The Washington times., 1915-07-19

ctoSHouos Auu btEOhSSi' ouhs
around a spring and we'll stocked with
provisions. But the attack. kehr felt. u
1t ever did come to a head, would END
bloodilv and ingloriously in the barbcd
wire. Labor would have had a much-
needed lesson. and whatever the conse-
Quences to himself. he would not nave
Four feet from tie top of the main
stockade on the inner side was SHELF
like walk OF heavy planks, from whicn
sentries could look out upon the worio
beyond.
Celestia's first act of exploration was
to climb a ladder which gave access TO
this narrow way and start along II.
Almost instantly the white apparition
was challenged by a sentry.
Ceiestia gave the password, and made
the man tell her what his hours ana
"Do you really mean" she said. that
II you saw a man out there. and asked
him his business. and got no, answer.
that you would try to shoot him.
"If saw him in this light said the
sentry, he'd be SO near that wouldn't
And he might be a deaf man who
didn't hear your challenge. don't
think you'd shoot him. would you?
Wouldn't you ,ust shoot somewhere
near him to. frighten him."
face.
Wouldn't vou?"
II got no business talking to anyone
when I'm on duty"
wouldn't you?"
The man made a snuff,ing noise.
"If l hear you fire. said Celestia: II
shall know that you didn't shoot 10 KILL
shan't -"
begin with. seemed now to have fallen
into q Kind of trance.
II guess he said. "Td do anything
you said. II you looked at me while you
Celestia smiled and passed on. She
made the whole tour Of the stockade.
instilling merciful feelings into the heart
Of each sentry that she met. At last
just as the moon was rising and Hood
s to- the he first 'S sentry. @ It was easy to see
that he was glad she had come back.
He drew a long breath and his eyes
frightened.
the trees been cut down."
SOS we can see the strikers long
way before they get to us
Then why have they left that one
big grove so near the stockade? They
could take shelter In that, and II they
had a small cannon
But they haven't"
They ought to have. oughtn't theyy
II it's to be a fair fight. But there wont t
be any fight. will there? still you haven t
told me why all the trees have been
cut down except that one grove-see It's
got a fine old stone wall around it. If
I were the captain Of the strikers-
1T was left standing especial, said
the sentry. "by Mr.. Kehr's orders. And
nobody else does. I'm dead certain OF
one thing. Anybody who thinks he Is
safe In that grove will be mmakins n
great big mistake"
But whv? A bullet cont go through
a stone wall or a big tree
"Do YOU know what a blast is?"
II think So"
We'll. suppose the strikers occupied
that grove in numbers and began to
fire on us. Suppose just then every
fell on 'em. and the stone wall sailed up
in the air and fell on em. and the earth
they stood on opened up and swallowed
en-. and shuts it's mouth on EN- after
ward and wouldn't let EN- out?
is that what It's for?"
Il don't know. ma'am. You asked me
what it's for. and don't know: I'm only
telling you what 1t might be for What
it would be for. II l was old man
kehr."
How would he make 1t all blow up?"
asked Celesta.
BY electricity. He'd have a switch
somewhere that connected up all the
detonators In the grove"
What is a switch?'
The sentry explained as we'll as he
could. and after wishing him good night
Celestia went slowly away. deeply
pondering. Once. twice and again be-
fore descending from the platform she
| paused to look thoughtfully at the
grove. and she could not but feel tina,
the sentry's guess as to why 1t had moi
| been ra2ed to the ground was probably
! correct. If go. where should she looi
| for the switch which was to detonatt
the dynamite? In some building. O.
would not be u building in which mer
ate or slept. but one that was either
| empty. or only used for storage pur
poses or rarely Waited.
While she pondered on this. she heart
| herself sharply challenged, and foInt
herself face to face with black beard
J ed man who stood with his back to {
| sheet-iron door In the side o. small
| sheet-iron house. that had no windows
| and asked the man what he was guard
He shook his head.
But l want to go in and see for my
self" said ,Celestia; Mr.. Kehr tod M
that l could go wherever I liked"
"and Mr. Kehr don't want anyone fool
| ing round this building
Haven't you got the key"
| His eyes were beginning to feel tn
magic Of her eyes. and his ears Of he
voice.
II have not"
But you know where it is?'
| What IL I do?'
why you'd tell me and I could se
itand open this door
The man tried to laugh roughly an
failed.
Where Is it," she asked.
There was a short battle OF eyes. an
Celestia as usual conquered.
Mr.. Kehr said you could go wher
you liked"
Celcstia simply nodded and continue
to look the man in the eyes. He hest
tated moment. and then leaned owe
and lifted a large flat stone. Unde
the stone. a bright nickel-plated Ike
shone in the moonlight
THANK YOU" said Celestia. And sh
took the key and opened the iron doc
Of the little iron house and went In.
For Gods sake said the man, a
trembling now at what he had done
don't touch anything. Only look !"
Then" said Celest!a, come and sho'
me what there is to see. It's all dark i
here"
The man followed her hastily into tn
building and struck match.
That there" he said in q whisper
that there switch. That's Ill there
to see. Now come out. Please do"