Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-09-03
THE LAST SHOT
By FREDERICK PALMER

ing around Str22ak., and in the front
rank was Grandfather Fragini.
Said our flag was no better'n any
other flag. did ho?" rired the old man.
BEAT him to pulp That's what the
Hussars would have dore."
"If you don't mind telling 1t in pub
lie, Stransky. I Should like to know
your origin" said Larstrcn, prenared
to be as considerate of an anarchists 8
private feelings as of anybodys.
Stransky squinted his eyes down the
bony bridge CT lis nose and grinned
sardonically.
That won't take Lens" ho answered.
"My father, so far as ooc.i identify
him, died in jail end my mother OF
drink"
THAT was hardly to the purple!" OBJ
served Lanstron thoughtfully.
NO. to the red!" answered STRANGELY
savagely.
Il mean that 1t was hardly inclined
to make you take a roseate view of life
as q beautiful thing in a well-ordeTed
world where favors of fortune are
evenly distributed" continued Ian
stron.
Rather to make me rejoice in the
hope Of new order of things-the
recreation of society" Stransky ut.
tered the sentiment with the trium.
phant pride of a pupil who knows his
textbook thoroughly.
BY this time the colonel command
ing the regiment, who had noticed the
excitement from q distance, appeared,
forcing a gap for his passage through
the crowd with sharp words. He, too,
recognized Lanstron. After they had
shaken hands. the colonel scowled as
he heard the situation explained, with
the old sergeant, still holding fast to
Stransky's collar, a capable and in
sistent witness for the prosecution;
while Stransky, the fire in his eyes
dying to Goals. stared straight ahead.
ut Is only a suggestion, of course, {"
said Lanstron, speaking quite as a
spectator to avoid the least indication
Of interference with the colonel's au-
thortty, but 1t seems possible that
Stransky has clothed his wrongs in a
garb that could never set we'll on his
nature II he tried to wear 1t in prac-
tice. He is really an individualist. En-
ragged, he would fight we'll | should
like nothing better than a force of
Stranskys II l had to defend a redoubt
In last stand"
SVna hn i1h A-As
looked hard at stransky's rigid profile,
with its tight lips and chin as firm as
If cut out OF stone You never know
who will fight in the pinch, they say.
But that's speculation. It's the ex-
ample that have to deal with"
He Is not OF the insidious, plotting
type. He spoke his mind openly" sug-
gested Lanstron. IF you give him the
limit Of the law, why, he becomes q
martyr to persecution. l should say
that his remarks might pass for bar
rack-room gassing."
Very WELL" said the colonel, taking
the shortest way out Of the difficulty.
I'VE will excuse the first offense."
Yes, sir!" said the sergeant me-
chanically as he released his grip OF
the offender. I'VE had two anarchists
in my company in Africa" he observed
in loyal agreement with orders. They
fought like devils. The only trouble
was to keep them from shooting inno-
cent natives for sport"
Stranskys collar was still crumpled
on the nape Of his neck. He remained
stock-still, staring down the bridge of
his nose. For full minute he did not
vouohsafe so much as a glance upward
over the change in his fortunes. Then
he looked around at Lanstron glover
ingfy.
Il know who you are!" he said.
You were born in the purple. You
have had education. opportunity, posi-
tion-everything that you and your
kind want to keep for your kind. You
are smarter than the others. You
would hang a man with spider webs
instead of hemp. But l won't fight for
you! No, won't!"
He threw back his head with a de-
termination in his defiance 30 intense
that 1t had certain kind of dignity
that freed 1t of theatrical affectation.
Yes, was fortunate; but perhaps
nature was not altogether unkind to
you" said Lanstron. I'm Napoleonic
times, Stransky, think you might
even have carried marshal's baton in
your knapsack"
You-what roti" A sort of triumph
played around Stransky's full lips and
his Jaw shot out challengingly. No.
never against my comrades on the 9TH
er side Of the border!" he concluded,
his logged stare returning.
Now the colonel gave the order TO
fan in; the bugle sounded and the CEN
tipede's legs began to assemble on the
road. But Stransky remained q statue,
his rife untouched on the sward. He
seemed of a mind to let the regiment
90 on without him.
"Stransky. fall in!" called the ser
geant.
Still stransky did not move. A com.
rade picked up the rifle and fairly
thrust It into his hands.
Come on, Bert, and knead dough
with the rest Of usl" he whispered.
Come onI Cheer up!" Evidently his