Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-10-15
THE LAST SHOT
By FREDERICK PALMER
Copyright. 1914. by Charles scribner's Sons.

.
sight like this, but the real news will
be awaiting me at my DESK" he con-
cluded, adding. as he turned away:
"It's fireworks worth seeing, and If
you remain here l will return to tell
you the results"
Turning her back to the range for
the moment, she saw the twinkle of
the lights CT the town and the threads
of light of the wagon-trains and the
sweep Of the lights of the railroad
trains on the plain; while in the fore
ground ev9ry window of the house was
ablaze, like some factory on busy
night shift. She could hear the click
of the telegraph instruments already
reporting the details of the action as
cheerfully as Brobdingnagian crickets
In their peaceful surroundings. Then
out of the shadows Westerling reap
peared.
The apron of Engadir is ours!" he
called. Thanks to you'll" he added
with pointed emphasis. Back in the
house he had received congratula-
tions with a nod, as If success were
a matter of course. Before her, ex-
ultation unbent stiffness, and he was
hoarsely triumphant and eager Its
plain sailing now," he went on. "A
break in the main line! We have
only to drive home the wedge, and
then-and then!" he concluded
She felt him close, his breath on
her cheek.
"Peace!" she hastehed to say, draw.
ing back instinctively.
And then! The irony of the words
in the light of her knowledge was
pointed by terrific renewal OF the
thunders and the flashes far up on the
range, and she could not resist re-
joicing in her heart.
That's the Browns!" exclaimed
Westerling in surprise.
The volume of fire increased. With
the rest of the frontier in darkness,
the Engadir section was an isolated
blaze. In its light she saw his fea.
lures, without alarm but hardening in
dogged intensity.
They've awakened to what they have
lost! They have been rushing up re.
serves and are making a counter.
attack. We must hold what we have
gained, no matter what the cost!"
His last sentence was spoken over
his "houlder as he started for the
house.
Without changing her position,
hardly turning her head, she watched
until the firing began to lessen rap.
idly. Then she heard his step. She
rose to face him, summoning back
the spirit of the actress.
This is better yet! l came to tell
you that the counter-attack failed!" he
said as he saw her appear from the
shelter of the arbor.
She wondered If she were going to
fall. But the post of the trellis was
within reach. She caught hold of 1t
to steady herself. Failed!
"The killing-it must have been ter.
rible!" her mind at last made her ex.
claim to cover her tardiness of re-
sponse to his mood.
you thought of that-as you should
as ] dol" he said.
He took her hands in his, pulsing
warm with the flowing red of his
strength. She let them remain life.
lessly, as If she had not the will to
take them away, the instin of her
part again dominant. To him this was
another victory, and it was discovery
the discovery of melting weakness
in her for the first time, which magnt
fed his sense of masculine power. He
frightened his grip slightly and she
shuddered.
You are tired!" he said, and 1t hurt
her that he should be SO considerate
"The killing-to end that! It's all
l want!" she breathed miserably.
And the end is near!" he said
Yes, now, thanks to you'll"
Thanks to her! And she must listen
and submit to his touch!
Then engineers and material were
ready to go in" he continued. BE.
fore morning, as / had planned, we
shall be so well fortified in the posi-.
tion that nothing can bulge us. This
success so strengthens my power with
the staff and the premier that I need
not wait on Fabian tactics. l am
supreme. l shall make the most OF
the decentralization of this blow to the
enemy. l shall not wait on slow ap.
proaches in the hope of saving life.
Tomorrow / shall attack and keep on
attacking till all the main line is ours"
Nov you are playing your real part,
the conqueror!" she thought gladly
Your kind of peace is he ruin of an.
other people; the peace of helpless
enemy. That is better'-better for her
conscience. Unwittingly, she allowed
her hands to remain in his In the pa
ralysis of despair she was unconscious
that she had hands. She felt that she
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