The Red Cloud chief., 1915-04-08

In be officers minds after his strange
appearance and stronger departure
Thsr began to talk o, him, and Marta
listened
HE said something about being =
free man now!"
Yes. he looked as eager as a ter.
rier after rats"
He knows what he Is doing. He
sees so far ahead OF what we are
thinking that it's useless to guess his
object. Well understand when it's
done"
How little side he has. So per.
fectly simple. He hardly seems to
realize the immensely OF his success.
In fact. none OF us realizes 1t. it's too
enormous. overwhelming, student"
And no nerves!"
or course, they guessed nothing of
Marta's part in his success. The very
things they were saying about him
built UP figure OF the type whose
character she had keenly resented a
few minutes before.
But, Miss Galland. you seem to
know him far better than we. This Is
not news to you." remarked the bri-
gade commander.
Yes. I saw the accident OF his first
flight when his hand was injured" she
said, and WINGED with horror. Never
had the picture OF him as he rose from
the wreck appeared so distinct. She
could see every detail Of his looks;
feel his twinges of pain while he
smiled. Was the revelation the more
vivid because II had once occurred
to her since the war began? It shut
out the presence OF the officers; she
no longer heard what they were say.
Ing Black fear was enveloping her.
vaguely she understood that they
were looking away at something. She
heard the roar Of artillery not far dis.
tant and following their gaze toward
the knoll where Dellarme's men had
received their baptism Of fire, now un.
der canopy Of shrapnel smoke.
That's about their last stand in the
tangent, their last snarl on our SOIL"
remarked the brigade commander.
And we're raining shells on IT,"
said his aide. with our glasses we'll
be able to watch the infantry 20 in"
Eyes. very WELL"
Were all used to how II feels. now
well see how It looks at distance"
piped one Of the soldiers.
Not until he had shouted to them
did they notice division staff-officer
who had come up from the road. He
had piece Of astounding news to i'm.
part before he mentioned official bust
ness.
What do you think OF this?" he
cried. Nothing could stop him! Ian
stron-yes, Lanstron has gone into
that charge with the African Braves!"
"Why?" Marta heard the officers
around her asking after their excla.
nations Of Amusement at the news
that Lanstron was going In the
charge. why should the chief of staff
risk his life In this fashion,"
Marta knew. All her taunts about
sending others to death from his office
chair, uttered as the fugitive sarcasm
Of mood, required in the merciless
hammerbeat OF recollection. For a
moment she was aghast. speechless.
Then the officers. occupied with the |
startling news. heard voice,
wrenched from dry throat In an.
guish. saying:
"The telephone! Try to reach him!
Tell him he must mott"
I'VE can hardly say must not to n |
chief OF staff" said the general auto.
matically.
Tell him l ask him not to, TRY
to reach him-try-you can try!"
Yes, yes! Certainly" exclaimed
the general. turning to the telephone |
operator.
lie had seen now what the younger
men had seen at glance. They were
recalling Lanstron's relief at seeing
her; how he had passed them by to |
speak to her; the intensity Of the two |
IN their almost wordless meeting. |
Her bloodless lips. the imploring pas.
sion In her eyes. her quivering impa. |
thence told the rest.
division headquarters" called the |
operator, They're getting brigade
headquarters" he added while he
waited in silence. brigade headquar.
tiers says the Braves have no wire, It's
too late. The charge is starting"
so 1t Isl" cried one OF the subal. |
terms. Look! Look"
Marta looked toward the rising |
ground this side OF the knoll in time |
to see bayonets fash In the waning
afternoon sunlight and disappear as |
they descended the slope.
There! They're up on the other
slope without stopping!" exclaimed |
the general. "Quick! Don't you want |
to see?" He offered his glasses TO |
Marta.
No, ! can see well enough" she |
murmured, though the landscape was
moving before her eyes in giddy |
waves.
1.-THE madness OF It! The whole |
slope Is peppered with the fallen," |