The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-02-26

hension she hurried 20 the tunnel.
Lanstron answered her promptly In a
voice that had ring OF relief and 10y
In place OF the tension that had char
acterized IL since the outbreak OF the
war.
Thanks 20 you. Marital" he cried.
Everything goes back TO you--thanks
TO you came this chance TO attack. and
we are succeeding at every point! You
are the general. you the maker OF VIC
toriesi"
"Yes. the general OF still moro kill.
ing!" che cried in indignation. why
have you gone on with the slaughterf
did not help you for this. whyf"
No reply came. She poured out
more questions. and still no reply. She
pressed the button and tried again. but
she might as we'll have been talking
over dead wire.
One man alone against the tide
rather. the man who has seen a tide
rise at his orders now finding all Its
sweep against Misunderstanding. accus-
toned TO have millions OF men move
at his command. found himself, one
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 hold" fruitlessly. like ad-
juratione Co the wind 20 cease blowing.
The bell OF the long distance kept
ringing unheeded. until nj 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 tho
chair In n heap. staring at the tele-
phone mouthpiece. Again the bell rang.
Clenching his hands In rocking ef.
fort. he was able To stiffen his spine.
once more as he took down the re-
ceiver. To admit defeat To the pre-
mier-no, he was not ready for that
yet.
"The truth is outl" said the premier
without any break In his voice and
with the fatalism OF ono who never
allows himself 10 blink fact. "Teleg.
raphers at the front who got out OF
touch with the stan were still In touch
with tho capital. Once the reports be-
gan to come. they poured in-decima.
tion OF the attacking column. panic
and retreat In other portions OF tho
line-chaosi"
IT'S a lie!" Weeterling declared
vehemently.
THE news has feached tho press"
the premier proceeded. Editions are
already In tho streets"
WHAT Where is your censorship"
gasped Westerling.
1T ia helpless. n straw protesting
against n current" the premier re-
piled. "A censorship goes back to
physical force. as every law does In
the end-to the police and the army;
and all. these days. finally to public
opinion. After weeks G& secrecy. OF re-
ported successes, when nobody really
knew what was happening. this sudden
disillusioning announcement Of tho
truth has sent the public mad"
1T is your business To control the
publicl" complained Westerling.
with what, now? With a speech or
lullaby7 As we'll could you stop the
retreat with your naked hande. My
business to control tho public. yes. but
not unless you win victories. gave
you the soldiers. We have nothing but
police here. and tell you that the pub
lie IL I'm mob rage-the whole public.
bankers and business and professional
men included. I have Just ordered the
stock exchange and all banks closed"
There's cure for mobsl" cried
Westerling. Let the police fire few
volleys and they'll behave"
Would that stop the retreat OF the
army2 We must sue for peace"
Sue for peacel Sue for peace when
We have five millions against their
threel"
1T seems so, as the three millions
are winning!" said the premier.
Sue for peace because women go
hysterical? DO you suppose that the
Browns will listen now when they
think they have the advantage7 Leave
peace TO me- Give mo forty-eight hours
morei have told our troops 10 hold
and they will hold. don't mistake
cowardly telegraphers' rumors for
facts"
Pardon me a moment" the premier
interrupted. 81 must answer a local
call" So astute man OF affairs as
he knew that Westerling's voice, storm.
ing, breaking, tightening with effort at
control, confirmed all reports OF DIS.
aster. "In fact, the crockery is broken
for you and for mel" said tho pre-
mier when he spoke again. His life
had been gamble and the gamble had
turned against him In playing for
great prize. There was an admirable
stocism In the way he announced the
news he had received from the local
call: "The chief OF police calls me UP
TO say that the uprising is too vast for
him TO hold. There isn't any mutiny.
but his men simply have become
part Of public opinion. A mob OF wom-
en- and children Ia esirtIng for the pal