The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-04-03
tcoeyriont i9is. by Charles Alden Settler
All Rights Reserved.)

60xxAS
tcoeyriont i9ts. by Charles Alden Settler.
All Rights ReserVed.)
CHAPTER
ICARTER CORW1N had lunched
~ alone at an exclusive little res
taurant on a side street certain
frontpage article in the Observer
Falltown's only daily newspaper-had
taken the edge of Corwin's appetite.
To be sure, the event had been i'm
pending-the somber shadow OF war
had long been stretching westward
over the mighty expanse Of water that
certain credulous and trusting Amer.
cans had glibly and unthinkingly re-
ferred to IA providing immunity
from Invasion.
But the Presidents war message
had come az a distinct shock despite
the expectancy which had preceded
it-and Corwln got up from the table
with n conviction that the country
faced task the enormity OF which
could not be comprehended on the in.
slant And. he grimly assured him.
self as he walked down Main street.
there were persons in America who
would never comprehend t.
Nor could Corwin entirely grasp
the mighty significance OF the thing
He was convinced that the volume of
production. hitherto fixed at certain
limits. would have to be vastly in
creased: there would have to be ex-
tensions. engagements. and intensive
schemes &c speed up the manufacture
, OF munitions and the thousand and
one implements OF destruction which
are the essentials of war: there would
have 10 be rapid and hazardous adjust
ments: and in some cases complete
rebuilding OF many industries. The
whole country would have to work
and save as IL never worked and saved
, beforehand the country would have
60 work and save under the handicap
OF startling labor loss. For the
/ khakiclad stream that must be poured
into devastated Europe would have to
be recruited from field and Office and
/ factory There was no magic by
which an army could be raised through
merely expressing the wish.
Filled with a vague disquiet. Corwin
made his way down Main street until
he reached Meridian avenue.
Main and Meridian formed the bust.
ness center OF Falltown. II was short.
I ly after noon when Corwin reached
the corner. and the hum OF traffic had
somewhat subsidized
Corwin had an appointment with
Gary Miller. president OF the Mer-
chants Bank: and he still had fifteen
minutes to spare when he arrived at
the corner SO he halted and leaned
against one OF the massive marble col
umns that supported the ornamented
facade OF the building.
The two streets formed gigantic
cross around which clustered many
business blocks. They were the only
business streets in Fslltown, and the
quiet residence sections surrounding
exerted a subduing influence. impart
ing an atmosphere OF peace and quiet
The pelce-atmosphere seemed to be
powerful today-at least to Corwin
For Corwin's reflections were running
10 coniraots just a. this instant-the
contrasts OF the pursuits OF peace and
the appalling devastation Of war.
One section OF Main street ran east
ward. Corwin could see the street.
paved for some distance. broad and in
viting. with the sunlight streaming
upon Il, until II merged with the gravel
road that dipped gently into valley
beyond the edge Of town. There II
was lost But II reappeared farther
ON. browning a long slope and stretch
Ing on and on--a sinuous white rib
bon in the glaring MONDAY sun--an
artery that connected Flltown with
the pulsing. throbbing world.
However. Corwin's thoughts did not
stop with the end OF the rodd-they
went right on TO the Atlantic coast,
leaped the mysterious waters. and
took him to the shores OF France.
And for while, unleashing his i'm
agination. and feeding II with the
graphic accounts he had read in the
newspapers. he looked upon the bat
tlefields; saw the Hun hordes rayage
the land; saw them sweep on In ser
ried waves-a succession OF finely
trained armies hurled at the worlds
throat.
II seemed TO Corwin as he leaned
against the marble pillar of the Mer-
chants Bank that he could hear the
thunder of the mighty guns; he Wis
ualized the endless streams Of stretch
er bearers returning from the front
with their shattered human wrecks:
the ruined towns and villages-he saw
the CHASTITY horror unfold In grisly do