The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-03-13
BY VICTOR ROUSSEAU

II was a death-trap; Its rnnges were
all mapped and plotted, and the Ger
mans were bent ON its systematic de-
structiou.
Mark stood by Eleanor IN irresolr-
tion, cursing his fate. He did not know
what to do. He could not leave her
and yet he felt burning impulse to
play some part in affairs. His eye.
trained by long years Of practice, took
In the tactical situation ut glance.
The Germans must have made prodl-
gious thrust In the night, bursting
through the center; the reserves, still
rushing over the fields, were trying to
I'LL 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 stu
circllng like hawk; It seemed In
credible that no aeroplane attacked II.
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 drumflre,
he could hear the sounds Of cheering.
And, topping the ridge that ran before
the village. there came a swarm Of
gray-green figures, thrusting back the
thin, scattered line that held It. The
bullets were whirring 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 theft
breath as the dust clouds sddied alona
the ridge. k
Suddenly they dissolved, and the a.
tacking swarm poured like Q great fisod
into the village. It looked a. II u
were lost.
But an instant later Mark saw Q lit
tie company OF Americans thrust out I
Maxim gun from behind q wall, whsrt
they had hidden It The gunner tool
his seat. and, Just a. the ranks wsfS
closing In on him. swept the stres
from side to side. The ranks recoils(
and fell, body piling ON body. Then. q
q torrent forces It's way through tn
ice-crust of'a river, the attackers over
whelmed the Maxim section and swep
into the streets.
. And. 40 torrent meets torrent, Will
surge and Z eush body of American
troops swept forward to meet them.
. The battle was all about them. Ever,
house was a fortress. every mound O
, bricks rallying point. Mark raiset
the half-conscious Colonel in his arm
and drew him into the shelter of lit
tie hollow In the brick wall. He beck
oned to Eleanor to crouch down besid,
, him. There they were safe from flyini
bullets, and might hope to pass unno
! ticed. He still hesitated, when bod,
Of Germans rushed. shouting. past I'm
upon a troop Of Americans who cam,
round shattered corner, led by I
, young officer carrying a bloody sword.
1t was quick and short bayonet work
, Mark saw the blades flash. heard tn,
painting gasps of the thrusters and tn,
means Of the wounded. He saw tn,
: young officer stagger and fall, q bayo
net through his shoulder. The swort
fell from his hand. Before the German
could withdraw his weapon Mark Aa,
! snatched up the sword and, with ,
mighty blow, cloven the Germans arm
from his body.
, (TO BE CoNTINUED.)