Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-16
CHAPTER XIX.

ASoOpI8kss 49, " 00os1OO 0SssOAsOA oOaDJ
CHAPTER XIX.
The Ram.
In the closet OF the Galland library.
where the long distance telephone was
Installed. Westerling was talking
with the premier in the Gray capital.
"Your total casualties are eight hum
dred thousand. That 10 terrific. Wes-
terling!" the premier was saying.
"Only two hundred thousand Of
those ara dsad!" replied Westerltng.
Many with only slight wounds are
already returning to the front Ter
rife, do you say7 Two hundred thou.
sand in five millions II one man out
Of twenty-five. That wouldn't have
worried Frederick tho Great or Napo-
leon much. Eight hundred thousand IL
one out OF six. Tho trouble IL that
such vast armies have never been en-.
gagged before. You must consider the
percentages. not the totals"
yet, eight hundred thousand! II
the public knew!" exclaimed the pre-
mier.
THE pubic doss not know" said
WesterlinS.
They guess. They realize that We
stopped the soldiers letters because
they told bad news. The situation u
serious"
why not give the public something
to think about?" westerling demanded.
I've tried. It doesn't work. The
murmurs increase. repeat, my fears
OF rising Of the women are we'll
grounded. There IL mutiny in the air.
l feel it through the columns Of the
press. though they are censored. L"
Then. soon I'll give the public some
thing to think about. myself" Wester-
ling broke in. "The dead will be for
gotten. Tho wounded will be proud
OF their wounds and their fathers and
mothers triumphant when our army
descends tho other side OF the range
and starts on ito march to the Browns
capital"
But you have not yet taken .
single fortress!" persisted the premier.
"And the Browns report that they have
lost only three hundred thousand
men"
'Lanstron IL lying" retorted Wes-
terling holly. But no matter. We
have taken positions with every at
sack and kept crowdfng in closer. I
49, nothing hsttsr than that the
Browns remain on the defe1Nive. leav-
ing initiative to US. We have devel.
oped their weak points. The resolute
offensive always wins. know where
! am going to attack: they do not. l
shall not give them time to reinforce
the defense at our chosen point. l.
have still plenty Of live soldiers left.
/ shall go in with men enough this
time to win and to hold"
The army Is yours. Westerling."
concluded the premier II admire your
stolidity Of purpose. You have my con-
fdence. shall wait and hold the stu
alton at home the best can. We go
into the hall Of fame or into the gut
ter together, you and T.,
For while after he had hung up
the receiver westerling's head
dropped, his muscles relaxed. giving
mind and body release from tension
But his spine was as stiff as ever as
he left the closet, and he was even
smiling to give the impression that
the news from the capital was favor.
able.
When he called his chiefs Of divi.
sion It was hardly for a staff council.
Stunned by the losses and repulses,
loyalty Industrious. their opinions un.
asked, they listened to his whirlwind
OF orders without comment-all except
Tnrcas.
"If they are appraised Of our plan and
are able to concentrate more artillery
than our guns can silence, the losses
will be demorslizing," he observed.
westerling threw up his head. frown.
ing down tho objection.
Suppose they amount to half the
forces that we send I'M" he exclaimed.
isn't the position. which means the
pass and the range, worth it,"
Eyes, II We both tais and hold It;
not If we fall" replied Turcas, quite
unaffected by Westerling's manner.
Failure is not in my lexicon!" Yves.
terling shot back. "For great gains
there must be great risks"
I'VE prepare for the movement.
your excellency." answered Turcas.
It was steel harness Of his own
will that Westerling wore. without ad-
hitting that II CALLED him, and he laid
it of only in Marta's presence. With
her, his growing sense Of isolation had
the relief Of companionship. She be-
came kind Of mirror Of his egoism
and ambitions. He liked to have her
think OF him as . great man unruf1ed
among weaker men. In the quiet and
seclusion Of the garden, Involuntary
as one who has no confidant speaks
to himself, reserving fortitude for his
mart before the stan. while she. under
the spell Of her purpose. silently, with
serene and wistfully listening eyes,
played hers. he outlined how the final
and telling blow was to be struck.
eve must and we shall whit" he
kept repeating.
Through rubber disk held to his
ear in the closet of his bedroom a
voice. tremulovs Nth nervous fatigue,
was giving Lanstron news~that all his
aircraft and cavalry and spies could
not have gained; news worth more
than score Of regiments; news fresh
from the lips OF the chief Of stan Of
the enemy. The attack was to be