THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE. NEBRA8KA. JL I1C JLSlBt nr FREDERICK (Copyright, 1914, by Charles Scribner's Sons) 8YNOPSI8. . At their home on the frontier tielwfen ih Orowtm nnel OrayB Martu nallaml iind tier mother; ontcirtalnlng Colonel Wcfitor IriGr ot the Grays, see Cnptuln Lanstron. rtoff IntolllKCtica otllcer ot the Drowns, njuied by a fall In liln anroplanu. Ten f-eara later WosterllnK, nominal vice but real chlof of stuff, reinforces Houth La jTIr, meditates on war, and speculates on llie comparative aiies of himself and Mar la, who. Is visltinir In tho Owy capital. WosterllnK calls on Marta. Hhe tells htrn tf lier teuchlriK children tho follies of war nd martial patriotism, bcKs him to pre vent war while ho is chlof of staff, and Br edicts that If lie makes war against the rowns lio will not win. On the march with the C3d ot the Hrowns Private; Htran ky, anarchist, decries war and playod MH patriotism and Is placod under arrest. Colonel Lanstron ovorhearlntf, begs him pit Lahntron calls on Marta ut her home. plo talks with Keller, the Kardcnor. Marta tells hnnstron that she believes Keller to 8 a spy Lnnstron confesses It Is true. .ariBtrnn shown Marta a telephone which teller has concealed In a secret pnssaK" inder tho towor for uso to benefit th llrowna In war emergencies. I. mixtion de Claresjiln lovo for Marta. WcBterlltiK and the Gray premier plan to usa a trivial In ternational afTalr to foment warlike pa triotism In army and people. CHAPTER VII Continued. "And tho press tho mischievous, greedy, but very useful press?" asked tho premier. "It nlso shall servo; nlBo obey. No lists of killed and founded shall bo Given out until I am ready. Tho pub llo must know nothing excopt what I choose to toll. I act for tho people And tho nation." "That Is agreed," said tho premier. "For these terrlblo weeks every nerve mid musclo of tho nation Is at your worvlco to win for tho nation. In throo or four days I shall know If tho public rlsos to tho call. If not- " He jshook his head. "While all tho Information give" out 'is provocatlvo to our peoplo, you will dcclaro your hopo that war may be averted," WeBterlIng continued. "This will Bcroen our purpose. Final ly, on top of public enthusiasm will come tho word that tho Urowns have fired tho first shot us thoy must, when wo cross tho frontier that thoy Itavo been killing our soldiers. This will mako the racial spirit of every man respond. Having decided for war, every plan Is worthy that helps 80 victory." 1 "It seems HendlBh!" exclaimed tho premier In answer to a thought eddy ing In tho powerful current of his brain. "Fiendish with calculation, but merciful, as you say." "A fast, torrlllc campaign! A ready machine taking tho road!" Westorllng declared. "Less suffering than If wo wont to war carelessly for a long cam paign than If wo allowed sentiment to Interfere with Intellect." "I like your energy, your will!" said tho premier admiringly. "And about the declaration of war? Wo shall tlmothat J.0 your purposo." "Declarations of war boforo strik ing, by nations taking tho aggresslvo, are ft disadvantage," Wcsterllng ex plained. "They nro going out of prac tice. Witness tho examples of Japan M Stake My Llfel" He Cried Hoarsely. ngalnst Itussla and tho Halknn allies Against Turkoy. In these days dec larations aro not necessury ub a warn ing of what Is going to happen. Thoy belong to tho ctlquotto of fencers." , "Yes, exactly. The declaration of war and tho ambassador's passports will be prepared and the wire that lighting liaa begun will release them," Agreed the premier. "Yet if wo did lose! If when I had given you all you ask your plans went wrong If our nrmy were broken to pieces on the frontier and then tho batlon, kept In ignoruueo of events, learned the truth" tho premier enun ciated slowly and pointedly while ho locked glances with Weaterllng "that Is the end for. us both. You would ?rn fuij" " -'C-Tt mmatmamammmmmmmmmtmmmamammammmKm Shot PALMER hardly want to roturo to tho capital to face public wrath!" "Wo must win though wo Iobo a million inr'n!" ho answered. "I stake my life!" ho cried hoarsely, striking his lint on the tablo. "You atako your lite!" repeated the premier with alow emphasis. "I do!" until Wcstcrllng. "Yes, my