The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-04-15
Copyright. The Frank A. Munsey Co..

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The sun, after long struggle with
the smoky fog, skunk down In his
course. The light changed to a dull
gray, kindly shutting out the sight of
red blotches on greenish-yellow grass,
hideous contrast. There were no
sounds except those muffied clicks and
snaps that tell when an army is going
to rest for the night.
The war master sat in field tent,
gazing down the trampled hill to the
meadows where his hopes-for the
day-had been realized. Tomorrow?
No human being was near, unless one
could count as human the rigid figures
of the imperial guard. These statues,
formed in squares and lanes, were as
still as the night.
One lane was a long, narrowing
patch of haze, for the moon had not
yet risen to its vain task Of trying to
shine through the murk. And in this
lane. as the war master watched with
eyes that were focused on nothing at
all, something appeared. At first 1t
seemed like a gray veil, floating in
the outline of human form.
And now, still without salute or chal-
lenge, the silent thing, less like gray
veil and more like the film of man,
came to the tent slowly and entered.
Entered confidently, with the air Of
an equal, and bowed, but only from the
neck and not from the hips. There
was no mistaking the cut Of the cloak
and the cock Of the hat.
The war masters eyes were cold,
too, returning the bow, but not so
calm. A sheer, whether in word or
look, is the easiest fashion Of covering
surprise-or alarm. The war master
did not rise.
"One of the allies, I believe" he
said.
NO." said the visitor in a dull
voice, SAY. rather, a neutral"
indeed" said the war master. us
not Corsica loyal to France?"
after mans DEATH" said the
visitor, his politics and fealties do
not change; they merely disappear"
Il am pleased to hear that, Herr"
IN. Bonaparte, If you will, or even
Mister. / became accustomed to hear
ing the latter title aboard the Bel
lerophon."
The war master did not seem to be
listening. He was watching his visi-
tor narrowly.
81 wonder he began, and then
ceased to speak.
"You wonder" said the visitor, smil
ing, whether / am not real. / beg
to assure your majesty that ara not
real. I understand, of course. the
trend OF your thoughts. It has oc
CURED to you, as it would occur to
most trained men under similar cir.
cumstances, that might be some new
output OF the wizardry Of war-an i'm
palpable man, free to come and go
among the tents OF the enemy. ] saw
the brief fash OF annoyance when II
came into your mind that IL there was
any such deviltry possible your gentle
men of the laboratories should have
discovered 1t first"
"Such," said the war master ar
rogantly, lis our custom"
"The speed of thought is one OF
the few human things at which / still
may marvel" pursued the Corsican.
You reyolved in your mind not only
that possibility, but dozen ways in
which the magic might be used. There
is nothing contra in the rules Of war.
/ believe"
The war master raised his brows in
mock modesty.
"a dozen ways!" he repeated. you
fatter!"
no." said the Corsican, "at least
a dozen, perhaps a score. / know. /
should have thought Of fifty"
with such talent" began the war
master. your total of successes"
LET me save your voice" inter
posed the Corsican blandly. You
would remind me that where ended
in failure at that very spot you began
with success. But would remind you
that any town is Waterloo where Wa
terloO is found"
"a ghostly warning" said the war
master, laughing. He had risen as
il to end the interview. It was q
habit, and he did not realize his error
until he saw the Corsican smiling at 1t.
mo, not warniag," said the visi-
tor. 1T was idle chatter, mere words.
But You see have the whole evening
for my errand. Perhaps expected q
more cordial meeting. ! thought to
be formal. as people were long ago.
"You were not famed for Formally
suggested the war master
II had no time for it, returned the
Corsican bit sadly. but ! have
plenty now"
Then you have the advantage or
me-" said the war master. What
is your errand? To ask questions?"
A patient smile crossed the face OF
the Corsican.
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