The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1915-02-19
TheLastS Shot
FREDERICK PALMER
copyright. lOlA By Charles scribners sOnO


making something. creating some
thing; there's something going on all
the while that isn't guesswork. |
think that's what / want to say. You
won't order me to be a soldier, will
your
The father, loath to do this, called in
the assistance of an able pleader then,
Eugene Partow, lately become chief Of
staff of the Browns, who was an old
friend Of the Lanstron family. Partow
turned the balance on the side of flial
affection. He kept watch of the boy,
but without favoring him with influ-
ence. Young Lanstron, who wanted to
see results, had to earn them. He real
lied In practice the truth of Partow's
saying that there was nothing he had
ever learned but what could be of serv-
Ice to him as an officer.
Finding enough work to dot" Par
tow would ask with a chuckle when
they met in these days; for he had
made Lanstron both chief of intelli-
gence and chief aerostatic officer.
Young Colonel Lanstron's was the duty
Of gaining the secrets of the Gray
star and keeping those of the Brown
and organizing up-to-the-moment Ell
cheney in the new forces of the air.
He had remarked truly enough that
the injury to his left hand served as
a better reminder against the folly Of
wool-gathering than a string, even q
large red string, tied around his fin-
ger. Thanks to skillful surgery, the
fingers, incapable of spreading much,
were yet serviceable and had a Arm
grip of the wheel as he rose from the
aeroplane station on the Sunday morn
ing after Marta's return home for a
fight to La Tir.
He knew the pattern weaving under
his feet as one knows that OF his own
garden from an overlooking window.
Every detail OF the star map, ravines,
roads. buildings, battery positions, was
stitched together In the flowing reality
of actual vision. No white posts were
necessary to tell him where the
boundary between the two nations lay.
The line was drawn in his brain.
Now that Lanstron was the organ
izer Of the aviation corps his own
flights were rare. Mostly they were
made to La Tir. His visits to Marta
were his holidays. All the time that
she was absent on her journey around
the world they had correspondent. Her
letters, so revealing OF herself and her
peculiar angles of observation, formed
bundle sacredly preserved. Her
mothers joking reference about her
girlish resolution not to marry q SOL
der often required to him. There, he
sometimes thought, was the real OBJ
stacle to his great desire.
When he alighted from the plane he
thrust his left hand into his blouse
pocket. He always carried It there,
as II II were literally sewn In place.
In moments of emotion the SCARED
nerves would witch as the telltale Of
his sensitiveness; and this was some
thing he would conceal from others no
matter how conscious he was Of 1t him
self. He found the Galland veranda
deserted. In response to his ring 9
maid came to the open door. Her
face was sad. with a beauty that had
prematurely faded. But 1t lighted
pleasurably in recognition. : Her hair
was thick and tawny. lying low over
the brow; her eyes were a softly
luminous brown and her fun lips sensi-
tive and yielding. Lanstron. an init
mate Of the Galland household, knew
her story well and the part that Marta
had played in It.
Some four years previously, when q
baby was in prospect for Minna, who
wore no wedding ring. Mrs. Galland
had been inclined to send the maid to
an institution. where they will take
good care of her, my dear. That's
what such institutions are for. II Is
quite scandalous for her and for us
never happened In our family beforel"
Marta arched her eyebrows.
We don't knowl" she exclaimed
softly.
How can you think such Q thing.
let alone saying it-you, Galland!"
her mother gasped in indignation.
That is, II we 60 far back" said
Marta AT ali events, we have no
precedent 30 let's establish one by
keeping her"
But for her own sake! She will
have to live with her shame!" Mrs.
Galland objected. Let her begin
afresh In the city. We shall give her
q good recommendation, for she il
really an excellent servant Yes. she
will readily find a place among
strangers"
"stll. she doesn't want to 90. and It
would be cruel to send her away"
"Cruelf Why. Marta, do you think
would be cruel7 Oh. very well. then
we win let her stayl"
Both are away at church. Mrs. Cal
land ought to be here any minute, but
Miss Galland win be later because Of
her children's class" said MinnA. VIII
you wait on the verandaf'
He vas saying that he would stroll
In the garden when childish footsteps
were heard in the hall. and after 8
curly head had nestled against the