life. Wo cannot fall!" "Then It will bo war. If tho people want It!" said tho premier. "I nhnll not resist their desire!" ho added In his oftlclal manner, at peace with his consclencfl. Partow was a great brain set on an enormous body. Partow's eyes had tho llro of youth at sixty-five, but tho pendulous flesh of his cheeks was pasty. Jealousy and faction had en deavored for years to removo him from his position at tho head of tho army on account of age. Now govern ments decided as they camo In that ho muBt go, and thoy wont out with him still In the saddlo. Lot officers apply themselves with conspicuous energy and thoy heard from a genial Partow; lot officers only keep step and froo of courts martial, and thoy heard from a merciless task master. Peculiarly human, peculiarly dictatorial, dynamic, and Inscrutable was I'artow, who never asked any ono undor him to work harder than him- Belf. Lanstrou appeared In tho presence of Jove Bhortly after eight o'clock tho noxt morning after ho left La Tlr. Jovo rolled his big head on his short neck In n nod and said: "Lnto!" "Tho train was late, sir," Innstron replied, "and I havo somo news about our thousandth chanco." "Hm-m! What is it?" asked Partow. When Lanstron had told his story, Partow worked his lips In a way he had If ho wero struck by a passing re flection which might or might not havo n connection with tho subject In hand. "Strange about hpr whon you consider who her paronts wore!" he said. "Hut you nover know. Hm-m! Why don't you Bit down, young man?" "Tho way that tho Grays gavo out our dispatch convinces mo of their in tentions," Partow said. "Their peo plo aro rising to It and ours aro rising In answer. Tho drays havo been trans ferring regiments from dlstunt prov inces to their frontier becauBO thoy will light better In nn lnvnslon. Wo aro transferring homo regiments to our frontier because thoy will fight for their own property. By Thursday you will 1 1 ml that open mobilization on both aides has begun." "My department is ready," said Lanston, "all oxcopt your decision about press censorship." "A troublosomo point," responded Partow. "I havo procrastinated be causo two definite plans woro fully worked out. It Is a matter of cholco botweon thorn: either publicity or com ploto secrecy. You know I am no bo llover In riding two horses ut onco. My mind Is about made up; but let mo hear your sldo again. Sometimes I got conviction by probing nnothor mnn's." Lanstron was at his best, for his own conviction was intense. "Of courso thoy will go in for so- crecy; but our cubo is uliioront, no began. Partow snttled himself to listen with I ho gift of tho organizer who draws from his Informant tho brevity of ob Bontlals. "I should tako tho people Into our conlldonce," Lanstron proccoded. "I should mako them fcol that wo wero ono family lighting lor all wo hold dear against tho Invader. If our losses aro heavy, If wo havo a setback, then the Inspiration of tho heroism of those who havo fallen and the danger of their own homes feeling tho foot of tho lnvndor noxt will Impel the living to greater sacrlllcos. For tho Grays aro In tho wrong. Tho moral and tho legal right Is with us." "And tho duty ot mon llko you and mo, chosen for tho purposo," said Par tow, "Ib worthily to direct tho cour age that goes with moral right. Tho ovort net of war must eonio from thorn by violating our frontier, not In the African Junglo but horo. Even whon tho burglar Ilngora tho window-Bash wo shall not llro no, not until ho en tors our house. Whon ho does, you would havo a mossago go out to our peoplo that will set them quivering with Indignation?" "Yes, nnd I would lot tho names of our soldiers who full llrst bo known and how thoy fell, their backs to their frontier homes and their faces to tho foo." Our very liberality In giving 'nowa will help us to covor the military secrets which wo deslro to preBorvo," Partow said, with slow emphasis. "Wo shall hold back what wo please, con lldent of tho peoplo'a trust. Good policy that, job! Hut enough! Your ordors aro ready, In dotal), J bellovo. You have nothing to add?" "No, air, nothing; at least, not until war begins." "Very well. Wo shall havo tho or ders Issued ni tho proper moinont," concluded Partow. "And Westerljnc is going to find," ho proceeded