The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1915-05-01
CHAPTER xIil-Continued.

Then . staff-officer appeared in the
doorway. When he saw a woman en-
ter the room he frowned. He had rid
den from the town, which was empty
of women, fact that he regarded as
q blessing. If she had been a maid
servant he would have kept on his
cap. Seeing that she was not, he re-
moved 1t and found himself in want Of
words as their eyes met after she had
made gesture to the broken glass
on the floor and the lacerated table
top, which said too plainly:
DO you admire your work."
The fact that he was wall greomed
and freshly shaven did not 10 any wise
dissipate in her feminine mind his
connection with this destruction. He
had never seen anything like the smile
which went with the gesture. Her
eyes were two continuing and chal-
longing flames. Her chin was held
high and steady, and the pallor of ex-
haustion, with the blackness of her
hair and eyes, made her strangely
commanding. He understood that she
was not waiting for him to speak. but
to go.
Il did not know that there was a
woman here!" he said
And did not know that officers Of
the Grays were accustomed to enter
private houses without invitations!"
she replied.
This is a little different" he began.
She interrupted him.
But the law of the Grays is that
homes should be left undisturbed. isn't
It? At least. 1t is the law Of civiliza-
ton. l believe you profess, too, to pro-
tect property, do you not?"
why. yes!" he agreed He wished
that he could get little respite from
the steady fire of her eyes. 1t was en-
barrassing and as confusing as the
white light of an impracticable logic.
In that case, please place a guard
around our house lest some more Of
your soldiers get out of CONTROL" she
went on.
Il can do that, yes," he said. But
we are to make this a staff headquar-
ters and must start at once to put the
house in readiness"
General Westerlings headquar-
ters?" she inquired.
He parted the question with
frown. Shareholders never give infor-
nation. They receive information and
transmit orders.
II know General Westerling. You
will tell him that my mother. Mrs. Gal
land, and our maid and myself are
very tired from the entertainment he
has given US, unasked. and we need
sleep tonight. So you will leave US
until morning and that door, sir, Is the
one out into the grounds"
The staff-ofbrs1 bowed and went out
by that door, glad to get away from
Marta's eyes. His inspection of the
premises with view to plans for staff
accommodation could wait. Wester-
ling would not be here for two days
at least.
"Whew! What energy she has!" he
thought. Il never had anybody make
me feel SO contemptibly unlike gen
tleman in my life
Yet Marta. returning to the hall, had
to steady herself in a dizzy moment
against the wall Complete reaction
had come. She craved sleep as II 1t
we're the one true, real thing in the
world. She craved sleep for the clarity
of mind that comes with the morning
light. In the haziness of feecy thought,
as slumber drew its soft clouds
around her, her last conscious visions
were the pleasant ones rising free OF
a background of horror; of Feller's
matte for good; of Dellarmes smile as
he was dying; Of Stransky's smile as
Minna gave him hope: and Of Hugo's
face as he uttered his fute-like cry Of
Drptsst II her ears wars the haunt