The Holly chieftain., 1916-09-15


days batch from Oran."
Colonel Destinn lifted his head.
ut is well. You will accompany
me. corporal. How manyw
"Fifty."
I'VE shall need them"
he picked up his kept 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. 1t was written In every
haggard face In every language Of de-
spair. from reckless defiance to sullen
resentment and stole resignation.
Colonel Destlnn 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 msn2" There was a slight,
scarcely percsptible change ln the in
lection of his voice, note of some
thing that might have been surprise
or even more than that-uneasiness
The man whom he confronted held
himself with cool, undisturbed dig
nifty.
Richard"
"Have you no surname?"
mo"
Destinn glanced at the lieutenant,
who, after hurried glance to his note
book, shrugged his shoulders.
'.No. 4OO5-calls himself Richard
Nameless, my colonel"
"A nom de guerre, presume. Your
last profession?"
Traitor"
"You are EngllshY'
II am nothing"
There was troubled pause. The
man had answered 6uently in French,
without hesitation and without inso-
lence. And yet his easy self-confidence
Jared in that atmosphere Of cowed
and broken humanity, and was by con-
trast almost challenge. The momen-
tary interest died out Of Colonel De
stinns eyes, leaving cold anger.
'That fellow is dangerous" he
jerked back over his shoulder, and
passed on.
Corporal Goetz hesitatcd 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
ognftion 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
ed into an instant's self-betrayal-
caused the corporal to turn sharply,
A rare vision had appeared In the
dull, colorless square. The iron gates
had been opened. and against the back
ground of the green avenue beyond
there stood woman-a slender, beau
tiful woman, such as but few of the
lost, degraded Inhabitants Of those
white walls had ever seen. She came
slowly toward them, the lace sunshade
framing the lovely golden head, her
soft muslin dress revealing each
movement as something exquisItely
balanced, absolutely free and confident
in its youthful grace and health.
Colonel Destinn," she said, 81 hope
you are not angry with me. l have
come to find my husba nd"
He lifted his hand reluctantly but
instinctively to his kept.
II 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 let
you pass"
"He did not want to-" she explained.
"but told him that knew you and
that you would be furious II be re-
fused"
Whereby, madame, you overstepped
the limits of truth"
"Pardon me, 1 do know you. 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 be