Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-09
90, seem fond of rambling"

too, seem fond Of rambling"
There was . yelled challenge In the
hawk eyes. which she met with COM
monplace politenees In hers. before
be again lifted his cap and proceeded
ON HE way.
For the next two weeks Marta's role
resolved itself into kind OF routine.
Their cramped quarters became .
refuge to Marta in the trial Of her
secret work under the very nose Of
the staff With little Clarissa Eileen,
they formed the only feminine society
in the neighborhood On sunshiny
days Mrs. Galland was usually to be
found in her favorite chair ov.side
the tower door; and here Minna set
the urn on a table at four-thirty as in
the old days
No member Of the staff was more
frequently present at Marta's teas
than Bouchard, who was developing
his social instinct late in life by sit
ting in the background and allowing
others to do the talking while he
watched aud listened. In his hearing.
Marta's attitude toward the progress
OF the war was sympathetic but never
interrogatory. while she shared atten-
ton with Clarissa Eileen, who was in
danger OF becoming spoiled by officers
who had children OF their own at home.
After the reports of killed and wound.
ed which came with such appalling
regularity, 1t was relief to hear OF
the days casualties among Clarissa's
coils. The chief of transportation
snd supply rode her on his shoulder;
the chief OF tactics played hide-and.
seek with her; the e:lief engineer
built her doll house of stones with
his own hands; and the chief medical
officer was as concerned when she
caught cold as If the health Of the
army we're at stake.
I'VE mustn't get too set up over all
this attention, Clarissa Eileen. my ri.
val" said Marta to the child. you
are the only little girl and am the
only big girl within reach. If there
were lots Of others it would be diff.
ferent"
Bouchard was losing flesh; his eyes
were sinking deeper under a heavier
frown. His duty being to set infor-
nation, he was gaining none. His
duty being to keep the Grays secrets,
there was a leak somewhere in his
own department. He quizzed subordi.
mates: he made abrupt transfers. to no
avail.
Meanwhile, the Grays were taking
the approaches to the main line of
defense, which had been thought rela-
lively immaterial but had been found
shrewdly placed and their Vulnerable
batteries hammering them became q
routine Of existence, like the passing
Of trains to one living near railroad.
The guns went on while tea was be.
Ing served; they ushered in dawn and
darkness: they we're going when sleep
came to those whom they later awak-
ened with start. Fights as desper.
ate as the one around the house be-
came features of this period, which
was only q warming-up practice for
the war demon before the orgy of
impending assault on the main line.
Marta lA,gan to realize the immen-
sity Of the chessboard and of the
forces engaged in more than the, bare
statement of numbers and distances.
II first attack on a position failed.
the wires from the Galland house re-
peated their orders to concentrate
more guns and attack again. In the
end the Browns always yielded. but
grudgingly. calculatinsly, never be-
ing taken by surprise. The few of
them who fell prisoners said, God
with US! We shall win in the end!"
and answered no questions. Gradually
the Gray army began to feel that It
was battling with a mystery which
was fighting under cover, falling back
under cover-a tenacious, watchful
mystery that sent sprays of death into