The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-01-01


ther. old mani" said another. Back
to your bulbs." q. it.lf 4
Feller did not even hear theh. For
the moment he was actually deaf.
"Fire." said. Dellarme's , whistle.
"Thur-r-r." went the automsttc. In
soulless, mechanical repetition. Its
tape spinning through the cylinder.
while the rifles spoke with the human
irregularity OF steeitippcd dngew
pounding at random on drrmhcad.
All along the line facing la Tir the
volume OF fire spread until II was like
the concert OF mighty loom.
The Gray batteries having tried out
their range by the flashes OF the au-
tomato the previous evening. were
making the most OF the occasion.
"Uk.ung.n-ng!" the breaking Jackets
whipped out their grists. The re-
serves. the hospital-corps men and the
engineers hugged the breastwork for
cover. The leaves clipped from the
trees by bullets were blown aside with
the hurricane breaths OF shrapnel
bursts; bullets whistled so near Marta
that she heard their shrillness above
every other sound. She was amazed
! that the houses still remained stand
ing-that anyone was alive. But she
I had glimpse OF Dellarme maintain
| ing his set smile and another OF Eel
Ter. who had crept up behind the au-
tomato. making impatient "come-on!
come-on! Observation-Disclosures"
gestures In the direction OF the bat
teries in front OF the castle.
hur-eesh--thureesh!" As the
welcome note swept overhead he
waved his hands up and down In mad
rapture and then peeped over the
breastwork 10 ascertain II the prac-
tice were good. The Brown batteries
had been a little slow in coming into
action, but they soon broke the pre-
cision OF the opposing fire.
Now shells coming frequently fell
short or went wide. The air cleared.
Then a chance shell. striking at the
one point which the man who fred
IL six thousand yards away would have
chosen as his bull's-eye. obscured Eel
| ler and the automatic and its gunners
in the havoc OF explosion. Feller must
have been killed. The dust settled;
she saw Delarme making frantic ges-
lures as he looked at his men. They
were keeping up their fusillade with
unflinching rapidity. Through tho
breach left I'm the breastwork she had
| glimpses, as the dust was finally dis
sipated, OF gray figures, bayonets fixed.
pressing together as they came on
fiercely toward the opening. The
Browns let go the full blast OF their
magazines. Had that chance shell
turned the scales? Would the Graye
get into the breastwork?
All Martas faculties and emotions
were frozen in her stare OF suspense
at the breach. Then her heart leaped,
cry in a gust OF short breaths broke
from her lips as the Browns let 20
n rasping, explosive. demoniacal cheer.
The first attack had been checked!
After triumph. terror. faintness. and
closing OF her eyes, she opened
them TO see Feller, with his cid straw
hat--brim torn and crownless now
still on his head. rise from the debris
and shake himself like n dog coming
ashore from swim. While the engi-
neers hastened TO repair the breach
he assisted Stransky. who had also
been knocked down by the concus.
sion, 10 lift the overturned automatic
of the gunner. The doctor, putting n
hand on the gunner's heart, shook his
head, and two hospital-corps men re-
moved the body TO make room for the
engineers.
For once Dellarme's CHEEKY smile
deserted him. There was no one left
10 man the automatic. so vital In the
defense, and even II somebody could
be found the gun was probably out OF
commission. As he started toward II
his smile, already summoned back,
was shot with surprise at sight OF the
gun in place and a stranger In blue
blouse, white hair showing through n
crownless straw hat. trying out the
mechanism with knowing fingers. Del
larme stared. Feller, unconscious OF
everything but the gun, righted the
cartridge band, swung the barrel back
and forth, and then fired a shot
"You-you seem 20 know rapid
firersl" Dellarme exclaimed in blank
incomprehension.
"Yes, sir!" Feller raised his finger,
whether in salute as soldier or as
a gardener touching his hat IL was
hard 10 cay.
But how--where?" gasped Del
larme.
This time the movement OF the fin
ger was undoubtedly In salute, in per-
feet, swift, military salute, with head
thrown back and shoulders stiff. Eel
Ter the gardener was dead and buried
without ceremony.
"Lanstron's class, school for off,
GERS. sir. Stood one In ballistics, prize
medallist control OF gun-hre. Yes, sir.
know something about rapid.frers."
Feller replied, and fired a few more
shots. "A little high, a little low
right, my lady, rightl"
| Gfranakv waa back in hfa nIace neYf