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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (March 25, 1915)
RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF i( If -" 3 The Last Shot s FREDERICK PALMER a (OorCMVU T OBrlM MrlbMr Boat) CHAPTER XIX Continued. Now the automatic and the rifles front tho redoubt to which the Drowns had ratio back opened flro. So close togotuer wore those bullot-ma-chinos that tho orbit of each one's wing made a spray of only a few yards' breadth over tho redoubt, whoro tho IlrownB' gun-tiro hud not for n mo ment eoaood Its porotstcnt shelling, with Inoroanlngly largo and solid tar gets of flesh for their practice Tho thing for thoso tnrgots to do, they know, waB to Intrench and begin to roturu tho lnfnntry and automatics' flro. Desperately, with tho last effort of courage thoy roso In tho attempt roBO Into playing lioso streams of bul lets whono closo hiss waB a steady un dortono between fill oil bursts. In tho garish, jumping light bravo olllcers Impulsively stood up to hearten their commands in their work, and dropped with half-uttered urglngs, threats, and oaths on their IIdb. Tho bullotB from tho automatics missing one mark wuro certain to find another, porhnpB four or five In n row, uch was their velocity and power of youotratlon. Whoro shells mado gaps and toro holes In tho human mam), tho automatics cut with tho regularity of tho drlvou teeth of a comb. Tho mon who oeoaped all tho forniB of slaughter and staggered on to tho ruins of tho redoubt, grossed their weight on top of those In tho craters or hugged be hind tho pyramids of dobrls, and oven mado brcautworkB from tho bodies of tho doad. The more that bankod up, tho moro fruitless tho efforts of tho of floors to rcstoro order In tho frantic medley of shell screams and explosions at a time when a mlnuto scorned an ago. Meanwhllo, between them this bankedup forco nt tho chargo's end and tho Drown redoubt with Us auto matics, tho Gray gunners wero making a eono of shell burstB in order to glvo tlio soldloru tlmo to make their hold ' of tho ground thoy had gained secure. Through this zona Strausky and his mon woro to lead tho Drowns In a countcr-attnek. At tho very height of the Gray charge, when ull tho reserves wcro In, dark objects fell out of tho heavens, and where thoy dropped earth and floah wero mingled In tho mucorutlon. Llko some giant reptile with Ite ver tebrae breaking, gouged and torn and pinioned, tho chargo stopped, in writh ing, throbbing confusion. Thoso on the outer circle of explosions were thrown against their follows, who urged back in another direction from an explosion In tho opposlto quarter. From tho rear the pressure weakened; the human hammer was no longer driv ing tho ram. Blinded by tho lightnings and dust, dizzy from concussions nnd noise, too blank of mind to bo anno or insane, tho atoms of tho bulk of tho chargo In natural instinct turned from their gonl and toward tho place whence thoy bad come, with douth from all aldcB still buffeting thorn. Staggering ly, at first, they went, for want of In Itattvo In thotr paralysis; then rapidly, as the law of self-preservation assorted Itself in wild Impulse Ab snoop driven over a precipice thoy had advanced; as mon thoy fled. Thoro waB no longer any command, no longer any cohesion, except of legs Btruggllng In nnd out ovor tho uneven footing of dead nnd wounded, whllo thoy felt another pressure, that of tho mass of tho nrowns In pursuit. Of nil thoso of FracnsBo's company whom wo know only tho Judga'a son nud Jacob Pllzor were allvo. Stained with blood and dust, his tcoth showing In a grlmaco of mocking hate of all hu mankind, rilzer's savagery ran freo of the restraint of dlsclpllno and civilized convention. Striking right nnd loft, ho forced his way out of the region of eneil tiro and still kept on. Clubbing hie rlflo, ho struck down ono ofllcor who tried to dotaln him; but nnothor ofllcor, quicker than ho, put a rovolver bullet through his head. Westerllng, who had buried his face In his hands In Marta's presence at tho thought of failure, must kcop the pose of his position before tho staff. With chin drawn in and shoulders squarod tn a sort of petrified military habit, he recelred the feverish news that grew worse with each brief bulle tin. He, tho chief of staff; ho, Hod worth Westerllng, the superman, muBt be a rock in the flood