Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-10-23
THE LAST SHOT
By FREDERICK PALMER
Continued
Copyright. Is14. By Charles scribaer's SOFAS


Yes. our C4e.----- -, so dependent
on communication, is in danger of dis
ruption." concluded Turcas. ITO avoid
disorder, we think 1t best to retreat
across the plain to our own range"
At the word retreat" Westerling
sprang to his feet, his cheeks purple,
the veins of his neck and temples
sculptured as he took a threatening
step toward the group. which fell back
before the physical rage OF the man.
all except the vice-chief. his mouth a
thin, aShy line who held his own.
You cowardsl" Westerling thun-
dered. Retreat when We have five
millions to their three!"
I'VE have not that odds now" replied
the parchment voice. All their men
are engaged. They have caught US at
9 disadvantage, unable to use our num-
bers except in detail in trying to hold
on In face Of"
II tell you We cannot retreat" Wes-
terling interrupted. THAT is the end.
I know what you do not know. / am
in touch with the government. Yes,
know"
This brought fresh alarm into faces
which had become set in grim stoicism
by many alarms. II the people were In
ignorance of the losses and the army
in ignorance of the nations feeling,
the officers of the staff were no less in
ignorance of what passed over the
long-distance wire between the chief
of staff and the premier.
Il know what is best-I alone!'
Westerling continued, driving home his
point Tell our commanders to hold
Neither general nor man is to bulge
They are to stick to the death. Amy
one who does not / shall hold up to
public shame as a poltroon. Who
knows but Lanstron's attack may be
a council OF desperation? The Browns
may be worse off than we are. Hold
hold! If we are tired, they are tired
Frequently it takes only an ounce more
of resolution to turn the tide of battle
Hold. hold! Tomorrow will tell diff.
ferent story! We are going to win
yet! Yes, we are going to win!"
''It is for you to decide, Your Excel.
lency." said Turcas, slowly and pre-
cisely. You take the responsibility.
81 take the responsibility. l am IN
command" replied Westerling in un,
flinching pose.
Eyes, Your Excellency."
And they filed out Of the room, leav
ing him to his isolation.
After Marta had learned, over the
telephone, from Lanstron of the Ger.
tain repulse of the Gray assault, fatigue
sheer physical fatigue such as made
soldiers drop dead in slumber on the
earth, their packs still on their backs
-overcame her. Her work was done.
The demands OF nature overwhelmed
her faculties. She slept with a nervous
twitching of her muscles, q restless
tossing OF her 1.-the body, until ham.
mers began beating on her temples,
beating, beating with the sound of
shell bursts, as if to warn her that pun.
ishment for her share in the killing
was to be the eternal concussion of
battle in her ears. At length she real.
ized that the cannonading was real
Fastening out-ofdoors, as her
glance swept toward the range she saw
bursts of shrapnel smoke from the
guns of the Browns nearer than since
the fighting had begun on the main
line, and these were directed at bodies
OF infantry that we're in confused re-
treat down the slopes, while all traffic
on the pass road was moving toward
the rear. Impelled by a new appre-
hension she hurried to the tunnel.
Lanstron answered her promptly in a
voice that had ring of relief and Joy
in place OF the tension that had char
acterized 1t since the outbreak of the
war.
Thanks to you, Marital" he cried
Everything goes back to you-thanks
to you came this chance to attack, and
we are succeeding at every point! You
are the general. you the maker of vic
toriesi"
'Yes, the general Of still more kill
ing!" she cried in Indignation. why
have you gone on with the slaughter