Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-01-10
CHAPTER xv-cOntinued.

And with the blow all his strength
returned, all his energy and zest for
battle. He forgot everything. Waving
the sword, he hurled himself into the
attacking ranks. They gave, and with
a cheer the defenders swept on into
the main street, Mark leading them.
How he fought that day he never
knew; long afterward he would see
visions of il in sleep, and battle pic
lures that forever eluded his waking
consciousness. Round the little vii
from unexpected places, hideous death
traps caught the Unwary and venture
some, sometimes n street was filled
with jostllng mob, too packed to use
their steel, tearing at one another with
fists and teeth. There was no order,
and the command fell to him who
lage' the key,to the days fortunes, the
tide ebbed and flowed. Company after
company came up on either side. Now
advancing, now driven back. the Amer
leans fought from street to street and
back again. Machine guns opened fire
seized 1t. Through all that nightmare
Mark fought at the head of his com
pany, looking like a madman, as they
said OF him afterward. When he came
to himself ar last he found himself,
unwounded, save for his bleeding arm,
from which the bandage had long since
fallen, and In command of battalion.
They had driven the Germans from
the last house of the village. The de-
lay had saved the day. The reserves
had come pouring in. On the ridge be-
yond the enemy was mafshaling for a
last counter-attack.
Mark looked about him. Lleutenants.
captains who should have commanded
companies, mingled with privates and
noncoua, were following, as If hypno-
tized, this middle-aged private with the
red cross on his arSu. AS Mark looked
his heart swelled with the conscious
ness and pride of leadership. And, at
his glance, n roar went up that was
cnught up from man to man and sent
echoing into the distance.
And Mark was swept away w,-eh un-
conquernble enthusiasm. II was his
day, the day OF which every soldier
dreams.
'Come along, boysl Break them
upw he shouted, and ran forward.
With one resounding cheer the lines
swept after him. A ripple of machine.
gun fire caught them, but could mol
hold them. Over the fallen they
pressed on, cries Of triumph upon their
lips, the faces, set above the cleaning
bnyonets. animated by single pur
pose. And now they were upon them.
Mark fought in the bloody swirl
Blades thrust at him, bullets tore his
tattered uniform. Once he was down
and he saw giant rush at him Will
dubbed rifle. He raised his arm, ht
tried to drive with his sword, lungeC
and missed Then the uplifted rifle
fell harmlessly beside him, and Tho
giant fell forward, dead, over him. pin
ming him to the ground. and covering
him with his blood. A bay0net thrus
hnd passed clean through his body.
And, looking up bewildered. Murl
Thought he saw Hartley's face lool
into his own.
ANNAA hANAhtiA AOth wac VlA liS AtI
ngain. and Hartley had vanished. Bu
already the last tussle was over. I'll
Germans broke and Acd.
Mark stood stl1, gasping. The mel
were crowdIng all about him, wavin
their helmets on bayonet points. cheer
ing him. shaking his hand. Across tn
field two mounted men were riding
They came up to the ridge. and one,
wlitc-haircd old officer. lcaped to tn
ground and wrung Marks hand.
"ny thanks--our country's thanks {
yout" lie cried "What is your name?
Mark looked and saw the General
insignia upon the officers shoulder
straps.
Weston" ho answered.
And suddenly he remembered Eles
nor aud. ashamed and Inundated, an
yet strangely elevnted. he began I
push his way back through the crow'
lie turned into the street of the jai
Dead bodies lay everywhere, and a
ready some Of the ambulance men wer
succoting the wounded. Broken gun