Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1914-12-31

progress of the war, flashes from
woman's unmilitary mind. they judged
that her heart was with the Grays. And
why not? Was 1t not natural that q
woman with more than her share OF
intellectual perception should be on
the right side? From her associations
II was not to be expected that she
would make an outright declaration OF
apostasy. This would destroy the value
and the attractiveness Of her CONVEX.
sion. Reverence for the past, for a
father who had fought for the Browns,
against her own convictions, made her
attitude appear singularly and deli
cately correct.
The war was q week old-a week
which had developed other tangents
and traps than La Tir-on the morn
ing that the first installment Of Junior
officers came to occupy the tables and
desks. Where the family portraits had
hung in the dining-room were now big
maps dotted with brown and gray
flags. Portable field cabinets with
sectional maps on a large scale were
arranged around the walls Of the draw
ing-room. In what had been the loung
ing.room of the old days Of Galland
prosperity, the refrain Of half dozen
telegraph instruments made medley
with the clicking Of typewriters. Cooks
and helpers we're busy In the kitchen;
for the star were to live like gentle
men; they were to have their morning
baths, their comfortable beds, and
regular meals. No twinge Of indiges-
ton or of rheumatism from exposure
was to interfere with the working Of
their precious intellectual processes.
No detail of assistance would be lack
ing to save any bureaucratic head time
and labor. The bedrooms were appor-
toned according to rank-that Of the
master awaited the master; the best
servants bedroom awaited Francois,
his valet.
When Bouchard, the chef Of intelli-
gence, who fought the battle of wits
and spies against Lanstron, came, two
hours before Westerling was due, the
last of the star except Westerling and
his personal aide had arrived. Bouch-
ard, with his iron-gray hair, bushy eye
brows. strong, aQuiline nose, and
hawk-like eyes, his mouth hidden by
q bristiy mustache, was lean and sat
urnine, and he Yves loyal. No Jealous
thought entered his mind at having to
serve a man younger than himself.
He did not serve a personality; he
served q chief Of stair and a prot0Gr
sion. The score of words which e.
capped him as he looked over the ar
rangements were all of directing criti
cism and bitten off sharply, as If he
regretted that he had to waste breath
in communicating even thought.
81 tell nothing, but you tell me
everything!" said Bouchard's hawk
eyes. He was old-fashioned; he looked
his part, which was one Of the many
points of difference between him and
Lanstron as chief of intelligence.
1t lacked one minute to four when
Hedworth Westerling, chief of stan In
name as we'll as power now, alighted
from the gray automobile that turned
in at the Galland drive. His Excel
lency had not occupied HE new head
quarters as soon as he expected, but
this could have no influence on results.
II he had lost fifty thousand men on
the first two days and two hundred
thousand since the war had begun,
should he allow this. to disturb his
well-being of body or mind? His we'll
being of body and mind meant the ulti-
mate saving Of lives.
Confidence was reflected in Wester
ling's bearing and in his smile Of COM
mand as he passed through the stan
rooms, Turcas and Bouchard in his
train, with tacit approval of the ar
Finally, Turcas, now vice.
chief Of staff, and the other chiefs
awaited his pleasure in the library,
which was to be his sanctum. On the
mountaineering desk lay
a number of reports and suggestions
ran through them with &C.
customed swiftness of sitting and then
turned to his personal aide.
Tell Francois that l will have tea
on the veranda."
From the fact that he took with him
the papers that he had laid aside, sub
ordinate generals, with the gift of un.
spoken directions which is a part of
their profession, understood that he
meant to go over the subjects reQuir-
Ing special attention while he had tea.
Everything is going well-well!"
he added.
WE'LL" ran the unspoken communi-
cation of confidence through the staff.
So well that His Excellency was
calmly taking tea on the verandal For
the indefatigable Turcas the detail;
for Westerling the front of Jove.
He had told Marta only two weeks
ago that he should see her again II
war came; and war had come. With