of alarm. When ha heard that his human ram was in recoil he declared that the repulse had beon exaggerated ropulaes- always were. With word that a heavy counter attack was turning the retreat Into an uufiuvumuuio roui, no uroKo into n torm. Ho was not boa ten; ho could not bo bcaton. "Lot our guns cut a row BwathB In tho mob!" ho cried. "That will Btop them from running and bring them back to a eenso of duty to their country." Tlio IrrllntltiR tutor of tho bell tn tho closet off tho library only Increased his defiance of facts beyond control. Ho wont to tho long dlstanco with a reply to tho premier's Inquiry ready to his lips. ' "Wo got Into the onemy's works but had to fall hack temporarily," ho said. "Temporarily 1 What do you mean?" demanded tho premier. "I moan that wo have only begun to attack!" declared Wostorllng. Ho liked that sontonce. It sounded llko the shibboleth of a great leader In a crisis. "I shall assault again to-morrow night," "Thou your losses wcro not heavy ?" "No, not relatively. To-morrow night we press homo the advantage we gained to-night." "Hut you have bean bo confldont each tlmo. You Btlll think that" "That I moan to win! There Is no stopping half-way." "Well, I'll still try to hold the situa tion hero," replied tho premier. "But koop mo Informed." Drugged by his dosporato stubborn noss, Westerllng was believing In his star again when ho returned to tho library. All the greater his success for being won against skepticism and fonrs! Ho summoned his chiefs of divisions, who camo with tho nows that tho Drowns had takon tho very redoubt from which tho head of tho Gray chnrgo had started; but there they had stopped. "Of course! Of coursothoy stopped!" exclaimed Westerllng. "They aro not mud. A fow aro not going to throw themselves ngulnst superior numbers our superior numbers beaten by our own panic! Lanstron Is not a fool. You'll find tho Browns back tn their old position, working llko beavers to mnko now defenses In tho morning. Meanwhile, we'll get that mob of ours Into shnpo and find out what made them lose their nervo. To-morrow night wo shall have as many moro be hind them. Wo aro going to attack again!" Tho staff exchanged glances of amazement, and Turcas, his dry voice crackling llko parchment, exclaimed: "Attack again? At tho same point?" "Yes tho ono pld"co to nttackl" enld Westerllng. ''Tho rest of our lino has abundant reserves; a noedlcss num ber for anything but tho offensive. We'll leavo enough to hold and draw off tho rest to Engadlr at once." "But tliolr dirigibles! A surprising number of thorn uro ovor our lines," Bellini, tho chief of Intelligence, had tho tomerlty to say. "You will send our planes and dirig ibles to bring down theirs I" Wester llng commanded. "I have every last one; but thoy outnumber us!" persisted Bellini. "Even In retreat thoy can soo. Tho air has cleared so that considerable bodies of troops In motion will bo read ily dlscernlblo from high altitudes. Tho renson for our falluro last night was that thoy know our plan of attack." "Thoy know! Thoy know, nftor all our precautions! There Is still a leak! You" Wcstorllng raised his clenched hand threateningly at tho chief of in telligence, his cheeks purplo with rngo, his eyes bloodshot. But Bellini, with "Oh, the Murder of It the Murder," He Breathed. his boyish, small faco and round head set close to his shoulders, remained undisturbedly exact. "Yes, thoro Is a leak, and from the staff," ho answered. "Until I have found It this army ought to suspend any aggressive " "I wsb not asking advlco!" inter rupted Westerllng. "But, I repeat, tho leak Is not neces sary to dlecloso this new movement that you plan. Their air craft will dls closo it," Bellini concluded. Ho had done his duty and had nothing more to say. "Dirigibles do not win battles!" Westerllng announced. "Thoy aro won by getting lnfnntry In possession of po sitions and holding them. No matter of wo don't BurprUo tho enemy. Haven't tho Browns hold tholr line with Inferior uumbore? If they have, we can hold tho rest of ours. That gives us overwhelming forces at En gadlr." "You tako all responsibility?" asked Turcas. , "1 dol" said Westorllng firmly. "And If w&M$MMk w wlll.wauto no moro time. The pre- mier supports mo. I havo decided. Wo will set the troops In motion." With flerco energy he sot to work detaching unite of artillery and In fantry from