The Red Cloud chief., 1915-03-18

ALUM ~ HOme the pest / can. we &c
into the hall of fame or into the gut.
ter together, you and II"
For while after he had hung up
the receiver Westerling's head
dropped. his muscles relaxed, giving
mind and body release from tension.
But his spine was as stiff as ever as
ne left the closet, and he was even
smiling to give the impression that
the news from the capital was favor.
able.
When he called his chiefs Of divi.
sion 1t was hardly for a staff council.
Stunned by the losses and repulses,
Loyalty Industrious. their opinions un.
asked. they listened to his whirlwind
OF orders without comment-all except
Turcas.
III they are apprised of our plan and
are able to concentrate more artillery
than our guns can silence, the losses
VIII be demoralizing," he observed.
Westerling threw up his head, frown.
Ing down the objection.
suppose they amount to half the
forces that we send int" he exclaimed
isn't the position. which means the
pass and the range, worth it,"
Yes. II we both take and hold Il:
not II we fail" replied Turcas, quite
unaffected by Westerlings manner.
Failure Is not In my lexicon!" Yves.
terling shot back. For great gains
there must be great risks"
I'VE prepare for the movement,
your excellency," answered Turcas.
IL was a steel harness OF his own
VIII that Weeterling wore, without ad.
uniting that 1t CALLED him, and he laid
II on only In Martas presence. With
her. his growing sense of isolation had
the relief Of companionship. She be.
came kind OF mirror OF his egoism
and ambitions. He liked to have her
think OF him as a great man unruffied
among weaker men. In the quiet and
seclusion OF the garden, involuntarily
as one who has no confidant speaks
to himself. reserving fortitude for his
part before the stan. while she, under
the spell OF her purpose, silently, with
serene and wistfully listening eyes,
played hers, he outlined how the final
and telling blow was to be struck.
I'VE must and we shall wini" he
kept repeating.
Through rubber disk held to his
ear In the closet Of his bedroom a
voice. tremulous with nervous fatigue.
was giving Lanstron news that all his
aircraft and cavalry and spies could
not have gained; news worth more
than score Of regiments; news fresh
from the lips Of the chief of stan OF |
the enemy. The attack was to be |
made at the right Of Engadir, its cen.
ter breaking from the redoubt manned |
by Fracasses men.
Marta. you genius!" Lanstron cried,
You are the real general! YOU"
mot that, please!" she broke in.
I'm as foul and depraved as a dealer
IN subtle poisons In the middle ages!
On, the shame OF II, while I look into
his eyes and feign admiration, feign
everything which will draw out his
plans! can never forget the sight
II him as he told me how two or three
'r four hundred thousand men were
% be crowded into a ram, as he called
ia ram OF human fesh!-and guns
enough In support, he said, to tear any
to pieces; guns enough to
make their shells as thick as the bull.
cts from an automatic!"
We'll meet ram with ram! Well
nave some guns. tool" exclaimed Ian.
'tron. We'll send as heavy a shell
ire at their infantry as they send into
our redoubts."
Don't. It's too like Westerling. II
has become too trite!" she protested.
The end! II really were helping
toward that and to save lives and our
country to its people. what would my
private feelings matter? My honor,
ny soul-what would anything mat.
ter? For that, any sacrifice. I'm
'nly one human being-a weak, luna.
ic sort Of one. just now!"
Marta. don't suffer 80! You are
YOU"
81 can say all that for you, Lanny."
The interrupted with the faintest laugh.
I've said it so many times to myself.
Perhaps when I call you up again I
shall not be SO hysterical."
Lanstron was not thinking of war or
vars combination when he hung I'm
he receiver. 1t was some moments
before he returned to the staff room.
md then he had mastered his emo
ion. He was the soldier again.
An hour or 50 before the attack the
telegraph instruments in the Galland
house had become pregnantly silent.
There were no more orders to give;
10 more reports to come from the
roops in position until the assault was
made. Officers OF supply ceased to
transmit routine matters over the wire,
While they strained their eyes toward
he range. Officers of the staff moved
bout restlessly. glancing at their
and going to the windows fire..
luently to see II the mist still held.
No one entered the library WHARF |