Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-02-10
TheI.ast Shot
FREDERICK PALMER
(cODyright. lgl4. By Charles scribner's sousJ
CHAPTER xxII-contInued.

CHAPTER XxIl-continued
81 think we have practically agreed
that the two individuals who we're in
valuable to our cause we're Partow and
Miss Galland," Lanstron remarked ten
tatively. He waited for a reply. 1t
was apparent that he was laying a
foundation before he went any fur
Their.
Certainly" said the vice-chief.
"And youl" put in another officer,
which brought chorus of assent.
mo, not only these two!" Ian
stron replied. "Or, I. too. II you pre-
fer. It little matters. The thing is
that / am under a promise to both,
which shall respect He organized
and labOred for the same purpose that
she played the spy. When we sent
the troops forward I'm a counterattack
and pursuit to clear our soil OF the
Glays; when / stopped them at the
frontier-both were according to Par
tow's plan He had a plan and
dream, this wonderful old man who
made US all seem primary pupils In
the art OF war"
Could it be that terrible Partow,
stroke Of whose pencil had made the
Galland house an inferno? Marta
wondered as Lanstron read his mes
sage-the message out of the real
heart of the man. throbbing with the
power OF his great brain. His plan
was to hold the Grays to stalemate;
10 force them TO desist after they had
battered their battalions to pieces
against the Brown Notifications. His
dream was the thing that had hap
pened-that an opportunity would
come to pursue broken machine in
a bold stroi6e of the offensive.
Il would want to be a hero OF our
people for only one aim, to be able
TO stop our army at the frontier" he
had written. "Then they might drive
me forth heaped with obloquy. II they
chose. should like to see the Grays
demoralized, beaten. ready TO sue for
peace the better to prove my point
that We should ash only for what is
ours and that our strength was only
for the purpose OF holding what Is
ours. Then we should lay up no leg
acy Of revenge in their hearts. They
could never have cause to attack
again. Civilization would have adj
vanced another step"
Lanstron continued to read to the
amazed stan, for Partow's message
had looked far into the future. Then
there was a p. s., written after the
war had begun, on the evening Of the
day that Marta had gone from tea on
the veranda with Westerling to the
telephone. in the impulse of her new
purpose.
Il begin to believe in that dream"
he wrote. Il begin to believe that the
chance for the offensive viii come,
now that my colleague, Miss Galland.
in the name of peace has turned prac-
tical. There is nothing like mixing a
little practice I'm your dreams while
the world is still we'll this side OF
Utopia. as the head on my old behe-
moth of body we'll knows. She had
the right idea with her school. The
oath SO completely expressed my
ideas-the result of all my thinking
that had a twinge OF literary jeal-
ousy. My boy, IL you do reach the
frontier, in pursuit Of broken army,
and you do not keep faith with my
dream and with her ideals, then you
will get lesson that will last you for.
ever at the foot of the Gray range.
But do not think so badly as that of
you or of my Judgment of mem"
"Lannyl Lannyl"
The dignity of stan council could
not restrain Marta Her emotion must
have action. She sprang to his side
and seized his hand. her exultation
mixed with penitence over the way
she had wronged him and Partow.
Their selfcontained purpose had been
the same as hers and they had worked
with soldiers fortitude. while she
had worked with whms and impulses
She bent over him with gratitude and
praise and plea for forgiveness in
her eyes, submerging the thing which
he sought In them Ne flushed boy.
ishly in happy embarrassment. inca.
pable of words for an instant; and
silently the stan looked on.
And | agree with Partow," Lanstron
went on, that we cannot take the
range. The Grays stlll have numbers
equal TO ours. 1t is they, now. who
win be singing God with usl' with
their backs against the wall With
Partow's goes my own appeal to the
army and the nation: and | shall keen
faith with Partow. with Miss Galland.
and with my own ideas, II the govern.
ment orders the army to advance. by
resigning as chief OF stan-my work
finished"
Wes:eriing and his aide and valet
inqulring their way as strangers. found
the new stan headquarters OF the
Grays established in an army building
where Bou'hsrd had been assigned to
trivial duties. back 81 the Gray range
AS their former chief entered a room
in the disorder Of maps and packing.
cases, the staff-ofiicers rose from their
work to stand at salute like store i'm.
ages. In respect to field.mprshale
rank. There was no word OF greeting
! but telling silence before Turcas