every part of tho line and starting thorn toward Engadlr. "This means an Improvised organi zation; It breaks up tho machine," said the tactical expert to Turcas whon thoy wero alone. "Yes," replied Turcas. "He wanted no advlco from us when ho was taking counsel of desperation. If ho succeeds, success will retrloro all tho rest of his errors. Wo may have a stroke of luck in our favor." In the headquarters of tho Drowns, junior officers and clerks reported the words of each bulletin with tho relief of men who breathed freely again. The chiefs of divisions who were with Lan stron alternately sat down and paced tho floor, their restlessness now that of a happiness too deeply thrilling to be expressed by hilarity. Each fresh dotall only confirmed tho complete ness of tho repulse as that memorable night In tho affairs of tho two nations slowly woro on. Shortly boforo threo, whon tho firing had died after the Drown pursuit had stopped, a wireless from a dirigible flying over tho fron tier camo, telling of bodies of Gray troops and guns on tho mnrch. Soon planes and other dirigibles flying over other positions wero sending In word of tho samo tenor. Tho dilofs drew around tho table and looked Into ono another's oyes In tho significance of a common thought. "It cannot bo a retreat!" said tho vice-chief. "Hardly. That Ib lnconcolvablo of Westerllng at this tlmo," Lanstron re plied. "Tho bull charges whon wound ed. It Is clear that he means to make another attack. Thoso troops on tho march across country aro Isolated from any Immediate service" It was LauBtron's way to bo sug gestive; to let Ideas develop In coun cil nnd orders follow as out of council. "Tho chance!" exclaimed some one "Tho chanco!" others said in the samo breath. "The God-given chance for a quick blow I Tho chanco! Wo attack! Wo attack!" It was the most natural conception to a military tactician, though any man who mado It his own might have bulldod a reputation on it if he knew how to got tho car of the press. Tholr faces wero close to Lanstron as they leaned toward him eagerly. He seemed not to bco thorn but to bo looking at Partow'a chair. In imagination Par tow waB there In life Partow with tho dome forehead, the pendulous cheeks, the shrewd, kindly eyes. A daring risk, this! What would Partow say? Lanstron always asked himself this In a crisis: What would Partow say? "Well, my boy, why aro you hesitat ing?". Partow demanded. "I don't know that I'd havo taken my long holiday and loft you In chargo If I'd thought you'd bo losing your norvo as you are this mlnuto. Wasn't It part of my plan my dream that plan I gave you to read In tho vaults, to strlko If a chance, this very chance, wero to como? Hurry upl Seconds count!" "Yes, a chanco to end tho killing Tor good nnd all!" said Lanstron, coming abruptly out of his silence. "We'll tako It and strike hard." Tho staff bent over tho map, Lan stron'a finger flying from point to point, whllo ready expert answers to his questions wcro at his elbow and tho wires sang out directions that made a drenched and shivering sol diery who had been yielding and hold ing and never advancing grow warm with tho thought of springing from tho mlro of trenches to chargo tho enemy. And ono, Gustavo Feller, In command of a brlgado of field-guns the mobile guns that could go forward rumbling to tho horses' trot saw his dearly be loved batteries swing Into a road In the moonlight. "La, la, la! Tho worm will turn!" ho clucked. "It's a morry, gambling old world and I'm right fond of It so full of the unexpected for tho Grays! That lead horse Is a llttlo lamo, but ho'll last tho night through. Lots of lumo things will! Who knows? May bo we'll bo cleaning tho mud off our boots on tho white posts of tho fron tier to-morrow! A wholo brlgado mlno! I live! You old brick, Lnnny! This tlmo wo are going to spank tho enomy on tno part or tits anatomy whoro spanks uro conventionally glveu. La, lu lal" CHAPTER XX. Turning the Tablet. Through tho door which tho nldo had left opon tho division chiefs, led by Turcas, filed In. To Wostorllng they seomod llko a procession of ghosts. Tho features of ono were the features of all, graven with tho weari ness of tho machlno's treadmill. Their harness hold thom up. A moving plat form under their feot kopt their legs moving. They groupod around the great man's desk silently, Turcas, his lips a half-opened