The Red Cloud chief., 1915-02-18

L hHOW MY uuty. anu yOu are ltdfu'
Ing my boy. learning!"
Every day the fabby cheeks grew
pastier and the pouches under the eye
brows heavier. But there was no
| dim1ning 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 staff
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
tow's old body should still feed his
mind with energy. Lanstron was thin
ner and paler. a new and glittering In.
tensity in his eyes.
| When word OF Feller's 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
what they we're going to do before and
not after the attack" he said.
Yet the story Of how Feller yielded
to the temptation of the automatic had
made the nostrils Of the old war.horse
culver with a dramatic breath, and in.
stead OF the command Of battery Of
guns, which Lanstron had promised.
the chief made 1t a battalion. He had
drawn down his brows when he heard
that Marta had asked that the wire
be left intact; he had shot a shrewd.
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 hie 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 Martas voice and yet not
Martas, this voice that beat In nerv.
Gus waves over the wire.
"Lanny-Yes. I. 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 lei
them int"
IN tho name of-Marta! Marta
what"
81 anr going to fight for the Brown,
for my home!"
In the sheer satisfaction Of explain
ing herself to herself, Of voicing hel
sentiments, she sent the pictures which
had wrought the change moving acros!
the screen before Lanstron's amazed
vision. There was no room for inter
ruption on his part, no question o.
need OF one. The wire seemed Il
quiver with the militant tension Of he
spirit. II was Marta aflame who wal
talking at the other end: not afiam'
for him. but with purpose that re
vealed all the latent strength Of he
personality and daring.
II shall have to ask Partow. It's
pretty big thing"
"Yes--only that Is not all my plan
my little plan. After they have takel
! the first line Of defense-and the
will get 1t. won't they?"
"Yes, we shall yield In the end, yiel
rather than suffer too great losse
= there that will weaken the defense o.
the main line."
"Then l want to know where 1t
that you want Westerling to attack O
the main line. SO that we can get hir
to attack there. That-that will hell
won't it?"
Yes"
"Of course. all the while I shall
getting news from him-when hav
proved my loyalty and have his con
plete confidence--and I'll telephone
!. to you. l am sure can get somethin
, worth while with you to direct me
don't you think SO. Lanny? I'll hol
, the wire. Lanny. Ask Partow!" sh
concluded. or the two che was tn
It steadier.
ID Well" said Partow. looking up ,
rt the sound Of Lanstron's step. Then b
d, half raised himself from his chair /,
H. sight Of a Lanstron with eyes In
r. daze of brilliancy; Lanstron wit
ar his MANNED hand twitching In an ou
lv | otrot chod pasturq. a T,anatrOD In n