nftor a thoughtful pause, "that a man is readier to dlo fighting to hold his own threshold than fighting to tako anoth er man's. War Is not yet solely an af fair of machinery and numbers. The human element Is still uppermost. Glvo mo your hand no, not that one, not tho ono you shako hands with the ono wounded In action!" I'artow Inclosed tho stiffened fin gers In his own with something of tho caress which an old bear that Is In very good humor might glvo to a promising cub. "I havo planned, planned, planned for this time. Tho world shall soon know, as tho elements of It go Into tho crucible test, whether It Is well dono or not. I want to llvo to boo tho day whon tho last chargo mado against our trenches is benten back. Then thoy may throw this old body onto tho rub bish heap as soon as thoy please it is a fat, unwieldly behomoth of nn old body!" "No, no, It Isn't!" Lanstron objected hotly, Ho was Beelng only what most peoplo saw after talking with Partow for a few minutes, his line, Intelligent eyes and beautiful forehead. "All that I wanted of tho body was to feed my brain," I'artow continued, heedless of tho Interruption. "I havo watched my mind as a navigator watches a barometer. I have been ready at tho first sign that it was los ing Its grip to glvo up. Yet I havo felt that my body would go on feeding my brain and that to tho last moment of consciousness, whon suddenly tho body collapses, I should havo self possession nnd onorgy of mind. Under tho comljig strain tho shock may come, ub a cord snaps. At that Instant my successor will tako up my work where I leave it off. "Tho old fogy who has aimed to Join experience to youth chooses youth. You took your medicine with out grumbling In tho dlsngreeablo but vitally Important position of chief of "It Is All There, My Life, My Dreams, My Ambitions." Intelligence. Now you there, don't tromblo with stage fright!" For Lan stron's hand was quivering in Partow's grasp, while his faco was that of a man stunned. "You nro to bo at tho right hand of this old body," continued Partow. "You nro to go with mo to tho front; to sloop In tho room next to mine; to bo always at my sldo, and, finally, you aro to promlso that If over tho old body falls in its duty to tho mind, If over you seo that 1 am not standing up to tho strain, you aro to say so to me and I glvo you my word that I shall lot you tako chargo." Lanstron was too stunned to speak for a moment. Tho arrangement Boomed a hideous Joke; a reflnomont of cruelty Inconceivable. It was ex pecting him to toll Atlas that he waa old and to tako tho weight of tho world off tho giant's shoulders. "Havo you lost your patriotism?" demanded Partow. "Aro you nfraid? afraid to toll mo tho truth? Afraid of duty? Afraid in your youth of tho burden that I bear in ago?" His lingers closed In on Lanstron's with Bitch forco that tho grip waa painful. "Promlso!" ho commanded. "I promise!" Lanstron said with a throb. "That's it! That's tho way! That's tho kind of soldier 1 like," Partow de clared with chango ot tone, nnd ho roso from his chnlr with a spring that was a dollght to Lanstrou In Its proof of tho physical vigor so stoutly denied. "Wo havo a lot to say to each other today," ho added; "but ilrst I am go ing to show you tho wholo bag of tricks." His arm crookod in Lnnstron'a, thoy wont along tho main corridor of tho staff oluco nnd entered a vault having a single chnlr and a small table In tho center and Unod by sections of numbered pigeonholes, onch with a combination lock. At tho baso of ono section was n smnll safo. It was not tho ilrst time that Lanstrou had been in this vault, llo had tho combination of two of tho sections of pigeonholes, aerostatics nnd Intolllgonco. Tho rest belonged to other divisions. "Tho safo Is my own, as you know. No ono opons It; no ono knows whnt Is In It but nio," said Partow, taking from It an uuvelopo uud a manuscript, am ft 'a'-irlf"1" n'umi'vwnm xttUijiJUJ 11 If Jii which ho laid on tho tablo. "There you havo alt that Is In my brain tho wholo plan. Tho envelope contains tho combinations of all tho pigeon holes, If you wish to look up any de tails " "Thank you!" Lanstron half whis pered. It was all ho could think of to say. "And you will find that thero Ib more than you thought, perhaps; tho