seam, his voice that of crinkling .parchment, acting as spokesman. "The enemy seized his advantage," he Bald, "when ho found that our re sorros were on the march, out of touch with the wlro to headquarters." Westerllng forced a smilo which he wanted to bo a knowing smile. "However, we had not propared our positions for the defensive," continued that very literal parchment voice. "They bogan an assault on our left flank first and wo'vo Just had word that thoy have turned It, Nor Is that the worst of It. They aro prosslng at other well-chosen points. They threat en to plorco our center." "Our center!" glbod Westerllng. "You need rest. Our center, where we havo tho column of last night's attack still concentrated! If anything would convlnco mo that I havo to light this war nlono I " Westerllng choked in irritation. "Yes. Tho ground is such that It Is a tactically safe and advantageous move for Lanstron to mako. Ho strlkos at tho vitals of our machine." "But what about tho remainder of tho force that made the' chargo? What about all our guns concentrated In front of Engadlr?" "I was coming to that. The rout of tho assaulting column wus much worso than we had supposed. Those who are strong enough cannot bo got to re form. Many wero so exhausted that thoy dropped In their tracks. Our guns aro at thlB moment In retreat or being captured by tho rush of the Drowns' Infantry. Your Excellency, tho crisis Is sudden, Incredible." "Our wlro service has broken down. We cannot communicate with many of "A Whole Brigade Minel I Live." our division commanders," put tn Dol linl, the chief of Intelligence "Yes, our organization, so dependent on communication, is in danger of dis ruption," concluded Turcas. "To avoid disorder, we think it best to retroat across tho plain to our own range." At the word "retreat" Westorllng sprang to his feet, his cheeks purplo, the veins of his neck and temples sculptured as ho took a threatening step toward tho group, which fell back boforo tho physical rage of tlio man, all except tho vlco-chlof, his mouth a thin, ashy lino, who hold his own. "You cowards!" Westerllng thun dered. "Ketreat when wo havo flvo millions to their three!" "Wo havo not that odds now," replied the parchment volco. "All their men are engaged. They havo caught us at a disadvantage, unablo to uso our num bers excopt In dotall In trying to hold on in fnco of " "I tell you we cannot retreat!" WeB- terllng Interrupted. "That Is the end. I know what you do not know. I am In touch with the government. Yes, I know " This brought fresh alarm Into faces which had become set in grim stoicism by many alarms. If tho peoplo woro in Ignoranco of tho losses and the army in ignorance of tho nation's fcollng, tho officers of the staff were no less in Ignoranco of what passed over the long-distance wire between the chief of staff and tho premier. "I know what is best I alone!" Westerllng continued, driving home his point. "Tell our commanders to hold. Neither general nor man is to budge. They aro to stick to tho death. Any ono who docs not I shall hold up to public shame as a poltroon. Who knows but Lanstron's attack may be a council of desperation? Tho Drowns may bo worse off than wo are. Hold, hold! If wo aro tired, they aro tired. Frequently It takes only an ounce moro of resolution to turn tho tldo of battle. Hold, hold! Tomorrow will toll a dlf forent story I We are going to win yot! YeB, wo aro going to win!" "It Is for you to decide, Your Excel lency," said Turcas, slowly and pre cisely. "You tako tho responsibility." "I tako the responsibility. I am In command!" replied Westorllng in un flinching pose "Yob, Your Excellency." And thoy filed out of tho room, leav ing him to his Isolation. After Marta bad learned, over the telephone, from Lanstron of tho cer tain repulse of the Gray aBsault, fatigue sheer physical fatigue such as made soldiers drop dead In slumber on the earth, their packs still on their backs overcame her. Her work was done. Tho demands of nature overwhelmed her faculties. She slept with a nervous twitching of her muscles, a restless tossing of her lithe body, until ham- imers bogan boating on her temples, boating, beating wun tno sound of Bholl bursts, as If to warn her that pun lshment for her share In tho killing was to be the eternal concussion of battle In her ears. At length she real ized that tho cannonading was