The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1915-01-29
CHAPTER XiII-Contlnued.

Then a staff officer appeared in the
doorway. When he saw woman en-
ter the room he frowned. He had rid
den from the town, which was empty
Of women, a fact that he regarded as
a blessing. If she had been maid
servant he would have kept on his
CAP Seeing that she was not, he re-
moved it and found himself in want of
wo@ds as their eyes met after she had
male a gesture to the broken glass
on tie floor and the lacerated table
TOP which said too plainly:
DO you admire your work."
The fact that he was we'll groomed
ann freshly shaven did not in any wise
dhssipate In her feminine mind his
connection with this destruction He
had never seen anything like the smile
which went with the gesture. Her
eyes were two continuing and chal-
longing flames. Her chin was held
high and steady, and the pallor of ex-
haustion, with the blackness of her
hair and eyes, made her strangely
commanding. He understood that she
was not waiting for him to speak. but
to go.
81 did not know that there was a
woman here!" he said.
"And l did not know that officers of
the Grays were accustomed to enter
private houses without invitations!"
she replied.
This is little different" he began.
She interrupted him.
But the law of the Grays is that
homes should be left undisturbed, isn't
1t? At least, 1t is the law of civiliza-
ton. l believe you profess, too, to pro-
tect property, do you not?"
why, yes!" he agreed He wished
that he could get little respite from
the steady fire of her eyes. 1t was en-
barrassing and as confusing as the
white light of an impracticable logic.
in that case, please place guard
around our house lest some more of
your soldiers get out of CONTROL" she
went on.
Il can do that, yes" he said. But
we are to make this staff headquar-
Vel G1Ad A10Sk 0Jd1t dk OnCS W put IA0
house in readiness"
General Westerling's headquar-
ters?" she inquired.
He parted the question with a
frown. Staff officers never give infor-
nation. They receive information and
transmit orders.
Il know General Westerling. You
will tell him that my mother, Mrs. Gal
land, and our maid and myself are
very tired from the entertainment he
has given US, unasked, and we need
sleep tonight. So you will leave US
until morning and that door. sir, is the
one out into the grounds"
The staff-officer bowed ard went out
by that door. glad to get away from
Marta's eyes. His inspection Of the
premises with view to plans for staff
accommodation could visit. Wester-
ling would not be here for two days
at least.
"Whew! What energy she has!" he
thought Il never had anybody make
me feel so contemptibly unlike a gen.
tleman in my life."
Yet Marta, returning to the hall. had
to steady herself in a dizzy moment
against the wall. Complete reaction
had come. She craved sleep as If 1t
were the one true. real thing In the
world. She craved sleep fer the clarity
OF mind that comes with the morning
light In the haziness of feecy thought,
as slumber drew its soft clouds
around her, her last conscious visions
were the pleasant ones rising free OF
a background Of horror of Feliers
smile when he went back to his auto
matte for geSd: Of Dellafmes smile as
he was dying; Of Stransezy's smile as
Nina gave him hope: snd of Hugo's
face - he Uttered his fste-Hke cry Of
protxst In has ears we're the haunt