The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1914-12-25

{ II
n Want to See an End Of the Killing"
her along the tunnel to the telephone,
she set down the lantern and pressed
the spring that opened the panel door.
Another moment and she would be en-
barked on her great adventure In the
flnality Of action. That little ear-piece
became a specter Of conscience. She
drew back convulsively and her hands
flew to her face; she was q rocking
shadow in the thin, reddish light or
the lantern.
Conscious mind had torn on the
mask from subconscious mind, reveal
ing the true nature Of the change that
war had wrought in her. She who had
resented Feller's part-what part
she had been playing! Every word,
every shade Of expression, every tell
ing pause of abstraction after Wester-
ling confessed that he had made war
for his own ends had been. subtly
prompted by purpose whose actuality
terrified her.
Her hypocrisy, she realized, was as
| black as the wall Of darkness beyond
the lanterns gleam. Then this demor-
alization passed, as nightmare
passes, with Westerlings boast again
in her ears.
When wars principles, enacted by
men, were based on sinister trickery
called strategy and tactics, should not
women. using such weapons as they
had, also fight for their homes? Mar
ta's hands swept down from her eyes;
she was on fire with resolution.
Forty miles away bell in Lam
stron's bedroom and at his desk rang
simultaneously. At the time ne ano
Partow were seated facing each other
across a map on the table Of the room
where they worked together. No per
suasion of the young vice-chief, nc
edict Of the doctors, could make the
old chief take exercise or shorten his
hours.
"I know. / know myself" he said
"I know my duty. And you are learn
ing, my boy, learning!"
Every day the flabby cheeks grew
pastier and the pouches under the eye
brows heavier. But there was M
dimming Of the eagle flashes OF thu
eyes, no weakening Of the will. Las
night Lanstron had turned as whit
as chalk when Partow staggered OF
rising from the table, the veins on hi
temples knotted blue whip-cords. Ye
after few hours sleep he reappeare'
with firm step, fresh for the fray.
The paraphernalia around these tw
was the same as that around Westei
ling. Only the atmosphere OF the stal
was different. Each man was perform
ing the part set for him. No man kneN
much Of any other mans part. Parto'
alone knew all, and Lanstron was try
ing to grasp all and praying that Pa
tow's old body should etill feed hi
mind with energy. Lanstron was thil
ner and paler, a new and glittering II
tensity in his eyes.
When word of Feller's defectio
came, Lanstron realized for the frs
, time by Partow's manner that the ol
.. chief of staff, with all his deprecatio
of the telephone scheme as chimerica
had grounded a hope on 1t.
: There was the chance that "
" might know-so vital to the defense
what they were going to do before an
: not after the attack" he said.
Yet the story Of how Feller yielde
! to the temptation Of the automatic ha
made the nostrils Of the old warriors
culver with dramatic breath, and i
stead of the command Of q battery
guns, which Lanstron had promise
the chief made 1t a battalion. He ha
drawn down his brows when he hear
, that Marta had asked that the vii
be left intact; he had shot a shrew
questioning glance at Lanstron an
then beat o tattoo on the table al
half grinned as he grumbled under b
breath:
"She is afraid Of being lonesome! \
harm done!"
, A week had passed since the Ora;
,, had taken the Galland house, and at
no word from Marta. The ring OF Il
bell brought Lanstron to his feet WI
, a startled, boyish bound.
: every springy, that tendon
: Achilles!" muttered Partow. "Ar
! my boy, take care, take carel"
called suddenly in his sonorous vote
as vast and billowy as his body.
: r. was Marta's voice and yet n
: Marta's, this voice that beat In mel
ous waves over the wire.
!. "Lanny--Yes, |, Lannyl You we
!. right. Westerling planned to make W
2 deliberately to satisfy his ambitic