Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-09-24

no more than that of any other coun-
tryi"
Hold on. The flag is sacred"
cried the bankers son.
Eyes, that viii do"
Shut up!"
Other voices formed chorus Of
angry protest
4 knew you thought it; now I've
caught ycui" This from the sergeant,
who had seen hard fighting against
a savage foe in Africa and there
fore was particularly bitter about
the Bodlapoo affair. The welt Of a
scar on the gaunt, fever-yellowed
cheek turned deeper red as he seized
Stransky by the collar of the blouse
Stransky raised his free hand as if
to strike, but paused as he faced the
company's boyish captain, slender OF
figure, aristocratic of feature. His in
dignation was as evident as the ser
geant's, but he was biting his lips to
keep it under control.
lou u0dTQ what ne SAID, sir 2!
The latter part-enough!"
It's incitation to mutiny! An ex-
ampIei"
yes, put him under arrest"
The sergeant still held fast to the
collar of Stransky's blouse. Stransky
could have shaken himself free. as a
mastif frees himself from a puppy,
but this was resistance to arrest and
he had not yet made up his mind to
go that far. His muscles We're weaving
under the sergeant's grip, his eyes
glowing as with volcanic fire waiting
on the madness Of impulse for erup-
ton.
81 wonder if it is really worth while
to put him under arrest?" said some
one at the edge of the group in amiable
inquiry.
The voice came from an officer of
about thirty-fve, who apparently had
strolled over from nearby aerop1ane
station to look at the regiment. From
his shoulder hung the gold cords of
the staff. 1t was Col. Arthur Lanstron,
whose plane had skinned the Gal
lands garden wall for the "easy
bump" ten years ago. There was some
thing more than mere titular respect
in the way the young captain saluted
admiration and the difhdent, boyish
glance of recognition which does not
presume to take the lead in recalling
a slight acquaintance with a man of
distinction.
''Dellarme! It's all of two years
since we met at Miss Galland's. isn't
it ?" Lanstron said, shaking hands with
the captain.
Yes, just before we were ordered
south" said Dellarme, obviously
pleased to be remembered.
Il overheard your speech" Lanstron
continued, nodding toward Stransky.
1T was very informing"
A crowd Of soldiers was now press
ing around Stransky, and in the front
rank was Grandfather Fragini.
Said our flag was no better'n any
other flag, did hep" piped the old man.
Beat him to pulp! That's what the
Hussars would have done"
IF you don't mind telling it in pub
lie, Stransky, l should like to know
your origin said Lanstron, prepared
to be as considerate Of an anarchist
private feelings as Of anybody's.
Stransky squinted his eyes down the
bony bridge of his nose and grinned
sardonically.
THAT won't take long" he answered.
MY father, so far as l could identify
him, died in Jail and my mother of
drink"
THAT was hardly to the purple!" OBJ
served Lanstron thoughtfully.
mo, to the red!" answered Stransky
savagely.
81 mean that it was hardly inclined
to make you take a roseate view of life
as a beautiful thing in a well-crdered
world where favors of fortune are
evenly distributed" continued Ian
stron.
Rather to make me rejoice in the
hope of a new order of things-the
recreation of society,"" Stransky ut.
tered the sentiment with the trium-
plant pride of pupil who knows his
textbook thoroughly.