Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-29
tConSliahk lsK b Charles Sc1ibaefS Sols)
CHAPTER X.

Marta's First Glimpse o. War.
As Marta and the children came to
the door Of the chapel after the reci-
,taticn Of the oath. she saw the civil
population moving along the street In
che direction Of the range. There was
nothing for Marta to do but start
homeward. The thought that her
mother was alone made her hasten at
a pace much more rapid than the pro-
cession Of people. whose talk and ex-
clamations formed q monotone audi
BILE in its nearness. despite the continu-
Gus rife-fire, now broken by the pound
ing Of the guns.
ITS all done 70 beat the Grays. isn't
1t, Miss Galland? They are trying to
take our land" said Jacky Werther
as Marta parted from him.
"Yes. Il IL done to beat the Grays."
she answered. Good luck, Jacky!'
Yes, yes. to beat the Grays! The
same idea-the fighting nsture. the
brute nature Of man-animated both
sides. Had the Browns really tried for
peace? Had they. in the spirit of her
oath, appealed to justice and reason?
Why hadn't their premier before all
the world said to the premier Of the
Grays. ~ ono honest, friendly neigh
Dor to another over q matter Of dis
pute:
We do not want war. We know
ysu outnumber us. but We know you
would not take advantage Of that. II
We are wrong we will make amends;
il you are wrong We know that you
will Let us not play tricks In secret
to gain points, we civilized nations.
but be frank with each other Let us
not try to irritate each other or to in
fluence our people, but to realize how
much We have in common and that
our only purpose Is common progress
and happiness"
At tho turn Of the road In front OF
the castle she saw the gunners Of the
Batteries making an emplacement for
their guns IN Q field Of carrots that
had not yet been harvested. The roots
of golden yellow were mixed with the
tossing spadefuls Of earth.
A shadow like . great cloud in mad
igunners she looked up to see Gray
Idirigible. Already It was turning
lhomeward; already 1t had gained its
object - : scout. On the fragile plat
form Of the gondola was man, SEEM
iingly . human mite aiming tiny toy
gun. His target was ono Of the Brown
aeroplanes.
They're In danger of cutting their
.own envelope! They can't get the an
gle! Tho plano Is too hight" ex.
claimed the artillery commander. Both
he and his men forgot their work in
watching the spectacle Of aerial David
against aerial Goliath. III our man
LANDS with his little bomb, oh. my!-
The grinned. That's why he 10 %
high. He's been waiting up thera"
.Pray God he VIM" exclaimed one
Of the gunners.
Look at him volplane-motor ct
full speed. tool"
Into It! Making sure! Oh, splen-
o." cried tho artillery commander.
A ball Of lightning shot forth sheets
of flame. DinSible and plano were
hidden in an ugly swirl Of yellowish
smoke. rolling out into purple cloud
that spread into prismatic mist orsr
the descent Of cavorting human bodies
and broken machinery and twisted
braces. Tying pieces Of tattered or
burning, cloth. David has taken Goliath
down with him In death grip.
An aerpplane following the dirig1ble
as . screen. hoping to get home with
information II the dirigible were lost,
had escaped the sharpshooters In tho
church tower BY Tying around the
town. However, It ran within range Of
the automatic and the sharpshooters
ON TOP Of the castle tower. They failed
of the buI's-eya. but their bullets. rim.
ming the target. Gripping tho motor.
and cutting braces. brought the cEum-
ping wings about the helpless pilot.
Tho watching gunners uttered "Ahs!"
Of horror ana triumph - they saw him
fall, glidiug this way and that, in the
agony Of slow descent.
Come, now!" called the artillery
commander. I'VE are wasting pre-.
cious time"
Entering tho grounds Of the Galland
house, Marta had to pass to ono side
OF the path. now blocked BY army
wagons and engineer materials and
tools. Soldiers carrying sand-bags
were taking the shortest cut tram
ping tie Aowers on their way.
''Do you know whose property this
is?" she demanded in burst of IN.