The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-11-28

BY this time the colonel command
ing the regiment, who had noticed the
excitement from a 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 - his eyes
dying to Goals, stared straight ahead.
1T is only a suggestion. of course,
said Lanstron, speaking quite as
spectator to avoid the least indication
of interference with the colonePs au-
thority, but 1t seems possible that
Stransky has clothed his wrongs In
garb that could never set we'll on his
nature if he tried to wear 1t in prac-
tice. He is really an indiyidualist. En-
ragged he would fight well. l should
like nothing better than a force OF
Stranskys if had TO defend redoubt
in last stand"
Yes, he might fight" The colonel
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
martyr to persecution. l should say
that his remarks might pass for bar
rack-room gassing."
Very WE'LL" said the colonel. taking
! the shortest way out of the diihculty.
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 limo
cent natives for sport"
Stransky's collar was still crumpled
on the nape of his neck. He remained
stock-still, staring down the bridge OF
his nose. For a full minute he did not
vouchsafe so much as a glance upward
over the change in his fortunes. Then
he looked around at Lanstron glover
ingly.
81 know who you are!" he said
You we're 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 fol
you! No. WON'T"
He threw back his head with a de
termination in his defiance so intense
: that it had a certain kind Of dignity
that freed it of theatrical affectation-
Eyes, l was fortunate; but perhaps
nature was not altogether unkind II
. you," said Lanstron. In Napoleoni'
times, Stransky, l think you might
even have carried a marshal's baton II
your knapsack."
"You-what rot" A sort OF triumph
played around Stransky's full lips ant
his Jaw shot out challengingly. mo
never against my comrades on the 9th
: er side of the border!" he concluded
4 his logged stare returning.
Now the colonel gave the order t.
" fall in; the bugle sounded and the cen
,, tipede's legs began to assemble on tn
road. But Stransky remained statue
his rifle untouched on the sward- III
seemed of a mind to let the regimen
=. go on without him.
"Stransky. fall I'M" called the sci
4 geant.
q Still Stransky did not move. A com
A rade picked up the rife and fairl'
O thrust 1t into his hands.
l. Come on, Bert, and knead doug
with the rest Of us!" he whispered
q Come on! Cheer up!" Evidently hi
q comrades liked Stransky.
t. mol" roared Stransky, bringing tn
l. rife down on the ground with heav
q blow.
TO BE CONTINUED)