The Holly chieftain. (Holly, Colo.) 1897-1987, 1916-12-15
The Red Mirage
a Story of the French Legion
in Algiers
BY LA R. WYLIE

BY LA R. wYLIE

I shall die AZ one You will be shot
unbound-at daybreak-by your COM
rades."
II thank you. Colonel Destinn."
I The major looked up shyly. Through
out he had been conscious Of something
unseen passing between these two
men; he saw now that they gazed at
each other unninchlngly with that In
tensIty which seeks below the surface
for the inexplicabie.
The sergeant came forward and
touched the condemned man on the
| shoulder. He turned at once with 4
little Whimsical shrug of apology,
bowed tremendously to the whole
court. and to his own horror the major
realized that he had returned the "a.
lutte He glanced anxiously around
him. and recognized ON the faces of his
companions the same uncertainty and
bewllderment. Destinn looked at no
one.
Richard Nameless was led out Into
the sunshine. With his passing the
spirit Of tension passed also; there re-
turned the old torpor. touched with the
petulant irritation of exhausted nerves
that have been too highly strung.
Colonel Destinn picked up bis kept
and. without greeting. strobe out Of
the courthouse. The rest followed. But
as they reached the door they hesI-
tated. Someone had laughed. 1t was
no usual sound; in the heavy stiffness
it rang shrill and unnatural. They
turned and saw that Desire Arnaud
had not moved. He sat at the table
with his hands spread out before him
aud laughed.
The major shrugged his shoulders.
II have seen 1t coming" he said re-
gretfully. II have seen 1t coming a
long time. All, this terrible country
this terrible, beautiful country! 1t Is
pitiable-and his poor wife! Well.
shall give our friend, the doctor, hint.
He will know better"
He too went out. but the laughter
followed him. 1t drifted out on to the
courtyard. and rose with the sitting
waves Of heat to the windows OF the
whitewashed room where Colonel Des-
tim sat with his forehead pressed
against his cienched hands. listening.
1t stopped at last. abruptly, tragically.
and Destlnn lifted his head as though
released from a hypnotic trance. A
little group Of men in white drill uni
forms were crossing the courtyard.
They were carrying something between
them-something that fought and
struggled.
Colonel Destinn's eyes were fixed
1 on the broad red line which ran from
north to south, past carefully marked
towns and villages. through white
spaces Of open plain. skirting broad
waterways and low-ridged mountains.
to the immense yellow bank where 1t
ended abruptly. like some proud
thought that had come to nothing.
Colonel Destlnn bent lower. his brows
contracted In impatient bitterness
With red pencil he struck of an inch
of the great line and marked 1t with a
cross. The place Of the seven hundred
i dead.
A The door opened again. He did not
hear 1t. His knuckles were pressed
against his forehead, as though crush
Ing back an intolerable recollection.
Only as he was addressed by name he
started and glanced back over his
shoulder.
II must apologize, Colonel Destinn.
i ventured to come in unannounced
The sentry appears to regard me as
one Of the family with the right to
come and 60 as I please"
"You have earned the privilege
Fray be seated"
The visitor came slowly, haltingly
across the room. He came to the table,
but did not accept the proffered chair
He stood in an attitude of llstless ex-
haustion, his hands clasped on the
heavy walking-stick, his face with Its
almost unearthly transparency half
turned to the Inpouring sunshine.
II was In the Arab quarter last
night. Colonel Destinn. Ali-Mahomed's
brother heads fresh rising. There
will be an attack from the north. The
Arabs In the town are armlng stealth
lily, but they will only move II there
has been success outside"
Colonel Destinn nodded.
"That Is interesting. II your infor-
nation is correct, we shall have further
cause to be grateful to you. Mr.. Lowe"
I ut Is probably one of the last serv.
Ices I shall be able to. render, Colonel
, Destinn. | am retiring from the
/, service"
: "France will be the loser"
Stephen Lowe did not speak for a
| momput He was paging Axodiv ond