The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-12-22

You got nasty smash In the hea0.
Lie backw And he lowered the cap
tain back upon the straw once more.
"Out there they're fighting while I'm
no good to anyone" Larry groaned.
doctor! This lady wishes 10 see
you"
Doctor Aubrey turned az the Red
Cross man spoke; and his glance en-
countered a girl-an English girl
dressed in a suit once white. but now
torn and bedraggled. Her hair was
disheveled, and her face showed pale
and wan in the half-light of the dim
church.
"She has a pass from General
French's headquarters" the man add
ed.
MAY I be Of serviceT' the doctrc
asked her.
Ethel stepped forward then.
"For ten days I've been searching
your various field hospitals" she tole
him. "This is my last chance. Tell
me-oh, I'm afraid! I'm afraid to
ask! =. She nerved herself by
NlSlDle euOII. lell lut-lS Supldlu-
Captain"
As she faltered there came a quick
cry from the man the doctor had just
left.
"Ethelw Larry's call electrified them.
She hurried to him.
"Oh, my dearv" she answered with
a dry sob.
do Ii,,tt Tn 40 MI nb
safe-you're not hurt?" he exclaimed,
as she put her arms about him with
immense tenderness.
mo, no! And I'm here with you.
thank Godw
TELL me-what news from the
front?" he demanded, as a roll Of can
nonading filed the church with its res
onant booming.
"Oh, can't tell YOU" she said. Its
too dreadful" But she saw that he
craved the truth, even though it were
the worst "Were still retreating.
They say-Paris is lost"
The notes of bugle again sounded
clear through the roar of the great
guns.
| PARISH Larry cried. "If we can keep
Paris. we've fighting chance" He
stopped abruptly then, and turned his
head as If at some wondrous sound.
Listen to the buglesr' he shouted.
They're not playing retreat! That's
the call to attack! :. What does
| it mean?'
A messenger burst into the church.
"Whos in charge here" he de-
manded.
81 am" Aubrey told him.
"I'm from headquarters" the man
said. as Captain Lawrence Redmond
rere?"
Eyes, yes! I'm here!" Larry called,
struggling to his feet with Ethel's
help.
The messenger crossed to where the
wounded man stood, half supported
by the girl.
81 have the honor to report" he an
nounced, "that General French and
| General Joffre extend to you their
| grateful thanks for your information,
and to state that you have been men,
toned in the dispatches for signal
bravery in the cause Of the allies"
"Oh. my dear-and you said For
King and Country" Ethel exclaimed,
her heart near to bursting with pride
in him.
"What do I matter" he chided her,
"when out there they are driving us
back? Hear their guns" The little
| H. Oh
from cellar to raftered roof under the
vibration Of the terrific fire
zone momentv said the messenger.
"T have to add, sir, that your infOrma-
| ton. coming at vital time, has en-
abled the English troops, in conjunc--
| ton with the French, to execute turn
| ing movement. And after four-days'
battle the enemy is now in retreat be-
yond the Marne."
Larry seemed not to grasp the news.
He looked DULY at the man fro'o head
quarters.
"what did you say" he asked.
1.-THE enemy is In retreat"
"But they said we were beaten"
Larry stammered.
Ill just III lIOn thC LIOht, eho
messenger informed him. 81 tell you,
the enemy is in retrea."
"And Paris? Paris Is safew Larry
cried, as the Joy Of 1t all broke over
him.
"Paris is SAFE" was the answer.
A band was playing now. and those
glad folk in the little church could hear
the thunder Of marching feet.
"You hear?" the messenger asked.
"That's the French. The reserves are
coming up from Paris"
That's the English troopsw Larry
shouted. as he recognized a familiar
marching air.
Eyes! They landed today" the man
said.
Larry stood there listening to tho
welcome strains. One arm he had fiung
about Ethel. And the other he waved
above his bandaged head.
"More Of our boys off to the 'front.'"