Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-12-02
CHAPTER xII-cOntInusd.

But she hurried on. impelIed by she
knew not what. through the dining
room. and. coming to the veranda.
stopped short. with dilating eyes and
"a cry OF grievous shock. Two OF his
men were carrying Dellarme back
from the breastwork. where they had
caught him In their arms as Re fell.
They laid him gently on the sward
with a knapsack under his head. His
face grew whittier with the flow of
blood from the red hole In the right
breast OF his blouse. Then he opened
his lips and whispered to the doctor:
"How is it?" Something in his eyes.
in the tone Of that faint question, re-
quired the grace OF soldiers truth
in answer.
Bad" said the doctor.
Then, good.byl" And his head fell
TO one side, his lips set in his CHEEKY
smile.
His company was a company with
his smile out of its heart and In its
place blank despair. Many of the men
had stopped firing. Some had even
run back TO look at him and stood,
caps on, backs to the enemy, mlser-
able in their grief Others leaned
against the parapet. rifles out OF hand,
staring and dazed.
They have killed our captaini-
They've killed our captain l"-still
a captain TO them. A generals stars
could not have raised him cublt in
their estimation.
And once we called him Baby Del.
liarme. he was so young and bashfull
Him bahy7 He was kingi"
Men. get to your plaeesl" cried the
surviving lieutenant rather hopelessly.
with no Dellarme TO show him what
to do, and Marta saw that few paid
any attention TO him.
In that minute Of Generalization the
Grays had their chance. but only for a
minute. A voice that seemed to speak
some uncomfortable thought OF her
own broke in. and II rang with the au.
thority and leadership OF mature of.
hcer's command, even though coming
from a gardener in bike blouse and
lcrownless straw hat.
Your rifles, your RI fies, quick!"
called Teller. Were only beginning
10 fghtl"
Aid then another voice In bull
roar, Stransky's
"Avenge his deathi They've got to
kill the last man of us for killing him,
Revengel Revengel"
That cry brought back to the com,
pany all the lighting spirit OF the
CHEEKY smile and with Il another spirit
for Deilarme's sake!-which he had
never taught them.
Stransky picked up one OF several
cylindrical objects that were lying at
his feet
He wouldn't use this--he was too
soft-hearted-hut | Wilt" he cried. and
flung a hand-grenade, and then a sec.
ond. over the breastwork The explo-
sions we're followed by agonized
groans from the Grays hugging the
lower side of the terrace. For this
they had crawled across the road in
the night-to find themselves unable
10 move either way and directly under
the flashes of the Browns rifles.
Feller's and Stransky's shouts rose
together in a peculiar unity OF direc-
tion and full OF the fellowship they
had found in their first exchange OF
glances.
You engineers, make reedvw
"Hand-grenades TO the n,ea under
the treel That's where they're going
TO try for it--no wall TO climb over
therel"
you engineers, take your rifles
and bayonet Into anything that wears
gray"
Get back, you luen by the tree, to
avoid their hand-g anades! Form ur
behind them, every bodyl"
no matter IL they do get in At first!
Back. you men, from under the treel'
There was not single riie-shot. In
a silence like that before the word tc
fire In a duel, all orders were heard
and the more readily obeyed because
Dellarmes foresight had impressed
their sense upon the men in his quiei
way.
The sand-bags by the tree wer,
blown up by the Grays. Then, before
tine dust had hardly settled, came
half score OF hand-grenades thrown b,
the first men Of Gray wedge, scram
bling as they were pushed through
the breach by the pressure of TIL
mass behind. In that hnal struggl'
OF one set Of men TO gain and anothe
20 bold position, guns or automatic
or longrange bullets played no parl
n was the grapp'e Of Geld steel 'sitl
cold steel and muscle with muscle, Il
tbs hiiiowtn6 twisting mob 0. w'res