The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1915-01-07
CHAPTER vis-centtausd.


lins back of the ridge Of fresh earth
that they had dug in the night. ready
% rush to their places when he blew
The whistle that hung from his neck.
but he did not allow them . glimpse
over the crest.
II know that you are curious. but
powerful glasses are watching for you
10 show yourselves; and II . battery
turned loose on " you'd understand"
he explained.
Thus the hours wore on. and the
church clock struck nine and ten.
Never q movement down there!"
called the sergeant from the crest to
Dellarme. Maybe this u Just their
hnal blur before they come to terms
about Bodlapoo"-that stretch of AT.
rican Jungle that seemed very far
away to them all.
Let Us hope sol" said Dellarme
seriously.
.
Choosing to 60 to town by the
castle road rather than down the ter
race to the main pass road. Marta,
starting for the regular Sunday ser.
vice Of her school. ~ she emerged
from the grounds. saw Feller. garden
shears In hand. . figure Of stone
watching the approach Of some field
batteries. The question of allowing
him to undertake his part a. . spy
had drifted Into the background of her
mind under the distressing and ever
present pressure Of the crisis. He was
to remain until there was war. She
was almost past him before he real
ICED her presence. which he acknowl-
edged by = startled movement and q
step forward as he took OF his hat.
She paused. His eyes were glowing
like Goals under blower as he looked
at her and again at the batteries,
seeming to include her with the guns
In the spell of his fervid abstraction.
Frontier closed last night to pre-
vent intelligence about our prepa~.
tons leaking out-Lanny's plan all
slive-the guns coming" he said, his
shoulders stiffening. his chin drawing
In. his features resolute and beamins
with the ardor of youth in action
troops moving here and there to their
places--engineers preparing the de-
lenses automatics at critical points
with the infantry-aeld-wires laid
held-telephones set up-the wireless
spitting-the caissons full-planes and
dirigibles ready-search-lights in DO.
sition-"
There the torrent OF his broken sen.
tences was checked. A shadow passed
II front Of him. He came out of his
trance OF imageries of activities. SO
vividly clear to his military mind, to
realize that Marta was abruptly leav-
Ing.
Miss Galland!" he called urgently.
Firing may commence at any min
ute. You must not 60 into town."
"But l must!" she declared. speak.
ing over her shoulder while she
passed. 1t was clear that no warning
would prevail against her detel... ed
mood.
Then I shall 60 with you!" he said,
starting toward her with a light step.
1T is not necessary, thank you!"
she answered. more coldly than she
had ever spoken to him. This had
magically quick effect on his atti-
tude.
81 beg your pardon! forgot" he
explained in his old mans voice, his
bead sinking. his shoulders dropping
tn the humility of servant who rec
ognizes that he has been properly re-
Suked for presumption. Not a ruu.
ner any more-I'm a spy!" he thought,
~ he shufled OF without looking
toward the batteries again. though the
music of wheels and hoofs was now
close by.
Marta had q glimpse of him as she
turned away. He Is what he is be.
cause Of the army; . victim of a cult.
habit." she was thinking. Had he
6sen in any other calling his fine dual.
Sliss might have been Of service to the
world and he would have been happy !"
A company OF infantry resting
among their stacked rifles changed
~ ooloe & he square In the distance
oo0 - ~ Dsvepasat 70 ths brown