real. Hastening out-of-doors, as her glanco Bwopt toward tho rango Bho saw bursts of shrapnel smoke from the guns of tho Drowns nearer than slnco tho lighting had begun on tho main line, and theao were dlroctod at bodies of Infantry that wera In confused re treat down tho slopes, whllo all traffic on the pass road was moving toward tho rear. Impelled by a now appre hension sho hurried to tho tunnel. Lanstron answered her promptly in a volco that had a ring of relief and Joy In place of the tension that had char acterlzcd It slnco the outbreak of the war. "Thanks to you, Martal" he cried. "Everything goes back to you thanks to you camo this chance to attack, and wo are succeeding at every point! You are tho general, you tho maker of vie torles!" "Yes, the general of still more kill lngl" she cried In Indignation. "Why have you gone on with the slaughter? I did not help you for this. Why?" No reply camo. Sho poured out more questions, and Btlll no reply. She pressed tho button and tried again, but she might as woll have been talking over a dead wire. One man alone against the tide rather, the man who has seen a tide rise at his orders now finding all Its sweep against him Westerllng, accus tomed to have millions of men move at his command, found himself, one man out of tho millions, still and help less whllo thoy moved of their own Im pulses. As news of positions lost camo In, ho could only grimly repeat, "Hold! Tell them to hold!" fruitlessly, llko ad jurations to the wind to ceaso blowing. Tho bell of tho long dlstanco kopt ringing unheeded, until at last his aldo camo to Bay that tho premier must speak either to him or to tho vlco chlef. Westerllng staggered to his feet and with lurching steps went Into tho closet. Thoro ho sank down on tho chair In a heap, staring at tho tole plioiio mouthpiece Again tho bell rang. Clenching his handB In a rocking ef fort, ho was nblo to stiffen his spina onco moro ns he took down tho re ceiver. To admit defeat to the pre mier no, he was not ready for that yet, "Tho truth Is out!" said tho premier without any break In his voice and with tho fatalism of one who never allows himself to blink a fact. "Teleg raphers at tho front who got out of touch with tho staff were Btlll In touch with tho capital. Onco tho reports bo gan to come, thoy poured In decima tion of the attacking column, panic and retreat in other portions of the line chaos!" "It's a Ho!" Westorllng declared vehemently. "Tho nows has reached tho press," tho premier proceeded. "Editions are already in tho streets." "What! Where Is your censorship?" gasped Westerllng. "It Is helpless, a straw protesting against a current," tho premier re plied. "A censorship goes back to physical force, as every law does In tho end to tho police and the army; and all, theso days, finally to publlo opinion. After weeks of secrecy, of re ported successes, when nobody really knew what was happening, this sudden disillusioning announcement of the truth has sent tho public mad." "It Is your business to control the public!" complained Westerllng. "With what, now? With a Bpeech or n lullaby? As well could you stop the retreat with your naked hands. My business to c6ntrol tho public, yes, but not unless you win victories. I gave you the soldtors. Wo have nothing but pollco horo, and I tell you that the pub lic Is in a mob rage tho wholo public, bankers and business and professional men Included. I havo Just ordered the stock exchange and all banks closed." "There's a cure for mobs!" cried Westerllng. "Let tho pollco tire a few volleys and thoy'll behave." "Would that stop the retreat of the army? Wo must suo for peace." "Suo for peace! Suo for peace when we have five millions against their three!" "It seems so, ns tho three millions aro winning!" said tho premier. "Suo for peace because women go hysterical? Do you suppose that tho Browns will listen now when thoy i think thoy have tho advantnge? Leavo pence to mo! Glvo mo forty-eight hours moro! I havo told our troops to hold and thoy will bold. I don't mistake rnwnnllv telegraphers' rumors for factB " "Pardon mo a momont," tho premier Interrupted. "I must answer a local call." So astuto a man of affairs as ho know that Westerllng's voice, storm, lng, breaking, tightening with effort at control, confirmed all reports of dis aster. "In fact, tho crockory Is broken for you and for mo!" said the pre