Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1915-04-07

alton at home the hest / can. We 20
into the hall of fame or into the gut
ter together, you and II"
Fo- while after he had hung up
the receiver Westerlings head
dropped. his muscles relaxed, giving
mind and body a release from tension.
But his spine was as stiff as ever as
he left the closet, and he was even
smiling to give the impression that
the news from the capital was favor
able.
| When he called his chiefs of divi-
sion II was hardly for a staff council.
stunned by the losses and repulses,
Loyalty industrious, their opinions I'M
asked, they listeaed to his whirlwind
OF orders without comment-all except
Turcas.
III they are apprised OF our plan and
are able to concentrate more artillery
than our guns can silence. the losses
Will be demoralizing." he observed
Westerling threw up his head, frown-
ing down the objection.
suppose they amount to half the
FORCES that we send I'M" he exclaimed.
isn't the position. which means the
pass and the range. worth it?"
Yes, II we both take and hold Il;
not II we fall" replied Turcas, quite
unaffected by Westerling's manner.
| Failure Is not in my lexicon!" Wes-
terilng shot back. For great gains
there must be great risks"
we prepare for the movement,
your excellency." answered Turcas.
IL was steel harness OF his own
! VIII that Weeterling wore, without ad-
uniting that it CALLED him, and he laid
IL on only in Martas presence With
her, his growing sense OF isolation had
the relief OF companionship. She be-
came a Kind OF mirror OF his egoism
and ambitions. He liked to have her
think OF him as great man unrufTIed
among weaker men. In the quiet and
seciusion OF the garden, involuntarily
as one who has no confidant speaks
10 himself, reserving fortitude for his
part before the staff, while She under
the spell OF her purpose. silently, with
serene and wistfully listening eyes,
played hers, he outlined how the final
and telling blow was to be struck.
We must and we shall win!" he
kept repeating.
Through a rubber disk held to his
ear In the closet OF his bedroom a
voice, tremulous with nervous fatigue
was giving Lanstron news that all his
aircraft and cavalry and spies could
not nave gained; news worth moro
than score of regiments; news fresh
from the lips OF the chief OF staff of
the enemy. The attack was to be
made at the right OF Engadir, its CEN
ter breaking from the redoubt manned
by F'racasses men.
Marta, you genius!" Lanstron cried
You are the real general! You"
Not that, pleased" she broke In
I'm as foul and depraved as a dealer
In subtle poisons In the middle ages,
Oh. the shame OF II, while look into
his eyes and feign admiration, feign
everything which will draw out his
plans. l can never forget the sight
OF him as he told me how two or three
or four hundred thousand men were
10 be crowded into ram. as he called
it-a ram OF human flesh!-and guns
enough in support, he said to tear any
redoubts to pieces; guns enough to
make their shells as thick as the bull.
lets from an automatic!"
Well meet ram with ram, Well
| have some guns, tool" exclaimed Ian
stron. We'll send as heavy a shell
tre at their infantry as they send into
our redoubts."
Don't. It's too like westerIing II
has become too trite!" she protested
THE end! II really were helping
toward that and to save lives and our
country to its people, what would my
private feelings matter! My honor.
my soul-what would anything mat
ter? For that, any sacrifice. I'm
only one human being-a weak, luna
tic sort OF one, just nowi"
Marta, don't suffer so! You are
overweight. You"
II can say all that for you. Launy."
she interrupted with the faintest laugh
I've said it so many times to myself.
Perhaps when call you up again I
shall not be so hysterical."
! Lanstron was not thinking Of war or
wars combination when he hung IN
the receiver. II was some moments
before he returned to the STAFF room.
and then no had mastered his emo
ton. He was the soldier again.
An hour or so before the attack the
| telegraph instruments In the Galland
house had become pregnantIy silent.
There we're no more orders to give;
no more reports to come from the
troops in position until the assault was
made. Officers OF supply ceased to
transmit routine matters over the wire,
while they strained their eyes toward
the range. Officers OF the STAFF moved
about restlesely, glancing at their
watches and going to the windows fire.
quently to see II the mist still held.
] No one entered the library where