reason why I havo fought hard to re main chief of staff; why " Partow continued In a voice that had tho se pulchral uncannlness of a throat long nuraed now breaking freo of tho bond ngo of years within the sound-proof walls. "Hut" he broke oft suddenly as If ho distrusted even tho security of the vault. "Yea, it is all there my life's work, ray dream, my ambition, my plan!" " Lanstron heard tho lock slide In the door ns Partow wont out and ho was alono with tho army's accrota. As ho read Partow's firm handwriting, many parts fell together, many moves on a chessboard grow clear. His breath camo faster, he bent closer over tho table, ho turned back pages to go over them ngaln. Every sentence dropped homo In his mind Hke a bolt In a socket. Unconscious of tho pas sage of time, he did not heed tho door open or realize Partow's presence un til ho felt Partow's hand on his shoul der. "I see that you didn't look Into any of tho pigeonholes," tho chief of staff observed. Lanstron pressed his flngor-tlps on the manuscript significantly. "No. It Is nil thoro!" ' "The thing being to carry it out!" said Partow. "God with us!" ho add ed devoutly. CHAPTER VIII. Close to tho White Posts. On Saturday evening tho 128th regi ment of tho Grays was mustered in Held accoutrements and a full supply of cartridges. In tho darkness the first battalion marched out at right angles to tho main road that ran through La Tlr and South La Tlr. At length Company H, deployed In lino of skirmishers, lay down to Bleep on Its arms. "Wo wait hero for tho word," Fra casse, tho captain, whispered to his senior lieutenant. "If it comes, our objective is tho houso and tho old castlo on tho hill above tho town." Tho tower of tho church showed dimly when a pale moon broke through a cloud. By Its light Hugo Mallln saw on his left the pinched and characterless features of Petor kln. A fow yards ahead was a white stone post. "That's their sldo over thero!" whis pered tho banker's son, who was noxt to Petorltln. "When wo cross war begins," said Iho manufacturer's son. 'I wonder if they are expecting us!" I Bald tho Judge's son a trifle huskily, 1 in an attempt at humor, though he I was not given to humor. ' "Just waiting to throw bouquets!" ' whispered the laborer's son. Ho, too, was not given to humor and he, too, spoko a triflo huskily. "And wo'll fix bayonets when we start and they will run at tho sight of our steel!" said Eugene Aronson. Ho and Hugo alone, not excepting I'll zor, tho butcher's son, spoke In their natural voices. Tho others wero try ing to make their voices sound natu ral, whllo Pllzer's volco had devel oped a certain ferocity, and the liver patch on his cheek twitched more fre quently. "Why, Company B Is In front! Wo havo tho post of honor, and maybo our company will win the most glory of any In tho regiment!" Eu gene added. "Oh, we'll beat them! Tho bullot is not mndo that will get mo!" "Your service will bo over In time for you to help with tho spring plant ing, Eugone," whispered Hugo, who I was apparently preoccupied with many detached thoughts. "And you to bo at homo sucking lollipops!" Pilzer growled to Hugo. "That would bo better than murder ing my fellowmnn to get his property." Hugo answered, so soberly that it did not seem to his comrades that ho was joking this time. Pllzor's snarling ex clamation of "White feather!" camo In the midst of a chorus of indignation. Captain Fracasso, who had heard only the disturbance without knowing tho cnuBo, interfered in a low, sharp tone: "Sllonco! As I have told you bo fore, silonco! Wo don't want them to know that wo are hero. Go to sleep! You may get no rest tomorrow night!" Hut little Poterkln, tho question in his mind breaking free of his Upt, un wittingly nsked: "Shall shall we light in tho morn ing?" "1 don't know. Nobody knows!" an swered Fracasso. "We wait on ordors, ready to do our duty. Thoro may he no war. Don't lot mo hoar another peep from you!" Now all closed their oyea. In front of them was vast sllenco which seemed to strotch from end to end of tho frontier, whllo to tho rear was tho rumblo of switching railway trains and tho rumblo of provision tralna and artlllory on tho roads, and in tho dls tanco on tho plain the hcndlight of a locomotive cut a swath In tho black ulghL Hut