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EIGHT TneUISTSHOT charms Jcvwvr/yrO jam In thts story Mr. Palmar, the noted war correspondent. has paint ad war aa he has seen It on many battlefields, and between many na tion a. Hla Intimate knowledge of arm las and armaments has enabled him to produce a graphic picture of the greatest of all wars, and his knowledge of conditions has led plm to prophesy an end of armed Conflicts. No man Is better quali fied to write the story of the final world war than Mr. Palmer, and he has handled his subject with a master hand. (Continued from Yesterday.) "And we’ll fix bayonets when we j Srtart and they will run at the sight of our Heel!" said Eugene Aronson. Be and Hugo alone, not excepting Pll aer. the butcher a son. spoke in their natural volots. The otliers were try ing lo make their voices sound natu ral. while Pllzer s voice had dnvel a certain ferocity, and the liver tpatch on his cheek twitched more fro qnently. "Why, Company B Is In front! We have ihe post of honor, and maybe our company will win the most (lory of any In the regiment!" Ku pene added. “Oh, well beat them! The bullet Is not made that will gut Be!" "Tour service will be over In time Mar you to help with the spring plaitf fn*. Eugene,” wh perod Hugo, who mu apps ontly preoccupied with many , Matkcbed tho othts "And you lo be at home sucking Milpo ps!” PUzer growled U> Hugo. "That would Is* better than murder ing my fellowman to get his property," Hugo answered, so soberly that it did Kseom to his comrades that lie was ing this time. PI leer s snarling "x •tome Hun of "White feather!" came In pbe midst of a chorus of lodlgnatlon. Captain FVacasse. who hod heard only the disturbance without knowing •be cause, tnterfared in a low, sharp •one: “Hitononl Aa 1 have told you be toffs, atlenoe! We don't want them to know that wo are here. Qo to sleep! Sou may get no rest tomorrow night!" Bttt little Peterkln, tlie question In ks« mind breaking free of his Ups, un fwtttingly asked. "Shall—eha II we light In the morn ing?" "1 don't know Nobody knows!" an pwered Kracasae. "We wait on orders, Heady to do our duty. There may be no war. Don’t let nte hear another peep from you!" Now at) closed their eyes In front *f them was vast silence which •earned to etretoh from end to end of gh* frontier, while to the rear was the flktnbln of switching railway trains ■rid the rumble of provision trains and artillery on the roads, and In the dis tance on the plain the headlight of a loenniotlve cut a swath In the black Bight But the breathing of most of (he Oien was not that of slumber, though Eugene and Pillar slept •mindly. Hours passed. Occasional Beetleas movements told of effort* to taros sleep by oliungltig position. “it's tbe waiting that's lU-konlug!" •apkoded the manufacturer's son un Her hie breath, desperately. “Wn I say I'd like to be art It and taone with tlie suspense!" mid tho pontor s son They say if you are shot through •w* head you don't know what killed VOU Itt ao quick. Think of that!" •iMaimed Pwterkln, huddling closer to lingo and shlvaring. 1 Tea. very merciful,” Hugo whte pereh patting Peterktn's anu "Bh-h h Bilenoe, I tel) you!” com manded Fracnnse crossly. He was fhlltng into a half doze at lust. • • • • • • s to marching order, with cartridge boxes full on ttoturdny night, the 53d Of the Drowns marched out of bar rack* to tbe main pass road One ootni-.u i after another left the road at • given point, bound for tbe position mapped iu Ha instructions l>«t tonne's, bossiinr. wont on until it was oppo site the Owl land house. "We are depending on you," the •alone 1 said to Dollartue. giving kta band a grip "You are not to draw •ft tin yog get tbe flag " “Nti. air," IWH terms replied “Wind the signal to the batteries*— kMP the moo screened warn them toot to tot their first baptism of shell tose break their uervee!" the colonel added to a tnal rapt tttion of Instruc Ows already Indelibly Impressed on tbe captain t mind Martng cautiously through a cot. tMla/nWr company rin«. a boot mid Bight, to a halt among the rtubbia of • *b«UM behind a knoll. After be had hidden the men to break rank* he crept up the Incline "Tee, It s there!" h<* « htapared erlten he returned "On the rreet of the knot! a cord t* sire letted from stake to #lake" he said, explaining the era hoe tor what «m to be done, ae was hie cue ton "Ttie mutineer* placed It there after duek and the frontier wea closed, eo that you would know yoet where to uee your spades In