Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-03-12
CHAPTER XXI.
The Last Shot.


the salute, looking at her rather than
at him. The reality in the flesh Of
the woman who had been comrade
in service, sacrificing her sensibilities
for their cause, appealed to them as
a true likeness of their conceptions of
her. In their eyes she might read the
finest thing that can pass from mans
to woman's or from mans to mans.
These were the strong men Of her peo-
pie who had driven the burglar from
her house with the sword of Justice.
Their tribute had the steadfast loyalty
Of soldiers who were craving to do
anything in the world that she might
ask, whether to 90 on their knees to
her or to kill dragons for her.
81 may come in?" she asked.
"Who If not you Is entitled to the
privilege of the staff council?" ex-
claimed the vice-chief.
The others did not propose to let
him do all the honors. Each muir
INJURED words of welcome on his own
account.
1--WE are here, thanks to you!"
"And, thanks to youy our flag will
float over the Gray range!"
She must be tired, was their next
thought. Four or five Of them hurried
to place a chair for her, the vice-chief
winning over his rivals, more through
the exercise Of the rights of rank than
by any superior alacrity.
you are appointed actual chief OF
staff and a field marshall" said the
vice-chief to Lanstron. "The premier
says that every honor the nation can
bestow Is yours. The capital is mad.
The crowds are crying: On to the
Gray capitalr Tomorrow is to be
public holiday and they are calling 1t
Lanstron Day The thing was so
sudden that the spectators who de-
pressed our securities in the worlds
markets have got their due-ruin!
And we ought to get an indemnity
that will pay the cost Of the war"
Seated at one side, Marta could
watch all that passed, herself unob-
served. She noted touch of color
come to Lanstron's cheeks as he made
little shrug Of protest.
Then she saw their faces grow bust
nesslike and keen, as they gathered
around the table, with Lanstron at the
head. They were oblivious of her
presence, immured in a mans world
of war.
Your orders were obeyed. We
have not passed single white post
yeti" said the vice-chief impatiently.
CAS- the Grays never expected to take
the defensive, their fortresses are in.
ferior. Every hour we wait means
more time for them to fortify, more
time to recover from their demorali-
cation. Our dirigibles having eOm-
mand Of the air-we had wireless
from one reporting all clear halfway
to the Gray capital-why, we shall
know their concentrations while they
are ignorant of ours. It's the nation 8
great opportunity to gain enough
provinces to even the balance of popu-
lation with the Grays. With the unre-
hitting offensive, blow on blow, using
the spirit of our men to drive in mass
attacks at the right points, the Gray
range is ours!"
Marta scanned the faces of the staff
for some sign Of dissent only to find
nothing but the ardor of victory call
ing for more victory, which reflected
the feeling of the coursing crowds in
the capital. Though Lanny wished to
stop the war, he was only chip on
the crest of a wave. Public opinion,
which had made him an idol, would
discard him as soon as he ceased to be
hero In the likeness of its desires.
She saw him aloof as the others, in
preoccupation, bent over the map out
lining the plan Of attack that they
had worked out while awaiting their
chiefs return from the charge. He
was taking a paper from his pocket
and looking from one to another of his
conscious of that determination in his
smile which she had first seen when
he rose from the wreck of his plane.
"This is from Partow: a message
for you and the nation!" he an
nounced, as he spread few thin, type
written pages out on the table. II
was under promise never to reveal its
contents unless our army drove the
Grays back across the frontier. The
original is in the staff vaults. l have
carried this copy with me-"
At the mention in an arresting tone
of that name of the dead chief, to
which the days events had given the
prestige of one of the heroes of old,
there was grave attention.
(TO BE CoNTINUED)