tho breathing of most of tiia mon waa not that of slumber, though Eugene nnd Pilzer slept soundly. Hours passed. Occasional restless movements told of efforts to forco sleop by changing position. "It's tho wnlting that's sickening!" exploded tho manufacturer's son un dor his breath, desperately. "So I say. I'd llko to bo at It and dono with tho suspense!" said tho doctor's son. "They sny If you aro Bhot through tho head you don't know what killed you it's so quick. Think of that!" exclaimed Pcterkin, huddling cloeer to Hugo and shivering. "Yes, very merciful," Hugo whis pored, patting Petorkin'a arm. "Sh-h-h! Silence, I tell you!" com manded Fracasse crossly. Ho was falling Into a half dozo at last In marching order, with cartridge boxes full, on Saturday night, the 63d of tho Browns marched out of bar racks to the main pass road. Ono company nfter another loft tho road at 11 given point, bound for tho position mapped In its Instructions. Dellarmo's, however, went on until it was oppo site the Galland house. "Wo aro depending on you," tho colonel said to Dellarmo, giving his hand a grip. "You aro not to draw off till you got the flag." "No, sir," Dellarmo replied. "Mind tho slgnnl to tho batteries keep the men screened warn them not to let their Ilrst baptism of shell flra break their nerves!" tho colonel added In a final repetition of Instruc tions already indelibly impressed on tho captain's mind. Moving cautiously through a cut, Dellarmo'a company came, about mid night, to a halt among tho stubble of a wheat-field behind a knoll. After he had bidden tho men to break ranks, he crept up tho Incline. "Yes, It's there!" ho whispered when ho returned. "On tho crest of tho knoll a cord Is stretched from stnko to stake," he said, explaining the rea son for what was to be dono, as was his custom. "The engineers placed It thoro after dusk and tho frontier was closed, so that you would know Just where to use your spades In tho dark. Quietly as possible! No talking!" he kopt cautioning ns tho mon turned the soft earth, "and not higher than tho cord, and lay tho etnbblo side of the sods on tho reverse so as to cover tho fresh earth on tho sky-line." When the work was dono all re turned behind tho knoll except tho sentries posted at Intervals on tho crest to watch. With tho aid of a small electric flash, screened by his hands, Dellarme again examined a sec tion of the etnff map that outlined thb contour ot tho knoll In relation to tho other positions. After this ho wroto in his diary the simple facts of the day's events, concluding with a sentl ment of gratitude for tho honor shown his company and a prayer that ho might keep a clear head and do his duty If war came on tho morrow. "Now, every one get all the sleep ho can!" he advised tho men. Strnneky slept with his head on his arm, soundly; tho others slept no bet ter than the men of tho 128th. Tho night passed without any alarm ex cept that of their own thoughts, nnd they welcomed dawn as a relief from suspense. Thero was no hot coffee this morning, and thoy washed down their rations with water from their "It Looks Like Business," Declared the Old Sergeant. canteens. The old sergeant was lying beside Captain Uellnrmo on the crest, tho sunriso In their faces. As the mist cleared from the plain it revealed the whlto dots of tho frontier posts In tho mendow and behind them ninny gray figures In skirmish order, scarcely vis Ible except through the glasses. "It looks llko business!" declared tho old sergeant. "Yes, It begins tho mlnuto they crews tho line!" said Dellarmo. His glance sweeping to tho rear to scan the landscape undor tho light ot day, ho recognized, with a sense of pride and awe, tho tactical Importance of his company's position in relation to that of the imtortnnco of tho other companies. Easily he mado out tho regimental line by streaks of con cealed trenches and groups of brown uniforms; and hero and there wero tho oblong, cloth stretches of waiting hospital litters. On the reverse slope of another knoll was tho farmhouse, marked X on his map as tho regimen tal headquarters, where ho wns to watch for tho signal to fall back from his first stand In delaying tho enemy's advance. Directly to tho rear waa tho out through which tho company had come from tho