the dark. Quletir aa possible I No talking!" he hart ceeUoaing ae the men turned the •oft earth, "and not hlghar than the ford, and lay the stubble aide of th» H's" “It Looks Like Business,” Declared the Old Sergeant. rods on the reverse so as to cover the (refill earth on the aky line." When the work was done all re turned behind the knoll except the sentries posted ut intervals on th« crest to watch. With the aid of a small electric flash, screened by his bunds, Dcllartne uftaln examined a sec tion of the staff mop that outlined the contour of the knoll In relation to the other positions. After this he wrote Jn hts diary the simple facts of the day’s events, concluding with a senti ment of gratitude for the honor shown his company and a prayer that he might keep a clear head and do hts duly If war came on the morrow. "Now, every one get all the sleep he can!” ho advised the tnen. Strsneky slept with his head on Ms arm, soundly; the others slept no bet ter thou the men of the 12Hth. The night passed without Any alarm ex cept that of their own thoughts, and they welcomed duwn as a relief from suspense. There waa no hot coffee this morning, and they washed down thetr rations with water from their canteens The old sergeant was lying beside Captain I mllsrme on the crest, the sunrise In tbwir fauee. As the mint cleared Tram the plain It revealed the white dots of the frontier posts In the meadow and behind them many gray llgnree in skirmish order, scnecety vis ible except through the glaanes. "It looks like business 1" declared the old sergeant. "Yea, It begins the minute thoy cross the line I* said Ilellurme. His glance sweeping to the rear to scan the landscape under the light of day. he recognised, with a sense of Itrhlw and awe, the tactical Importance of Ms comiamy'H position In rotation to that of the Importance of the other companies. Mostly he made out the regimental line by streaks at con cealed trenches and groups of brown uniforms; and here and there were the oblong, cloth stretches of waiting hospital Uttiuw On the reverse slope of another knoll was the fnrruhoase. marked X on his map as the regimen tal headquarters, where he wee to watch tar tho algos I to fall bade from his first stand In delaying the enemy's advance Otrectly to the sear was the cut through w hich the com (am; had come from the main pass road, and be yond that th* (inllaod house, which was to be Hie second stand Now Dell ermo disposed his men In line bar'll of the ridge of frmfa earth that thoy had dug tn the night, ready t» rush to tholr places when ho blew the whistle that hung from his neck, but ho did not allow them a glimpse user the crust. “1 know that yon are curious, but powerful glasses are watching tor you to show yourselves; and ts a battary turned loose on ut you'd understand,'’ he explained Thus the hours wore on. snd the church clock struck nine and ten. "Never a movement down there!" called the sergeant from (he crest to Deltarmo. "Maybe this la Just their final bhiff before they cosne to terras about Hodlapoo"—that stretch of Af rican Jungle that seemed very far away to them all. Let us hope sol” said Dsllnrras seriously • • s s s s * Choosing to go to town by the ; gastbi road rather than down the ter race to the main pass rued. Marta, starting for the regular Sunday sen vtoe of her school, as shs emerged from the grounds, saw Feller, gnrdeu ehears In hand, a figure of stons I watching the approach of some field batteries The questloa of allowing him to undertake his port aa a spy had drifted Into the background of her intnd under the distressing and ever present pressure of (he oriels. Hs eras |to remain until there was war. She ' wag almost past him before hs real- 6y fbederick palmer Izcd her prceence, Which lie acknowl edged by a startled movement and a step forward as he took oft his hat. She paused His eyes were glowing like coale under a blower as he looked at her and again at the batteries, seeming to Include her with the guns in the spell of his fervid abstraction. “Frontier closed last night to pre vent intelligence about our prepara tions leaking out —Lanny’s plan all alive —the guns coming,” be said, his shoulders stiffening, hie chin drawing in, his features resolute and beaming with tbe ardor of youth In action — "troops moving here and there to their places—engineers preparing the de fenses—automatics at critical points with the Infantry—field-wires laid— field-telephones set up—the wireless spitting—the catwsons full—planes and dirigibles rer-dy—searoh-llghts In po sltioty—" There tbe torrent of his broken sen tences was checked. A shadow passed In front of him He came out of his trance of Imageries of activities, so vividly clear to his military mind, to realize that Marta was abruptly leav ing. "Miss Galland!" he called urgently. "Firing may commence at any min ute. You must not go into town!” "But 1 mu«t!