mier when ho spoko again. His life had beon a gamblo and tho gamble had turned agnlnst him In playing for a great prize There was an admirable stoicism In tho way ho announced the newB ho had received from the local call: "The chief of pollco callB me up to say that the uprising Is too vaBt for him to hold. There Isn't any mutiny, but his men simply have become a part of public opinion. A mob of wom en and children Is starting for the pal aco to ask me what I have done with their husbands, brothers, sons, and fa thers. Thoy won't have to break In to find me I'm very tired. I'm ready. I shall face them from the balcony. Yes, Wostorllng, you and 1 have achieved a place in history, and they're tor more bitter toward you than mo. However, you don't havo to come back." "No, I don't havo to go back! No, I was not to go back If I failed I " said Westerllng dizzily. (TO DI3 CONTINUED.) He Would Be Better Liked. It seems a shame that a book agent can't sit down and read his favorite ttrffo 4ncrrm rt nnrttnr In Ttla tlmtl j selling them. WENT ON ERRAND, STAYED 21 YEARS When Papa Returned With Groi ceries He Found Second Hus band Was the Better Man. ninghamton, N. Y. Twenty-on years ago Adam Rundal of Lester shlro obeyed his wife's request to go downtown on Saturday night to get groceries for Sunday. Ho returned homo late Tuesday night with the groceries on the list which his wife gavo him 21 years ago. Ho knocked at tho door and then walked In. His daughtor, grown to womanhood, mot him and acreamod In fright, thinking him a burglar. He "Hello, Anna!" reassured her, and told her he was her father and asked for her mother. The girl told him her mother was at dinner at a downtown restaurant with friends. Rundal found tho restaurant and entered, picking out his wife from tho members of tho party. Walking up to her he said: "Hello, Anna! I've brought the gro ceries home. Let's go up and have supper." Tho wife fainted, but a man at hot Bldo ordered Rundal to get out. "Why?" naked Rundal. "Decauso sho's my wife," replied the ether, Henry Pickering, who married Mrs. Rundal, ten years ago after all hope of Rundal's return had been given up. Rundal was on tho floor whon a po liceman arrived. Later ho was ar raigned In pollco court "I just went away," ho told the Judge "I went to Warren Center, Pa., where I've been over since I thought I'd llko to seo my family again and camo homo." "Go back to Warron Center and never como to Lostcrshlro again. You aro discharged," said tho judge WOODPECKER ROBS A TOWN Causes 8hort Circuit on Signal Wire Resulting In Excessive Water Bill. Ilwaco, Wash. A woodpecker is blamed for largo additions to Ilwaco's bill for pumping city water. The contract for filling the munici pal resorvolr Is let to a power com pany and an electric Indicator notifies tho engineer when tho requlrod depth of water has been provided. For some months tho bill has been regarded as excesslvo and the numbor of hours required daily to fill tho basin has varied to a marked degree Investigation has placed tho blame on an Innocent woodpecker which chose ono wlro for a perch and with Its tall touching tho othor wlro mado a short circuit so that tho engineer's signal to stop pumping was con i trolled by tho woodpecker's rest rathur than tho dopth of water provided. BREAKS BANNS AT THE ALTAR Brlde-to-Be Says God Commanded Her to Be Missionary Fiance Agrees. . Elgin, Tex. At the chancol in the Baptist church bore, whoro Miss Ethol Sowoll and ErncBt Dyers wero to havo been married, tho brlde-to-bo mado a public declaration that she had bocn commanded to servo God in tho missionary field. The wedding was abandoned. Miss Sowoll, who comes from a prominent Texas family, said that God appeared to her In a vision and told her that her llfo would be a failure If she did not consecrate herself to saving souls. Dyers accepted tho doclslon of his flanceo and accompanied her to the church, where the change in plans was announced to tho assembled guests. Confesses 100 Thefts. Los Angoles. Thomas Carr, arrest ed hero soveral days ago, has con fessed to moro than ono hundred bur glaries committed In and near Los An geles, according to statements made at tho sheriff's office Jowolry nnd other articles estlmntod to bo worth $10,000 have beon rocovorod with tho old of tho prisoner. , , 1 I X 1; T I! h 'mti'ju&hsdm mn i ii i m I H 1 1 ii ! mi 7ii ii ii ii &