The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1914-10-23

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 1t revealed the
white dots Of the frontier posts in the
meadow and behind them many gray
figures IN skirmish order, scarcely Wis
ible except through the glasses.
1T looks like business!" declared
the old sergeant.
"Yes, 1t 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-
eealed 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
come from the main pass road, and be-
yond that the Galland house, which
| was to be the 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 a glimpse
over the crest.
II know that you are curious, but
powerful glasses are watching for you
to show yourselves; and If battery
turned loose on US you'd understand"
he explained.
Thus the hours wore on, and the
church clock struck nine and ten.
Never movement down there!"
called the sergeant from the crest to
Dellarme. Maybe this is just their
final bluff before they come to terms
about Bodlapoo''-that stretch Of At
rican jungle that seemed very far
away to them all.
Let us hope sol" said Dellarme
seriously.
I Choosing to go 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, as she emerged
from the grounds, saw Feller, garden
shears in hand, a. figure of stone
watching the approach Of some field
batteries. The question Of allowing
him to undertake his part as spy
had drifted into the background of her
mind under the distressing and ever.
present pressure of the crisis. He was
to remain until there was war. She
was almost past him before he real
lied her presence, which he acknowl
edged by startled movement and q
step forward as he took off his hat
She paused. His eyes were glowing
like Goals under blower as he looked
at her and again at the batteries
seeming to include her with the guns
in the spell of his fervid abstraction
Frontier closed last night to pre-
vent intelligence about our prepara
= tions leaking out-Lanny's plan al
alive-the guns coming" he said, hi:
shoulders stiffening, his chin drawing
in, his features resolute and beamins
with the ardor of youth in action
troops moving here and there to theii
places-engineers preparing the de
. fenses-automatic at critical points
: with the infantry-feld-wires laid
field-telephones set up-the wireless
spitting-the caissons full-planes ant
!, dirigibles ready-search-lights in pc
sition-"
There the torrent OF his broken ser
tences was checked A shadow passe'
in front of him. He came out, Of hi
j. trance of imageries Of activities, s.
s vividly clear to his military mind, t
I realize that Marta was abruptly leay
s ing. r,
t Miss Galland!" he called urgently
|. "Firing may commence at any mir
. ute. You must not 90 into town!"
Q "But mustl" she declared, speal
Q ing over her shoulder while sh
9 passed. It was clear that no warnin
II would prevail against her determine
mood, (. sf1 &&
}. "Then shall 60 with you'll" he sale
q starting toward her with light stel
e 1T is not necessary, thank you!
4 she answered. more coldly than sh
a had ever spoken to him. This had
!. magically quick effect on his att
"a Itude.
e II beg your pardonl forgot!" b
q Explained In his old mans voice, hi
q head sinking, his shoulders droopin
1. I'm the humility Of a servant who re-
n ognizes that he has been properly r
nj Ibuked for presumption. mot gul
u ner any more--I'm a spy!' he though
! las he shuffled Off without lookin
y toward the batteries again, though til