Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1915-04-16
Il
COrSicQn
Calls
FRANK NJ E''o.sR,tr
tCopyrisht. The Frank a. Munsey Coz

the smoky fog. skunk down In his
course The light changed to a dull
gray. kindly shutting out the sight of
red bsotches on greenish-yellow grass,
q hideous contrast There were no
sounds except those muffied clicks and
snaps that tell when an army IL going
70 rest for the night.
The war master sat in a field tent,
gazing down the trampled hill to the
meadows where his hopes-for the
day-had been realized. Tomorrow?
No human being was near. unless one
could count as human the rigid figures
Of the imperial guard. These statues,
formed in squares and lanes, were as
still Is the night.
One lane was q long. narrowing
patch OF haze. for the moon had not
yet risen 70 its vain task Of trying to
shine through the murk. And in this
lane, - the war master watched with
eyes that were focused on nothing at
"a. something appeared. At first 1t
seemed like 4 gray veil, floating in
the outline Of human form.
And now, still without salute or chal-
lenge. the silent thing. less like gray
veil and moro like the Aim Of man.
came TO the tent slowly and entered.
Entered confidently. with the air Of
an equal, and bowed, but only from the
neck and not from the hips. There
was no mistaking the cut of the cloak
and the cock Of the hat.
The war masters eyes were cold.
too, returning the bow, but not so
calm. A sneer, whether in word or
nook, Is the easiest fashion of covering
s0rprtse-or alarm. The war master
did not rise.
"One Of the allies. believe" he
said.
No." said the visitor in . dull
voice, SAY. rather, neutral"
Indeed" said the war master. "Is
not Corsica loyal to France?"
After a mans DEATH" said the
visitor, his politics and fealties do
not change; they merely disappear"
Il am pleased to hear that. Herr
N. Bonaparte, II you will. or even
Mister. became accustomed to hear
ing the latter title aboard the Bel
lerophon."
The war master did not seem to be
listening. He was watching his visi
tor narrowly.
Il wonder" he began, and then
ceased to speak.
You wonder" said the visitor. smil
ing, whether am not real. beg
to assure your majesty that am not
real. understand, Of course. the
trend Of your thoughts. 1t has oc
Cured to you, as it would occur to
most trained men under similar cir
cumstaDces. that might be some new
output Of the wizardry of war-an i'm
palpable man, free to come and &c
among the tents Of the enemy. saw
the byief fash Of annoyance when Il
| came into your mind that IL there wal
any such deviltry possible your gentle
men Of the laboratories should have
discovered It first"
"Snch," said the war master ar
rogantly, us our custom"
"The speed Of thought Is one Of
the few human things at which I still
may MARVEL" pursued the Corsican
You revolved in your mind not only
that possibility. but dozen ways il
which the magic might be used. There
is nothing contra in the rules of war
l believe"
The war master raised his brows IL
mock modesty.
"A dozen ways!" he repeated. "You
6atter!"
''No." said the Corsican, "at least
a dozen, perhaps score. know.
should have thought of fifty"
with such talent" began the wal
master, your total Of successes"
LET me save your voice." inter
posed the Corsican blandly. "You
would remind me that where l ended
in failure at that very spot you began
with success. But would remind you
that any town IL Waterloo where Wa
terloo IL found" %.
"A ghostly warning" said the wa,
master. laughing. He had risen u
If to end the interview. 1t was q
habit, and he did not realize his erro,
until he saw the Corsican smiling at 1t
mo. not q warning" said the visi
tor. 1T was idle chatter mere words
But you see ! have the whole evening
for my errand. Perhaps l expected q
more cordial meeting. thought t.
be formal - people were long ago"
You were not famed for formality.'
suggested the war master.
II had no time for It," returned the
Corsican . bit sadly. But have
plenty now"
Then you have the advantage OF
me-" saA the war master. What
IL your errand? To ask questions?'
A patient smile crossed the face OF
the Corsican.
The war master turned upon hia
visitor with almost sayageness.
"Wbo-who sent your" he cried.
Jan Bedanow," replied the Corsi.
can. Tho war masters shoulders
raised n suspense, fell to their nor