Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-25

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"It Looks Like Business" Declared the
Old Sergeant.
to stake, he said, explaining tho rea.
son for what was to be done, as was
his custom. The engineers placed 1t
there after dusk and the frontier was
closed, so that you would know just
where to use your spades in the dark
Quietly IS possible! No talking!S he
kept cautioning as the men turned the
soft earth, and not higher than the
cord. and lay the stubble side Of the
sods on the reverse so as to cover
the fresh earth on the skyline
When the work was done all re.
turned behind the knoll except the
sentries posted at intervals on the
crest to watch. With the aid Of a
small electric fash, screened by his
hands, Dellarme again examined sec
ton of the staff map that outlined the
contour of the knoll in relation to the
other positions. After this he wrote
in his diary the simple facts of the
days events. concluding with senti
ment Of gratitude for the honor
shown his company and a prayer that
his duty if war came on the morrow
Now, every one get all the sleep he
cam" he advised the men.
Stransky slept with his head on his
arm, soundly; the others slept no bet
ter than the men of the 12Sth. The
night passed without any alarm ex.
cept that Of their own thoughts, and
they welcomed dawn as relief from
suspense. There was no hot coffee
this morning. and they washed down
their rations with water from their
canteens. The old sergeant was lying
beside Captain Dellarme on the crest
the sunrise In their faces. AS the mist
cleared from the plain it revealed the
white dots of the frontier posts in the
meadow and behind them many gray
figures in skirmish order, scarcely Wis.
IDLE except through the glasses.
1T looks like business" declared
the old sergeant.
Eyes. it begins the minute they
cross the line!" said Dellarme.
His glance sweeping to the rear to
scan the landscape under the light OF
day, he, recognized. with sense OF
pride and awe, the tactical Importance
Of his company's position in relation
to that Of the Importance of the other
companies. Easily he made out the
regimental line by streaks of con.
cealed trenches and groups OF brown
uniforms; and here and there were
the oblong, cloth stretches of waiting
hospital litters On the reverse slope
Of another knoll was the farmhouse,
marked K on his map as the regimen.
tai headquarters, where he was to
watch for tho signal to fall back from
his first stand in delaying the enemy's
advance. Directly to the rear was the
cut through which the company had
eomefrom the main pass road, and be.
yond that the Galland house, which
was to be tie second stand.
Now Dellarme disposed his men in
line back of the ridge Of fresh earth
that they had dug in the night, ready
to rush to their places when he blew
the whistle that hung from his neck,
but he did not allow them q glimpse
over the crest.
Il know that you are curious, but
powerful glasses are watching for you
to show yourselves; and II a battery
turned loose on NJ you'd understand"
he explained.
Thus the hours wore on, and the
church clock struck nine and ten.
Newer . movement down thereis
called the sergeant from the crest 70
Dellarms. Maybe this u Just their
final blur before they come to terms
about Bodlapoo' stretch Of At
rican Jungle that seemed very far
away to them al.
Let ~ hope io!" said Dellarms
seriously.
=
+, Choosing 70 90 to town by the
castle road rather than down the ter
race TO the main pass road, Marta,
starting for the regular Sunday ser
vice Of her school. - she emerged
from the grounds, saw Teller. garden
shears I'm hand. . figure Of stone
watching tho approach Of some field
batteries. The question Of allowing
him to- undertake his part ~ . spy
had drifted into the background Of her
mind under the distressing and ever.
present pressure Of the crisis. He was
70 remain until there was war. She
iwas almost past him before he real
ised hef presence. which he acknowl-
EDGED 81 startled movement and .
step forward - he took OF his hat
She pahsed. His eyes were glowing
like ooals under . blower % he looked
.at hsrt ana again ct the batteries.
.sssnint q, include her with the guns
in the SMELL OF his forvid abstraction,