Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-03-04

free and brushing her flushed cheek
Marta saw the division chiefs Of the
Browns, after their start when Ian
stron spoke her name, all stand al
the salute. looking at her rather thar
at him. The reality in the flesh Of
the woman who had been o comrads
in service. sacrificing her sensibilitiei
for their cause. appealed TO them nj
q true likeness OF their conceptions OF
her. In their eyes she might read the
finest thing that can pass from mans
TO woman's or from mans 10 mans,
These were the strong men Of her PEG
pie who had driven the burglar from
her house with the sword Of Justice.
Their tribute had the steadfast loyalty
OF soldiers who were craving to do
anything in the world that she might
ask. whether to go on their knees to
her or to kill dragons for her.
1T may come int" she asked.
who II not you is entitled to the
privilege Of the star councilf" ex-
claimed the vice-chief.
The others did not propose to let
him do all the honors. Each muir
INJURED words Of welcome on his own
account
I'VE are here thanks to you'll"
"And, thanks to you. our flag will
float over the Gray rangel"
She must be tired, was their next
thought. Four or I'VE Of them hurried
to place chair for her, the vice-chief
winning over his rivals. more through
the exercise Of the rights Of rank than
by any superior alacrity.
you are appointed actual chief Of
stan and a field marshall" said the
vice-chief to Lanstron. "The premier
says that every honor the nation can
bestow is yours. The capital is mad,
The crowds are crying: On to the
Gray capital!' Tomorrow is to be a
public holiday and they are calling 1t
Lanstron Day. The thing was 80
sudden that the spectators who de-
pressed our securities in the worlds
markets have got their due-ruin!
And we ought to get an indemnity
that will pay the cost Of the war"
Seated at one side, Marta could
watch all that passed, herself unob-
served. She noted a touch Of color
come to Lanstron's cheeks as he made
a little shrug Of protest.
Then she saw their faces grow bust
nesslike and keen, as they gathered
around the table, with Lanstron at the
head. They were oblivious of her
presence, immured IN a mans world
Of war.
your orders were obeyed. We
have not passed a single white post
YETI" said the vfce-chief imyatiently
"As the Grays never expected to take
the defensive, their fortresses are In.
ferior. Every hour we wait means
more time for them to fortify, more
time to recover from their demoralk
cation. Our dirigibles having CON-
mand Of the air--we had wireless
from one reporting all clear halfway
to the Gray capital-why, we shall
know their concentrations while they
are ignorant of ours. It's the nations
great opportunity to gain enough
provinces to even the balance Of popu-
latfon with the Grays. With the unre-
hitting offensive, blow on blow, using
the spirit Of our men to drive In mass
attacks at the right points. the Gray
range is ours!"
Marta scanned the faces Of the stair
for some sign Of dissent only to nnd
nothing but the ardoP Of victory call
ing for more victory. which reflected
the feeling Of the coursing crowds IN
the capital. Though Lanny wished to
stop the war, he was only a chip on
the crest Of q wave. Public opinion,
which had made him an idol, woul6
discard him az soon as he ceased to be
q hero In the likeness Of its desires.
She saw him aloof rs the others, In
preoccupation. bent over the map out
lining the plan Of attack that they
had worked out while awaiting their
chiefs return from the charge. He
was taking a paper from his pocket
and looking from one to another OF his
colleagues studiously; and she was
conscious Of that determination In his
smile which she had FIRST seen when
he rose from the wreck Of his plane
'"This IL from Partow: q message
for you and the nation!" he an
nounced, az he spread few thin, type
written pages out on the table. II
was rnI3ar nromiaa never to reveal IT'S
contents unless our army drove the
Grays back across the frontier. The
original Is in the star vaults. I have
carried this copy with me-"
At the mention In an arresting tone
Of that name Of the dead chief, to-
which the days events had given the
prestige Of one Of the heroes Of old.
there was grave attention.
81 think we have practically agreed
that the two individuals who were In
valuable to our cause we're Part0w and