Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1911 — FATE OF THE ARMIES. [ARTICLE]

FATE OF THE ARMIES.

By Frank H. Williams.

Jsck j ctftwright, the prisoner, glanced brightly at fats fair captor. "Well, Bessie,” ne said, “you caught fair and sqnafe, all right. I'm your prisoner of war; andl’mmisaty glad that the cutting of the wires just as you crptured me ended my service •as telegr iph operator down there in the city where my army—the Army of the Red —lies besieged by your army —the Army of the Blue.” Bessie Warden, wireless operator in the scout airship of the Army of the Blue, smiled from her key across to him. By her, ready to hand on the operating table, lay a big, 45-calib.e revolver. Near her side sat her old colored mammy holding a similar weapon in her hand, aimed at Cartwright. It was evident that, although Bessie loved Jack, she was not going to take any chances of his interrupting communication between the two wings of the Army or the Blue, which he could do by destroying the wireless apparatus Bessie operated. For a moment Bessie smiled at Jack, her heart in her eyes, and her brain yearning for the end of the cruel war. Then her attention to the wireless instrument became strained again. An important message was coming in—a message from one wing of the Army of the Blue, which she must transmit to the other wing of the saine army. “Attack city by east bridge at 10 o’clock. Repeat message that we may know you receive and understand.” Cartwright jumped to his feet excitedly as the message came in. "Great Heavens!” he cried. “That means the fall of the city! The east bridge is absolutely unprotected, but we did not know the enemy knew it. Don’t send that message, don’t do it! It means the utter ruin of the Army of the Red!”

Bessie, her face suddenly drawn and haggard, covered' Jack with her revolver.

“It means the victory of the Army of the Blue,” she cried. “You know i’ll send the message and send the answer back—you’d do the same if you were in nry place.” Cartwright stormed up and down, Bessie’s revolver following him as she worked the key. “I love you better than life dtself,” the girl cried. “My heart bleeds for you, but I can’t fail in my duty at this crucial test If Fate ordains that between us two here and the fate of the two armies be decided, I can’t help it. But remenber this: much as I love you, I can’t let duty slide for you.” “Nor can I drop duty either for you,” cried Cartwright, the wail of the lost in his voice. “Whatever happens to either or both of us. I’ve got to do what I’m about to do, or proclaim myself to you a traitor to the army.” Deathly white, he advanced slowly toward the girl. Bessie, her face absolutely bloodless, the revolver unwaveringly covering his heart, stood up as he advanced. He crouched low as for a spring; then, just in the moment at which he was about to bound forward, there came a terridc crash. Involuntarily both the man and woman glanced around. The old black woman, ,1 essie’s mammy, whom both of them had forgotten, had smashed the wireless apparatus with a chair. The terrific problem had been solved for them! ' With a wild cry of relief, Cartwright leaped the operating table and caught Bessie in his arms as she swooned into unconsciousness.

?'rs. Russell Sage, who has spent more thari $50,000 on the park and playground she has given Sag Harbor, L. 1., has authorized further improvement, to Cost many thousands more. Tennis and hand Dali courts will be laid out for the children of the village, an athletic ground will be provided, and improvements in the buildings will be made. Jermain library, also Mrs. Sage's gift to Sag Harbor, is about finished and the new railroad station, toward which she - contributed a large sum, is going up with a rush.

Whalebone was first used by Queen Bess. James, after her, compelled all men and women courtiers to have wasp waists. Terence, 160 B. C., speaks of “town ladles who saddle their backs and straight lace their waists to make them well shaped.” May 24, 1265, “Item; For nine ells, Paris measure, for summer robes, cor~ sets. and cloaks for the same,” from diary of Eleanor, countess of Leicester. First mention of corsets.

Devil fish weighing up to 200 pounds are sometimes caught in Japan. These fish are amphibious; they are often seen wobbling on their tentacels like giant spiders in search of patches of sweet potatoes. The natives kill them with clubs. In the water they are caught in Jars lowered to the bottom which the octopus enters thinking them a good retreat from which to catch its food.

German manufacturing, exporting and financial circles are keenly alive to the growing custom of establishing in foreign cities department stores 1 1 serve as channels for supplying Ger man merchandise.

The latest part of the world report ed to be making a commotion in faro of giving women the ballot is the Brit ish West Indira.