The Mena weekly star., 1916-04-20


 'Is not that my effairg"
 Colonel Destinn brushed a speck of dust from his dolman. His slate-gray eyes flashed. He rose, and Lowe had no choice but to rise also.
 T have made you an indefinite offer Colonel Destinn," he said. "One day I may come with something different and perhaps then you will reconsider what you have said. No life cen be bound up definitely anywhere, not even in a desert, Colonel Destinn."
 The officer did not answer, appeared even to have forgotten his guests ex- istence. stephen Lowe went out clos ing the door softly behind him.
 Someone tapped at Colonel Destinn's door.
 If you please, my colonel, yester- days batch from 0ran."
 Colonel Destlnn lifted his head.
 Tt Is well. You will accompany me, corporal. How many?'
 Fifty"
 We shall need them"
 He picked up his kepi and led the way down the passage, the corporal following close beside him, his features composed in military indifference.
 In the center of the yard a line of men had been drawn up. Neither the violent abuse of the sergeant nor the comments of a pale-faced lieutenant, much less the uniforms. had been able to transform them into soldiers. Only one thing was common to them all-- misfortune. It was written in every haggard face in every language of de spair, from reckless defiance to sullen resentment and stoic resignation. Colonel Destinn read the language with the rapidity of custom. Before each recruit he stopped an instant, his hard eyes picking out the broken refinement of the prodigal from the brutality of fugitive crime. And at each he jerked out an imperative question. Your name?"
 ''Johann Harding, my colonel"
 "Profession?"
 Doctor"
 Sergeant. keep an eye on him. He will sham like the devil, or poison you And this man?" There was slight scarcely perceptible change in the ln hection of his voice, note of some. thing that might have been surprise or even more than that--unea siness. The man whom he confronted held himself with cool, undlsturbed dig nity.
 Richard"
 Have you no surnameY
 "No-.
 Desfinn glanced at the lieutenant, who, after hurried glance to his note book, shrugged his shoulders
 No. 4005-calls himself Richard Nameless, my colonel"
 "A nom de guerre. l presume Your last profession?'
 Traitor
 You are English?'
 "I am nothing"
 There was a troubled pause. The man had answered fiuently in French, without hesitation and without insc- lence And yet his easy self-confidence jared in that atmosphere of cowed and broken humanity, and was by con trast almost a challenge. The momen. tary interest died out of Colonel De stinn's eyes leaving cold anger.
 That fellow Is dangerous, he ierked back over his shoulder, and passed on
 Corporal Goetz hesitated an instant before the man thus summarized He measured him, and the recruit an- swered the keen. deliberate gaze with the same steadfastness. A mutual rec ognition had been acknowledged; steel had rung against steel Then sudden. ly the recruits fiery blue eyes focused themselves on something beyond, and their expression-that of man start cd into m instant's seif-betrayal-- caused the corporal to turn sharply.
 4 rare vision had appeared in the dull, eolorless square. The iron gates had been opened, and against the back ground of the green avenue beyond tlrere stood a woman--a slender. beau tiful woman, such as but few of the lost, degraded inhabitants of those
 
 slowly toward them, the lace sunshade framing the lovely golden head. her soft muslin dress revealing each movement as something exquisiteii-- balanced, absolutely free and confident in it's youthful grace and health.
 Colonel Destinn," she said, 'I hope you are not angry with me. I have come to find my husband"
 He lifted his hand reluctantly but instinctively to his keDi.
 T heard that Captain Arnaud's wife had arrived" he said roughly. Per init me to inform you that Captain Arnaud left the barracks half an hour ago, also that you have no business here and are interfering with my bust. ness. The sentry should not have lei you pass
 He did not want to-" she explained but 1 told him that I knew you and that you would be furious if he re fused"
 Whereby, madame. you oyerstepped the limits of ts1th ;
 Pardon me. I do know yoI But since I intrude, will make good my retreat. Good evening. my colonel"
 She turned her back on him and be gan to walk with untroubled dignity toward the gate For an instant he hesitated. then overlook her.
 T have a word to say to the sen.