main, pasa road, afid be yond that the Galland houso. which was to bo the second stand. (TO II U CONTINUED.) JRllilsIt IB TILL UNOCCUPIED Ifi fHE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT ASKING FOR INCREASED ACRE- AGE IN GRAIN, TO MEET EUROPEAN DEMAND. Thero nro a number of holders of :nnd In Western Canada, living In tho United States, to whom tho Canadian jovernment will shortly mako an ap peal to placo tho unoccupied areaa they aro holding under cultivation. Tho lands nro highly productlvo, but In a Btato of idleness they are not giving any revenue beyond tho un earned Increment and aro not of tho benefit to Canada that theso lands :ould easily bo mado. It Is pointed out that tho demand for grains for years to como will cnuso good prlcca for all that can bo produced. Not only will tho prico of grains be af fected, but also will that of cattlo, hogs and horses, In fact, everything that can bo grown on tho fnrms. When placed under proper cultivation, not tho kind that is often resorted to, which lessens yield and land values, many farms will pay for themselves in two or three years. Careful and In tensive work Is required, and If this 13 given in tho way it Is given to tho high-priced lands of older settled countries, surprising results will fol low. There aro those who aro paying rent, who should not bo doing so. Thoy would do better to purchaso lands in Western Canada at tho present low prico at which thoy aro being offered by land companies or private Individ uals. Theso have been held for the high prices that many would havo realized, but for tho war and tho finan cial stringency. Now is tho tlmo to buy; or if it Is preferred advantage might bo taken of tho ofrer of ICO acres of land freo that is made by the Dominion Government. Tho mari who owns his farm has a life of indepen dence. Then again thero aro those who aro renting who might wish to continue as renters. Thoy have some means as well as sufficient outfit to bo gin in a new country whero alt tho advantages aro favourable. Many ol tho owners of unoccupied lands would bo willing to leaso them on reasonable terms. Then again, attention Is drawn to tho fact that Western Canada num bers amongst its most successful farm ers, artisans, business men, lawyers, doctors and many other professions., Farming today is a profession. It Is J no longer accompanied by tlio drudg cry that wo wero acquainted with generation ago. The fact that a mz Is not following a farming life to does not preclude him from golt a Western Canada farm tome. and making a success of It. If J not in possession of Western Ca land that he can convert into a no snouia sccurp some, mano farm by equipping it and workn himself. Tho man who has beonj Ing his Western Canada land for tho profit he naturally has been justified In doing) agricultural possibilities aro- and sure. If ho has not real mediately by making a sale, hi not worry. But to lot it llo idf igood business. By getting It, yinder cultivation a greater pre come to him. Havo It cultiva Vorklng It hlmserf, or get sot representative to do It. Set al tlug a purchaser, a renter ono-o operato on shares. Tim ilnnartmnnt nf thn Tint Government havhig charge of ! migration, through Mr. v, Superintendent at Ottawa, (J directing tue attention of ns owners of 'Western Canai tho fact that money will of farming thfeso lands. , of tho Departme&, locatel points in tho States, are slstnnco to this en3-Ar Not at "I've noticed one til "And what Is that?'I "No matter how oft J zen gets stewed, lUdiJ mako him totdor." IND1GE5TI1 OR SIC Time it! Pane's all Stomach misa minutes.! 4- Do eomo fcfrds you cfl tnsto good, br)t work bt. into stubborn lumps onJ tour, gassy stomaCHl Mrs. Dyspeptln, jot tliU Dlapepsln digests o'verl nothing to sour and. upsl never was anythjiiffBO 1 1 certainly effective. Noil badly your stontach Js" (1 will get happy wJlefln but what ploa6e3jW pioi strengthens nrjdCrefcuiatas' acn so youcan eat your in without fear. You feel dlfforent as soc Diapopsln" conies In cont Btomach distress juBt vi stomach gets sweet, noi Ing, no eructations of Go now, mako tho you over mado by gettj cont caso of Papo a Dq store. You reallzo In a? needless It is to suffeJ itefts sy- I Pi. . M n '. WWSGSSESM Pi I ilj(llK vlon, dyspepsia or bad I