The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-12-13
BRIDE of BATTLE
Of the AsSaaq Asm By VICTOR ROUSSEAU
Bv VICTOR ROUSSEAU


to him that the reason why the Amerf-
cans did not enter the village was that
it was a death-trap; its ranges were
all mapped and plotted, and the Ger
mans were bent on it's systematic de-
struction.
Mark stood by Eleanor IN irresolu-
ton, cursing his fate. He did not know
what to do. He could not leave her; !;
and yet he felt a burning impulse to
play some part in affairs. His eye,
trained by long years of practice, took
in the tactical situation at a glance.
The Germans must have made prodi-
giOuS thrust in the night, bursting
through the center; the reserves, still
rushing over the fields, were trying to
fill and hold the gap. And the little
Headquarters village was the key to
the whole battlefield.
Wounded men came streaming down
the street, followed by the mercileSs
shells. The aeroplane above was still
circling like a hawk; it seemed in
credible that no aeroplane attacked it.
And 1t was quite clear to Mark that
only treachery, calculated and long
planned, could have brought about the
situation.
For the Germans must have ad-
vanced four miles since nightfall.
Help will come" Mark repeated );
and suddenly, even above the drumfire,
he could hear the sounds of cheering.
And, topping the ridge that ran before
the village, there came swarm Of
gray-green figures, thrusting back the
thin, scattered line that held it. The
bullets were whirrfng overhead, audi
BILE, and like swarm of bees. Clouds
of dust rose up and hid the battle.
Eleanor, clutching Marks arm, stood
tense beside him; Mark saw that she
understood, and the two held their
breath as the dust clouds eddied along
the ridge.
Suddenly they dissolved, and the at
tacking swarm poured like great flood
into the village. 1t looked as if all
were lost.
But an instant later Mark saw a lit
tie company of Americans thrust out q
Maxim gun from behind a wall, where
they had hidden it. The gunner took
his seat, and, just as the ranks were
closing in on him, swept the street
from side to side. The ranks recoiled
and fell, body piling on body. Then, as
torrent forces it's way through the
ice-crust of river, the attackers over
whelmed the Maxim section and swept
into the streets.
And, as torrent meets torrent, with
a surge and rush body of American
troops swept forward to meet them.
The battle was all about them. Every
house was fortress, every mound OF
bricks rallying point. Mark raised
the half-conSciOuS Colonel in his arms
and drew him into the shelter of lit
tie hollow in the brick wall. He beck.
oned to Eleanor to crouch down beside
him. There they were safe from flying
bullets, and might hope to pass unno-
ticed. He still hesitated, when a body
of Germans rushed, shouting, past him.
upon q troop of Americans who came
round shattered corner, led by q
young officer carrying bloody sword.
1t was quick and short bayonet work.
Mark saw the blades flash, heard the
painting gasps of the thrusters and the
means of the wounded. He saw the
young officer stagger and fall, a bayo-
net through his shoulder. The sword
fell from his hand. Before the German
could withdraw his weapon Mark had
snatched up the sword and, with a
mighty blow, cloven the Germans arm
from his body. .....
ITO BE CONTINUED