The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-04-15
The Last Shot
FRED ERICK PALMER
(Copyrisht. 1914. by Charles Scrlbaers Sons)

ing served; they uShefed IN dawn ana
darkness; they were going when sleep
came to those whom they later awak-
ened with q start. Fights as desper-
ate as the one around the house be-
came features of this period, which
was only a warming-up practice for
the war demon before the orgy OF
impending assault OH the main line.
Marta began to realize the immen-
sity of the chessboard and or the
forces engaged in more than the bare
statement of numbers and distances.
II first attack on a, position failed,
the wires from the Galland house re-
peated their orders to concentrate
more guns and attack again. In the
end the Browns always yielded, but
grudgingly, calculatingly, never be-
ing taken by surprise. The few OF
them who fell prisoners said, God
with us! We shall win In the end"
and answered no questions. Gradually
the Gray army began to feel that 1t
was battling with q mystery which
was fighting under cover, falling back
under cover-a tenacious, watchfui
mystery that sent sprays of death into
every finger Of flesh that the Grays
thrust forward in assault.
Another position taken. Our ad-
vance continues" was the only news
that Westerling gave to the army, his
people, and the world, which forgot
it's sports and murders and divorce
cases in following the progress OF the
first great European war for two gen.
erations. He made no mention OF the
costs; his casualty lists were secret.
The Gray hosts were sweeping for
ward as slow, irresistible tide; this
by Partow's own admission. He an
nounced the loss OF position as
promptly as the Grays it's taking. He
published a daily list of casualties SO
meager in contrast TO their own that
the Grays thought it false; he made
known the names OF the killed and
wounded TO their relatives. Yet the
seeming candor Of his press bureau
included no straw of information OF
military value to the enemy.
Westerling never went to tea at the
Gallands' with the other officers, for it
was part of his cultivation of great
ness to keep aloof from his subordi-
mates. His meetings with Marta hap
pened casually when he went out into
the garden. Only once had he made
any reference to the And then" Of
their interview in the arbor.
Il am winning battles for you!" he
had exclaimed with the thing in his
eyes which she loathed.
To her it was equivalent to saying
that she had tricked him into sending
men to be killed in order to please
her. She despised herself for the
way he confided in her; yet she had
to go on keeping his confidence, re-
turning tender glance with one that
held out hope. She learned not to
shudder when he spoke Of a loss OF
"only ten thousand" In order to rally
herself when she grew faint-hearted
to her task, she learned to picture the
lines OF his face hard-set with five
against-three brutality, while in COM
fort he ordered multitudes to death,
and, in contrast, to recall the smile
of Dellarme, who asked his soldiers to
undergo no risk that he would not
share. And after every success he
would remark that he was so much
nearer Engadir, that position of the
main line of defense whose weakness
she had revealed.
Your Engadir!" he came to say.
Then we shall again profit by your
information; that is, unless they have
fortified since you received it,"
They haven't. They had already
fortified" she thought She was al
ways seeing the mockery of his words
in the light of her own knowledge and
her own part, which never escaped
her consciousness. One chamber Of
her mind was acting for him; a Sec
and chamber was perfectly aware that
the other was acting.
"One position more-the Twin Boul-
der Redoubt, it is called" he an
nounced at last I'VE shall not press
hard in front. We shall drive in
masses on either side and storm the
TANKS
This she was telephoning to Lam
stron a few minutes later and having,
in return, all the news of the Browns.
The sheer fascination of knowing what
both sides were doing exerted it's spell
in keeping her to her part.
They've lost four hundred thousand
men now, Lanny," she said.
"And we only hundred thousand.
We're whiting them down." answered
Lanstron.
whiting them down! What a
CHASTITY expression!" she gasped. you
are as bad as Westeriing and / am
worse than either of you! II an
nounced the four hundred thousand as
if they were score-a score in
game in our favor. l am helping,
Lanny? All my sacrifice isn't for
nothing?" she asked for the hun
dredth time.
UNNECESSARILY. You have saved us
many lives!" he replied
And cost them many?" she asked.
Yes, Marta, no doubt" he admitted;
but no more than they would have
lost in the end. It is only the mount
ing up Of their casualties that can
end the war. Thus the lesson must
be taught"
And l can be of most help when the
attack on the main defense is begun"
yes"
"And when Westerlirg finds that nv