“ she declared, speak ing over her shoulder while she passed. It was clear that no warning would prevail against her determined mood. "Then I Khali go with youl" he sahl, starting toward her with a light step. "It Is not necessary, thank you!” she answered, more coldly then she had eveT spoken to him. This had a magically quick eftout oa bis atti tude. "1 beg your pardon! I forgot!" he explained In his old man's voloa, bis head sinking, his shoulders drooping In the humility of a servant who roc* ognktog that he has been properly re buked for presumption. "Not a gun ner any more—fra a spyt” he thought, os bo shuffled off without looking toward the batteries again, though tbe music of wheats and hoots was now close by. Marta had a glim pee of Mm as she turned away. "He is what he is be cause of the army; a victim of a cult, a habit,” she was thinking. "Had be been tn any other calling his fine qual ities might have been of service to the world and-be would hove been happy." A company of Infantry resting among their stacked rifles changed the color of the square In the dletance from the gray pavement to tbe brown of a mass of uniforms, in the middle of the main street a major of the bri gade staff, with a number of Junior officer* and orderlies, was evidently walling on some signal. Sentries were posted at regular Intervals along tbe ourb The people in tbe houses and shops from time to time Mopped pock ing up their effects long enough to go to the doors and ok up and down apprehensively, asking bootless* ner vous questions. "Are they coming yetT” "Do you Think they will comeT” "Are you sure It's going to bs war?" "Will they shell the town?” "There’ll be time enough tor yon to get away!" shouted the major. "All we know Is what Is written In our In structions. and we shall act an them when the thing starts. Then we are in command. Meanwhile, get ready!" TheD tbs major became aware of a young woman who was going tn the wrong direction. Her cheeks were flushed from her rapid walk, her Kps were parted, showing Arm, white teeth, and her black ayes were re garding him In a blaze of satlrw or amusement; an emotion, whatever It was, tbat thoroughly centered his at tention "Mademoiselle. I am very sorry, but unless you live In this direction,” he said very politely, "you may not go any farther T'nttl we have other orders or they attack every one Is supposed to remain In hts house or his place of business " "This ta ray place of business!" Marta answered, for she was already opposite a small, disused chapel which was her schoolroom, where a half dosen of the faithful children were gathered around the masculine Impor tance of Jacky Werther. one of the older boys. "Then you are Miss Galland!” said the major, enlightened His smile bad an appreciation of the irony of her oc cupation at that moment "Tour chil dren are very loyal They would not tell me where they lived, so we had to let them stay there." "Those who have homes,” she said, I Identifying each one of the faithful with a glance, "have so many broth ' srs and slaters that they will hardly be missed from the flock Others have no homes—at least not much of a one"- here her temper rose again— i "taxes being so high tn onler tbat you ! may organise murder and tbs destruc | tlon of property." j “Now really, Miss Oslland." he be gan solicitously. “1 have been assigned p to move the civil population In caee of l attack Your children ought— '* "After school! You have your duty this morning and 1 have mine!" Marta I Interrupted pleasantly, and turned toward the chapel _ THE AUGUSTA HERALD, AUGUSTA, GA. "They are putting sharpshooters in the church tower to get the aero planes, and there are lots of the little gune that fire bullets so fast you can't count 'em—and little spring wagons with dynamite to blow things up end —" Jackv Werther ran on in a series of vocal explosions as Marta opened the door to let the children go in. "Yet you came!” said Masts with a hand caressingly on his sbonlder. "It looks pretty bad for peace, but we came.” answered Jacky, round eyed, in loyalty. "We'd come right through bullets ’cause we said we would If