Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-10-19
THE LAST SHOT
By FREDERICK PALMER
IContinued.l
Copyright. 1919. by Charles Scribner'@ Sons.

/
You are the real general! YOU"
mot that, pleased" she broke In.
I'm as foul and depraved as a dealer
in subtle poisons In the middle ages!
Oh, the shame OF 1t, while look into
bis eyes and feign admiration, feign
everything which will draw out his
plans! l can never forget the sight
of him as he told me how two or three
or four hundred thousand men were
to be crowded into q ram, as he called
it-a ram of human fiesh!-and guns
enough in support, he said, to tear any
redoubts to pieces; guns enough to
make their shells as thick as the bull
let's from an automatic"
We'll meet ram with ram! WeIf
have some guns. too" exclaimed Ian
stron. Well send as heavy a shell
fire at their infantry as they send into
our redoubts."
Don't. It's too like Westerling. 1t
has become too trite!" she protested.
1.-THE end! If I really were helping
country to its people, what would my
private feelings matter? My honor,
my soul-what would anything mat.
ter? For that. any sacrifice. I'm
only one human being-a weak. luna
tic sort of one, just now!"
Marta, don't suffer SO! You are
overwrought. YOU"
"I can say all that for you, Lanny,"
she interrupted with the faintest laugh
I've eaid 1t so many times to myself.
Perhaps when ! call you up again I
shall not be so hysterical"
Lanstron was not thinking of war or
wars combination when he hung up
the receiver. 1t was some moments
before he returned to the staff room.
and then he had mastered his emo
ton. He was the soldier again.
An hour or so before the attack the
telegraph instruments in the Galland
house had become pregnantly silent.
There were no more orders to give;
no more reports to come from tbs
troops In position until the assault was
made. officers of supply ceased to
transmit routine matters over the wire,
while they strained their eyes toward
the range. Officers of the staff moved
about restlesely, glancing at their
watches and going to the windows fire.
quently to see IL the mist STILL held.
No one entered the library where
Westerling was seated alone with
nothing to do. His suspense was that
of the mothers who longed for news
of their sons at the front; his helpless
ness that of man in a hospital lobby
waiting on the result of an operation
whose success or failure will save or
wreck bis career. The physical desire
of movement, the conflict with some
thing in his own mind, drove him out
of doors.
Westerling was rather pleased with
the fact that he could still smile;
pleased with the loyalty Of younger
officers when, day by day, the staff
had grown colder and more me-
chanical In the attitude that COM
pleted his isolation. Walking vigor-
ously along the path toward the tower,
the exercise of his muscles, the feel
of the cool, moist air on his face,
brought back some of the buoyancy of
spirit that he craved. A woman's fig
ure, with cape thrown over the shoul-
ders and the head bare, loomed out OF
the mist.
u couldn't stay in-not tonight"
Marta said as Westerling drew near.
II had to see It's only quarter of
an hour now, isn't it?"
She seemed 80 utterly frail and
distraught that Westerling, In an i'm
pulse Of protection, laid his hand on
her relaxed shoulders.
Our cause is at stake tonight" he
declared. yours and mine! We must
win, you and 1! It is our deetiny!"
you and II" repeated Marta why
you and II"
1t seemed very strange to be think
ing Of any two persons when hundreds
of thousands were awaiting the signal
for the death prepared by him. He
mistook the character Of her thought
in the obsession of his egoism.
What do lives mean?" he cried with
sudden desperation, his grip of her
shoulders tightening. ut is the law
Of nature for man to fight. Unless he
fights he goes to seed. One trouble
with our army is that 1t was soft from
the want Of war. 1t is the law of ma
ture for the fittest to survive! Other
sons will be born to take the place of
those who die tonight. There will be
all the more room for those who live.
Victory will create new opportunities.
| What is a million out of the billions
on the face Of the earth? Those who
lead alone count--those who dwell in
the atmosphere OF the peaks, as we
do!" The pressure of his strong hands
in the unconscious emphasis of his
passion became painful; but she did
not protest or try to draw away, think
ing of his hold In no personal sense
but as a part of his self-revelation. "All
all is at stake there!" he continued,
staring toward the range. "It's the
Rubicon! l have put my career on to-
nights cast! Victory means that the
world will be at our feet-honor, po-
sition, power greater than that of any
other two human beings! Do you
realize what that means-the honor
| and the pow~r 49, ~ ~ ours? |