The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1918-01-17
CHAPTER xxx.--(Continued

my heart, L know we cannot light
not while this cloud of uncer-
tainty hangs over us. To fight,
with this power in the hands of
Germany, would mean more than
defeat-it would mean annihila-
ton. There would be other statues
| to be draped with black!''
Delcasse s face was livid; he
removed his glasses and polished
them with q shaking hand, and,
for the first time, Lepine saw his
blood shot eyes. Delcasse noticed
his glance, and laughed grimly.
Only to you, Lepine, do l dare
to show Them he said. Before
others, l must crush this fear in
my heart, bite it back from my
lips; must appear unconcerned,
confident of the issue. Only to
you may / speak freely. That is
one reason | called you here. felt
that l must speak with some one.
Lepine, | foresee for France a
great humiliation.
Lepine looked at his companion
with real concern.
:" You exaggerate, y he said.
You have been brooding over it
too long
Deleasse shook his head.
Il do not exaggerate. This
thing is so terrible that it cannot
be exaggerated. Even at this mo-
ment, Germany is preparing the
blow. For the past week, she has
been extraordinarily active. Her
fleets have coaled hurriedly and
| put out to see-for maneuvers, it
is said; but this is not the season
for maneuvers. Her shipyards
have been cleared of all civilians,
and a Gordon of troops posted
about each one. The garrison Of
every fortress along the frontier
has been at least doubled, and the
most rigid patrol established. The
police regulations are being en-
forced with the greatest severity.
Every city of the frontier swarms
with spies; even fere IN Paris we
are not safe from them my desk
was rifled two nights ago. / live
in dread that any day, any hour,
may bring the news of some fresh
disaster
And do our men learn moth
inga''
Nothing! Nothing, All they
can tell me is that something is
preparing. some blow, some sur
prise. Whatever the secret, it is
well kept: so well that it can be
known only to the emperor and
one or two of his ministers. We
have tried every means, we have
exhausted every resource, all in
vain. We know, in part, what is
being done; of the purpose back
OF it we know nothing. But we
can guess the purpose is war it
can be nothing else!''
Leplne sat silent and contem.
plated the rugged face opposite
him the face which told BY its
lined forehead, its worried eyes,
Its savage mouth, Of the strug-
giles, rebuffs and disappointments
OF 30 years. Always, out Of dis
aster, this man had risen uncon-
quered. Upon his shoulders now
was placed the whole Of this ter
rifle burden. He alone, Of the
cabinet, was fit to bear it; beside
him, the others were mere pip
mics: Premier Caillaux, an anna
BILE financier Foreign Minister de
Selves, a charming amateur Of the
fine arts War Minister Messimy.
an obscure army officer with 4
love for uniforms; Minister Of
Commerce Couyba, q minor poet,
tainted with decad ence above all
these, Delcasse loomed as GULL
yer among Lilliputians. But great.
ness has it's penalties. While the
minister of foreign affairs spent
his days in collecting plaques, and
the minister Of war his ia strHtting
about the bouleyards, and the min
lister Of commerce his in composing
verses, Delcasse labored to save his
country labored as colossus la
bors, sweating, painting, throwing
every fibre Of his being into the
struggle which was all the more
trying, all the more terrific, be-
cause he felt that 1t must 60
against him
" hat would you suggest Les
pine 81 Delcasse asked, at last. " Is
there any source Of information
ich You ear. Try -