Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-12-24

Of staff. and Lanstron. made vice. discuss
the trouble, and the Brown defenses. Par
tow reveals his plans to Lanstron.
CHAPTER vili-continued.
Now Dellarme disposed his men In
line back OF the ridge Of fresh earth
that they had dug in the night, ready
to rush to their places when he blew
the whistle that hung from his neck,
but he did not allow them a glimpse
over the crest.
Il know that you are curious. but
powerful glasses are watching for you
to show yourselves; and il a battery
turned loose on US you'd understand"
he explained.
Thus the hours wore on. and the
church clock struck nine and ten.
Never a movement down there!"
called the sergeant from the crest to
Dellarme. Maybe this is Just their
final blur before they come to terms
about Bodlapoo"-that stretch of AZ
rican jungle that seemed very far
away to them all.
Let US hope SOL" said Dellarme
seriously.
..
Choosing to go to town by the
castle road rather than down the ter.
race to the main pass road. Marta,
starting for the regular Sunday ser.
vice OF her school. as she emerged
from the grounds. saw Teller, garden.
shears In hand. a figure of stone
watching the approach of some field
batteries The question Of allowing
him TO undertake his part as a spy
had drifted into the background of her
mind under the distressing and ever
present pressure Of the crisis. He was
to remain until there was war. She
was almost past him before he real
lied her presence, which he acknowl.
edged by a startled movement and a
step forward as he took of his hat.
She paused. His eyes were glowing
like Goals under a blower as he looked
at her and again at the batteries,
seeming to include her with the guns
in the spell Of his fervid abstraction.
Frontier closed last night to pre-
vent intelligence about our prepare
lions leaking out-Lanny's plan all
alive-the guns coming" he said. his
shoulders %stihening. his chin drawing
in. his features resolute and beaming
with the ardor Of youth in action
troops moving here and there to their
places-engineers preparing the de-
fenses-automatics at critical points
with the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. laid
1ield-telephones set up-the wireless
spitting-the caissons full-planes and
dirigibies ready-search-lights in po-
sition-"
There the torrent of his broken SEN
fences was checked. A shadow passed
in front Of him. He came out Of his
trance Of imageries Of activities. SO
wildly clear to his military mind. to
realize that Marta was abruptly leav-
ing.
Miss Galland!" he called urgently.
Firing may commence at any min
ute. You must not go into town."
But / must!" she declared, speak
ing over her shoulder while she
passed. 1t was clear that no warning
would prevail against her determined
mood.
Then / shall go with you!" he said.
starting toward her with a light step.
1T is not necessary. thank you'll"
she answered. more coldly than she
had ever spoken to him. This had a
magically quick effect on his atti-
tude.
Il beg your pardon! I forgot" he
explained in his old mans voice. his
head sinking. his shoulders dropping
in the humility Of a servant who rec
ognizes that he has been properly re-
buked for presumption. Not q gun
ner any more-I,m a spy!" he thought.
as he shufied on without looking
toward the batteries again. though the
music Of wheels and hoofs wac now
close by.
Marta had a glimpse OF him as she
turned away. He Is what he IL be-
cause of the army; q victim. Of a cult,
a habit" she was thinking. Had he
been in any other calling his fine quail
tiles might have been Of service to the
world and he would have been happy"
A company Of infantry resting
among their stacked rifles changed
the color Of the square In the distance
from the gray pavement TO the brown
Of a of uniforms. In the middle
OF the main street @ major. OF the bril-
gade stat, with a number OF Junior
officers and orderlies, a evidently
waiting on some signal. Sentries were
posted at regular intervals along the
curb. The people In the houses and
shops from time to time stopped pack
ing up their effects long enough to go
to the doors and look up and down
apprehensiyely. asking bootless. ner-
vous questions.
Are they coming yetf"
do you think they will Gomez"
Are you sure IT'S going to be war;"
VIII they shell the town."
.rhereH be time enough for you