The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1915-02-05
CHAPTER VII.
Close TO the White Posts.

On Saturday evening the 12Sth regi-
field accoutrements and full supply
Of cartridges. In the darkness the
first battalion marched out at right
angles to the main road that ran
through La Tir and South La Tir. At
length Company B, deployed in line
Of skirmishers, lay down to sleep on
its arms.
We wait here for the word" Fra
casse, the captain, whispered to his
senior lieutenant. If 1t comes, our
objective is the house and the old
castle on the hill above the town"
The tower of the church showed
dimly when pale moon broke
through a cloud. BY its light Hugo
Mallin saw on his left the pinched
and characterless features of Peter
kin. A few yards ahead was white
stone post.
That's their side over there" whis-
to Peterkin.
When we cross war begins" said
the manufacturer son.
Il wonder if they are expecting u.s."
said the judges son trihe huskily.
In an attempt at humor. though he
was not given 20 humOr.
Just waiting TO throw bouquets"
whispered the laborer's son. He. too,
was not given to humor and he. too,
spoke a trife husllly
And we'll fx bayonets when we
start and they will run at the sight
OF our STEEL" said Eugene Aronson.
He and Hugo alone, not excepting Pill
ger, the butchers son. spoke in their
natural voices. The others were try
ing to make their voices sound natu-
raj, while Pliers voice had devel-
oped a certain ferocity, and the liver
patch on his cheek tWitched more fire.
Quently. why, Company; b is in
front! We have the post Of honor, and
maybe our company Will win the most
glory of any in the regiment" Eu-
gene added. "Oh. well beat them!
The bullet Is net made that will get
me-"
Your service will be over In time
for you to help with the spring plant
ing, Eugene whispered Hugo. who
was apparently preoccupied with many
detached thoughts.
And you TO be atrhome sucking
lolltpops,.": Pilker srowled to Hugo.
That would be better than murder.
ing my fellowman to get his property,
. Hugo answered, so soberly that 1t did
not seem to his comrades that he was
joking. this time. Pliers. sparling ex-
clamation OF white feather" came in
|! the midst OF chorus OF Indignation.
! Captain Fracasse, who had heard
only the disturbance without knowing
the cause, interfered, In low. sharp
tone:
silence! AS have told you be-
fore, silence! We don't want them to
know that We. are here. Go to sleep!
YoA may getno rest ttomdrrow " night
But. little Peterkip., the question in
ulS Luiuu picdhiuS ii0c VI uio iiPS, un'
wittfi.gly' asked:
=. 'Shall> shall We ,fght,in the morn.
ing?"., 4.... :. >....,;t..., ...4
II don't know. Nobody knows!" An
,swefed Fracasse. We watt on orders,
ready to: do. our duty. '-There'may be
no war Dom! l't me; hear another
peep from you" =.
f, Now all closed their eyes. In front
iof+.-them twas vast silence which
iseemedqto stretch from, end to end of
the frontier, while to the rear was the
rumble Of switching railway trains
and the rumble iof provision trains and
artillery on the roads. and In the dis
tance on the plain the headlight Of a
locomotive cut a, swath In the black
night. But the breathing OF post of
the '.m en:.was not that OF slumber,
thdughr Eugene land. .l,Pilzer slept
soundly. Hours passed.. ,Qccas sional
restless movements told OF efforts TO
force: sieep byschsnying position.
--Yytss the ..wsitinss Shass.siakeningy''
exploded iAs; maN!NtAetqrers son un-
der bis breath. Desperately. =, -" >,
40 ~. rS uks to ha ~ + anA