she was very hap
by, tremblingly happy in her distrac-
ton and excitement, that they had not
waited for her at the door Of the
chapel in vainI
. She announced that there would be
no talk this morning; they would only
say their oath. Repeating in concert
the pledge to the boys and girls of
other lands, the childish voices pecu-
liarly sweet and harmonious in CON
trast to the raucous and Uneven
sounds Of foreboding from the street,
they came in due course to the words
Of the concession that the oath made
to militancy:
IF an enemy tries to take my
land"
YChildren-I- Marta interrupted
with a sense Of wonder and shock.
They paused and looked at her ques-
tioningly. 81 had almost forgotten
that partl" she breathed c%onfusedly.
That's the part that makes all
we're doing against the Grays right"
put in Jacky Werther promptly.
AS I wrote it for you! I shall ap-
peal to his sense Of justice and reason
with him"
Jaws dropped and eyes bulged. for
above the sounds Of the street ros
from the distance the unmistakable
cracking Of rife fire which. as they
listened, spread and increased in vol
ume.
Go on-on to the end Of the oath!
II will take only a moment" said
Marta resolutely. 1T isn't much, but
it's the best we a dol"
CHAPTER TX.