The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-01-30

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all except the vice-chief, his mouth a
thin. ashy line. who held his own.
You cowardsl" Westerling thun.
dered. Retreat when we have five
millions TO their threei"
I'VE have not that odds now" replied
the parchment voice. "All their men
are engaged. They have caught us at
disadvantage. unable to use our num-
bers except In detail in trying to hold
on in face Of"
II tell you we cannot retreat" Wes-
terling interrupted THAT is the end.
know what you do not know. ! am
in touch with the government. Yes.
know"
This brought fresh alarm into faces
which had become set in grim stoicism
by many alarms. II the people we're In
ignorance OF the losses and the army
in ignorance OF the nations feeling,
lfhe officers OF the staff were no less in
ignorance Of what passed over the
long-distance wire between the chief
OF staff and the premier.
Il know what is best alone!"
Westerling continued, driving home his
point Tell our commanders to hold.
Neither general nor man - 70 bulge.
They are 10 stick to the death. Any
one who does not ! shall hold up 10
public shame as a poltroon. Who
knows but Lanstron's attack may be
a council Of desperation? The Browns
may be worse of than we are Hold,
hold! If we are tired, they are tired.
Frequently II takes only an ounce more
OF resolution 10 turn the tide Of battle.
Hold, hold! Tomorrow will tell diff
ferent story! We are going to win
yet! Yes, we are going to win"
1T is for you TO decide. Your Excel
lency," said Turcas, slowly and pre-
cisely. You take the responsibility"
II take the responsibility. / am In
commando" replied Westerling in un-
flinching pose.
Eyes. Your Excellency."
And they fled out of the room. leav-
ing him to his isolation.
After Marta had learned, over the
telephone, from Lanstron Of the GER
tain repulse OF the Gray assault, fatigue
sheer physical fatigue such as made
soldiers drop dead in slumber on the
earth, their packs still on their backs
-overcame her. Her work was done.
The demands OF nature overwhelmed
her faculties. She slept with nervous
twitching OF her muscles, restless
tossing OF her 1.-THE body, until ham
mers began beating on her temples,
beating, beating with the sound OF
shell bursts, as IL TO warn her that pun
ishment for her share In the killing
was to be the eternal concussion OF
battle in her ears. At length she real
lied that the cannonading was real
Fastening out-of-doors, as her
glance swept toward the range she saw
bursts OF shrapnel smoke from the
guns OF the Browns nearer than since
the fighting had begun on the main
line, and these were directed at bodies
OF infantry that were in confused re.
treat down the slopes. while all traffic
on the pass road was moving toward
the rear lmpelled by new appre-
hension she hurried to the tunnel
Lanstron answered her promptly in a
voice that had ring Of relief and JOY
in place OF the tension that had char
acterized Il since the outbreak OF the
war.
Thanks to you. Marital" lie cried.
Everything goes back 10 you-thanks
10 you came this chance TO attack, and
we are succeeding at every point! You
are the general. you the maker OF vic
toriesl'
YES, the general OF still more kill
ing" she cried In Indignation "Why
have you gone on with the slaughter?
did not help you for this. Why?"
No reply came. She poured out
more questions. and still no reply. She
pressed the button and tried again but
she might as well have been tslking
over a dead wire
One man alone against the tide
rather. the man who has seen a tide
rise NJ his orders now finding all It's
sweep against him Weeterling accus,
toned TO have millions OF men move
at his command. found h'n p ere
man out OF the millions, still and help.
less while they moved OF their own i'm.
pulses.
AS news OF positions lost came In.
he could only grimly repeat. Hold
Tell them TO holdl" fruitlessly. like adj
juratione to the wind to cease blowing.
The bell or the long distance kept
ringing UNDECIDED. until al last his aide
came to say that the premier must
speak either to him or to the vice
chief. Westerling staggered TO his
feet and with lurching steps went into
the closet. There he sank down on the
chair in a heap. staring st the tele-
phone mouthpiece. Again the bell rang.
Clenching his hands In a rocking cf'
fort, he was able 60 stiflen HIS spine
once more ae ne took down tho re-