Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-10-31
IContinuedl

/ came quieter. AS we get in touch with
the divisions, we find the army in bet
I ter shape than we had feared it would
/ be. There Is q recovery of spirit,
owing to our being on our own soil. !"
YES" replied Westerling, drowning
in their stares and grasping at a straw.
"Only a panic, as l said. If" his
voice rising hoarsely and catching in
rage.
I'VE have a new government, a new
premier!" Turcas repeated, with firm,
methodical politeness. Westerling
looking from one fact to another with
filmy eyes, lowered them before Bou-
chard. There's a room ready for
Your Excellency upstairs" Turcas con-
tinued. The orderly will show you
the way"
Now Westerling grasped the fact
that he was no longer chief of staff.
He drew himself up in a desperate
attempt at dignity; the staff saluted
/ again, and, uncertainty, he followed
/ the orderly, with the aide and valet
| still In loyal attendance.
Two figures were in the doorway:
q heavy-set market woman with q
/ fringe of down on her lip and q cadav-
erous, tidily dressed old man, who
might have been a superannuated
schoolmaster, with bronze cross won
in the war of forty years ago on his
breast and his eyes burning with the
| youthful fire of Grandfather Fragini's.
| "They got the premier in the capi-
tai. We've come for Westerling! We
want to know what he did with our
SONS! We want to know why he was
beaten!" cried the market woman
"Yes," said the veteran. I'VE want
him to explain his lies. Why did he
keep the truth from US? We were
ready to fight, but not to be treated
like babies This is the twentieth
century,"
1--WE want Westerling! Tell wes-
terling to come out!" rose impatient
shouts behind the two figures in the
doorway.
"You are sure that he has one?"
whispered Turcas to Westerling's aide.
"Yes," was the choking answer
'yes. 1t is better than that"-with a
glance toward the mob. II left my
own on the table"
I'VE can't save him! We shall have
to let them"
Turcas's voice was drowned by a
great roar of cries, with no word ex.
cept "Westerling" distinguishable,
hat pierced every crack of the house.
wave of movement starting from
the rear drove the veteran and the
market woman and a dozen others
through the doorway toward the
stairs. Then the sound of a shot was
| heard overhead.
1.-The man you seek is dead!" said
Turcas, stepping in front of the crowd
his features unrelenting in authority
Now, go back to your work and leave
US to ours"
'T understand, SIR" said the veteran
We've no argument with you"
"Yes!" agreed the market woman
"But If you ever leave this range alive
we shall have one So, you stay!"
Looking at the bronze cross on the
veterans faded coat the staff saluted;
for the cross though 1t were hung on
rags, wherever 1t went was entitled
by custom to the salute Of officers and
present arms" by sentries.
|
! After Lanstron's announcement to
the Brown staff of his decision not to
cross the frontier, there was rest
less movement in the chairs around
the table, and the grimaces on most
Of the faces were those with which a
practical man regards a Utopian pro-
posal. The vice-chief was drumming
on the table edge and looking steadily
at a point In front of his fingers. If
Lanstron resigned he became chief.
"Partow might have this dream be-
fore he won, but would he now?"
asked the vice-chief mo. He would
go on!"
YES" said another officer. "The
world will ridicule the suggestion; our
people will overwhelm US with their
anger. The Grays will take it for a
sign of weakness"
mot If we put the situation rightly
to them" answered Lanstron. mot
II we go to them as brave adversary
to brave adversary, in fair spirit"
1--WE ean-we shall take the range!"
the vice-chief went on in O burst OF
rigid conviction when he saw thai
opinion was with him. Nothing can
stop this army now!" He struck the
table edge with his fist, his shoulders
stiffening.
"Please-please, don't!" implored
Marta softly. 1T sounds 30 like Wes
terling!"
The vice-chief started as IL he had
received sharp pin-prick. His shoul
ders unconsciously relaxed He began
fresh study of certain point on the
table top. Lanstron, looking first al
one and then at another, spoke again
his words as measured as they ever
had been in military discussion and
eloquent. He began outlining his own
message which would go with Partow's
to the premier, to the nation, to every
regiment of the Browns. to the Grays
to the world. He set forth why the
Browns, after tasting the courage oi
the Grays, should realize that they
could not take their range. Partow