we wasn’t sick, and we wasn't sick.” "My seven disciples—seven!” ex claimed Marta as she counted them. "And you need not sit on the regular seats, but around me on the platform. It will be more intimate.” "That’s grand!" came in chorus. They did not bother about chairs, bnt seated themselves on the floor around Marta's skirts. The church clock boomed out Its de liberate strokes through ten, the hour set for the lesson, and all counted them—one—two—three. Marta was thinking what a dismal little effort theirs was, and yet she was very hap py, tremblingly happy in her distrac tion and excitement, that they had not waited for her at the door of the chapel in vain. She announced that there would be no talk this morning; they would only say their oath. Repeating In concert the pledge to the boys and girts of other lands, the childish votes* pecu liarly sweet and harmonious In con trast to the rauoous and uneven sounds of foreboding from tbe street, they came In due course to the words of the concession that the oath made to militancy: "If an enemy tries to take my land —” "Children—l—" Marta Interrupted wltb a sense of wonder and shock. They paused and looked at her quest- Uoningly. *T had almost foigottem that p j-t!" she breathed confusedly. "That's the part that makes all we’re doing against the Grays right!” put In Jacky Werther promptly. "As I wrote It for you! ‘I shall- ap peal -to h!» sense of Justice and raasdta with Mm-— ’" Jaws dropped and eyes bulged, for above the sounds of the street rose from the distance the unmistakable crackling of rifle Are which, aa they listened, spread and taevaanod in vol ume “Go on—on to tbe end of the oath I It will take only a moment,” said Marta resolutely. "It isn't much, but it's the beet we can dos" CHAPTER IX The Baptism of -Thru. All the landscape tn front c 4 Pns cnase's company seemed to baste been deserted; no mowing figures were any where In stghtt no sign of Mia enemy's infantry. Faintly the town clonk waa beard striking the hour. From eight to nine and nine to ten Fraoasse's men wait ed; waited until the machine was ready and Westerling should throw in the olutoh; waited until the troops were tn place for the first mow before he hurled his battalions forward. They did not know how the captain at their back received Ms orders; they only heard the note of the whistle, with a command familiar to a trained Instinct on the edge at anticipation. It released a spring In their nerva-cen tera. They responded as the wheels respond when the throttle is opened. Jumping to their feet they broke InSo a ran, bodies bent, heads down. like the peppered silhouette that faoed WesterlingM desk. What they had done repeatedly In drills and maneu vers they were now doing tn war, me chanically as marionettes. "Came on! The bullet Is not Baade that can get me! Come on!” cried the giant Eugene Aronson. Nearly aM felt the exhilaration of movement In oompeny. Then cams the sound tbat genexationa bad drilled for without bearing, the sound that summons the invagination of man In the thought of how he will feel and act when he hears It; the sound that Is everywhere like the song snatches of bees driven utilizing through the air. "That’s It! We’ve under fire! We’re under fire!” flashed a crooked light ning recognition of the sound through every brain. There was no sign of the enemy: no telling where the bullets came from. Whlsb-whlsh! Th Ipp-wblng! The refrain gripped Fstsrkln's imagination with an unseen hand He seemed to be suffocating. Ha wonted to throw hln>aalf down snd hold bis hands In front of his head. While Pllxer and Aronson were not thinking, only run ning. Peterkln was thinking with the rapidity of a man falling from a high building He was certain only that he was bound to strike ground An Inch 1* aa good as a mile!"’ He recollected the captain's teaching. "Only one of a thousand bullets fired In war ever kills a man"--but he waa oertain that hs had heard a million already He looked around to find that he waa still keeping up with Eu gene and felt the thrill of the bravery of fellowship at sight of the glantl flushed, confident face reveling tn the spirit of a charge And then. Juat then. Eugene convulsively threw up his arms, dropped his rifle, and whirled on bis heel. As he went down hts hand clutched at hts left breast and came away red and dripping. After one wild backward glance, Pe terktn plunged ahead. (To be coatinued Tomirrow.) USE HERALD** - WANT ADS. 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