The Idaho Springs siftings-news. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1905-19??, 1915-05-08

Every day the nabby cheeks grew
pastier and the pouches under the eye
brows heavier. But there was no
dimming of the eagle flashes Of the
eyes, no weakening of the will. Last
night Lanstron had turned as white
as chalk when Partow staggered on
rising from the table. the veins on his
temples knotted blue whip-cords. Yet
after few hours sleep he reappeared
with firm step. fresh for the fray.
The paraphernalia around these two
was the same as that around Wester-
ling. Only the atmosphere of the stan
was different. Each man was perform
ing the part set for him. No man knew
much of any other mans part. Partow
alone knew ALL and Lanstron was try
ing to grasp all and praying that Par
tows old body should still feed his
mind with energy. Lanstron was thin
ner and paler. new and glittering in
tensity in his eyes,
When word of Fellers detection
came, Lanstron realized for the first
time by Partow's manner that the old
chief of staff. with all his depreciation
OF the telephone scheme as chimerical,
had grounded hope on it.
There was the chance that we
might know-so vital to the defense
what they were going to do before and
not after the attack" he said.
Yet the story of how Teller yielded
to the temptation of the automatic had
made the nostrils of the old war-horse
culver with dramatic breath, and in
stead of the command of a battery Of
guns, which Lanstron had promised,
the chief made it battalion. He had
drawn down his brows when he heard
that Marta had asked that the wire
be left intact; he had shot ehrewd,
questioning glance at Lanstron and
then beat a tattoo on the table and
half grinned as he grumbled under his
breath:
She is afraid of being lonesome! No
harm done!"
A week had passed since the Grays
had taken the Galland house, and still
no word from Marta. The ring of the
bell brought Lanstron to his feet with
a startled. boyish bound.
Very springy, that tendon Of
Achilles!" muttered Partow. And,
my boy, take care, take care!" he
called suddenly in his sonorous voice,
as vast and billowy as his body.
1t was Marta's voice and yet not
Martas, this voice that beat in nerv-
GUS waves over the wire.
"Lanny-Yes. l, Lanny! You were
right. Westerling planned to make war
deliberately to satisfy his ambition.
He told me so. The first general at
tack on the first line Of defense is to-
night. Westerling says sol" She had
to pause for breath. And, Lanny,
want to know some position of the
Browns which is weak-not actually
weak, maybe, but some position where
the Grays expect terrible resistance
and will not find it-where you will let
them I'M"
In the name of-Marta! Marta
what"
II am going to fight for the Browns
for my home!"
In the sheer satisfaction Of explain
ing herself to herself, OF voicing her
had wrought the change moving across
the screen before Lanstron's amazed
vision. There was no room for inter-
ruption on his part, no question or
need of one. The wire seemed to
CULVER with the militant tension of her
spirit. 1t was Marta aflame who was
talking at the other end; not aflame
hnt with hat
vealed all the latent strength of her
personality and daring.
Il shall have to ask Partow. It's a
pretty big thing"
"Yes-only that is not all my plan,
my little plan. After they have taken
the first line of defense-and they
will get it, won't they?"
Yes. we shall yield in the end, yield
rather than suffer too great losses
there that will weaken the defense on
the main line"
Then l want to know where it is
that you want Westerling to attack on
the main line, so that we can get him
won't it?"
yes.
''Of course, all the while | shall be
getting news from him-when | have
proved my loyalty and have his COM
plete confidence-and I'll telephone it
to you | am sure | can get something
worth while with you to direct me;
don't you think SO, Lanny? I'll hold
the wire, Lanny. Ask Partow!" she
concluded OF the two she was the
steadier.
"Well?" said Partow, looking up at
the sound of Lanstron's step. Then he
half raised himself from his chair at
sight of a Lanstron with eyes in a
daze of brilliancy; a Lanstron with
his manned hand twitching in an out
stretched gesture; a Lanstron in the
1.