Show corsican co aa i c a in calls by FRANK M OBRIEN OBRIE copyright the fratia frank A munsey co the sun after a long struggle with the smoky fog slunk down in his course the light changed to a dull gray kindly shutting out the sight ol 01 red blotches on greenish yellow grass a hideous contrast there were no sounds except those muffled clicks and snaps that tell when an army is going to rest tor for the night the war master sat in a field tent gazing down the trampled hill to the meadows where his hopes for the J day had been realized Tomorrow 7 9 no human being was near unless one could count as human the rigid figures of the imperial guard these statues formed in squares and lanes were as still as the night 1 one lane was a long narrowing patch of haze for the moon had not yet risen to its vain task of trying to shine through the murk and in this lane as the war master watched with eyes that were focused on nothing at all something appeared at first it seemed like a gray veil floating in the outline of a human form 1 and now still without salute or chal lenge the silent thing less like a gray veil and more like the film of a man came to the tent slowly and entered entered confidently with the air of an equal and bowed but only from the neck and not from the hips there was no mistaking the cut of the cloak and the cock of the hat the war masters eyes were cold too returning the bow but not so calm palm A sneer whether in word or look Is the easiest fashion of corenn covering surprise or r alarm the war master did not rise one of th allo ulan I 1 believe it he e said 4 no said the visitor in a dull voice say rather a neutral indeed said the war master I 1 ii not corsica loyal to francea after a man s death said t th h visitor his politics and fealt fealties les do not change they merely disappear I 1 am pleased to hear that herr M bonaparte if you will or even mister I 1 became accustomed to hear ing the latter title aboard the bel del lero phon the war master did not seem to be listening he was watching his tor darrowl nar rowl I 1 wonder he began and then ceased to speak you wonder said the visitor smil broil ing whether her I 1 am not real I 1 beg to assure your majesty that I 1 am not real I 1 understand of course the trend of your thoughts it has oc burred to you as it would occur to most trained men under similar c r cum stances that I 1 might be some nev output ot of the wizardry of war an im palpable man tree free to come and go among the tents of the enemy I 1 saw the brief flash of annoyance when it came into your mind that it if there v as any such deviltry possible your gentle men of the laboratories should have discovered it first such said the a ar master ar ax ro gantly is our custom the speed of thought is one ot of the few human things at which I 1 still may marvel pursued the corsican you revolved in your mind antt only that possibility but a dozen ways in which the magic might be used I 1 here IsI is nothing contra in the rules of war I 1 believe the war master raised his browa brows in mock modesty I 1 A dozen ways he repeated yo you flatter no said the corsican at a dozen perhaps a score I 1 know I 1 should have thought of fifty with such talent began the war master your total of successes let me save your voice inter posed the corsican blandly you would remind me that where I 1 ended in failure at that very spot you began with success but I 1 would remind you that any town is 1 waterloo where wa derloo Is found A ghostly warning said the war ar master laughing he had risen as it to end the interview it was a habit and he did not realize his error until he saw the corsican smiling at it no not a warning said the fisl tor it was idle chatter mere words but yos yo see I 1 have the whole evening for my errand perhaps I 1 expected a more cordial meeting I 1 thought to be formal as people were long ago you were not famed for formality suggested the viar master I 1 had no time for it returned the corsican a bit sadly but I 1 have plenty now then ou on have the advantage advant aga ag of me said the war master nv ahat hat Is your errand to ask questions 9 A patient smile crossed the face of th P TI d e W war ar master turned upon hia his visitor with almost savageness who who sent youa he cried jan jan bedalow replied the corsi can the war masters shoulders rated rat ed in suspense fell to their nor mal angle I 1 do not remember him he said you never knew him said the cor sican his ills name la ill not in any book that you have seen you knew him asked the war master in in lifee I 1 killed him said the corsican 1 I hanged his son at longeville Lon ceville because he would not guide us through an ambushed valley he was a peas ant his father was an old man and bedridden the shock administered by me killed him and now said the war master now said the corsican jan bedalow sends me on the errand to you the war master took a step for ward you youl you are at the beck and call of peasants fathers 7 9 where I 1 come from said the cor 1 sican a even voice there are no peas ants no war wastes no first con BUIS but this errand for jan bedalow said the war master it will help me replied the cor sican to repair tho the wrong in an other hundred years or a thousand or a million as men count time I 1 may do something more if oc occasion easlon fortunately should arise to make amends I 1 see conceded the war master and what of other of other things which are in the histories each in its turn said the corsi can but jan bedano w a matter first the war master leaned across map strewn pine table his eyes aflame you mean he choked that that Is all all there Is beyond tor for one like you or or you said the corsican in his even tone it la Is all the same for all the south american who kills with his blowgun is on even footing with the chancellor who kills with his pen all the trappings and the titles remain here for inheritance the war master stood up I 1 shall not change my plans he said stiffly I 1 do not ask you to said the cor sican my business Is not yours but jan bedalow s and bat that said the war master is what on the road near answered the corsican you will find at the crossroads beside the corner of the gray forest a little triangle in which there Is a grave it la Is the grave of jan Be danows s wife when your maje majesty s troops pass that way they would naturally owing to the width of the column ride across this triangle of grass they would per haps hap s without meaning to break down the wooden emblem an emblem fain liar ilar to us both which lies almost hidden in the weeds yes caid aid the war master what I 1 ask on behalf of jan beda deda now is that this be avoided on the road near repeat t ed the war master yes said the corsican you must pass it on your way to how do you know he cried that I 1 am going there the corsican smiled wearily I 1 would have known he said even it I 1 did not come from where everything Is known I 1 would have because I 1 knew in the years ago the minds of men who plan on paper I 1 would have known that you were go ing there and I 1 at the other end would have been waiting for you will they be ready for me to morrows morrow whispered the war master the corsican shrugged his ders have they my minda be he coun or even Welling Wellington tolls 9 but tell me cried the war master it ere better for the whole world the whole world mocked the corsican A tiny whirling thing on which there Is nothing so important to me now as the grave of jan bed abow s wife good night your maj esty the tent flaps fluttered as he went now it was darker and the ee ot of tha the war master could not follow he seize 1 the telephone von zohn he said to the marshal at the other end of the line I 1 have decided to ride at the head of the col dmn in the morning at least as far as be the corner of the gray forest 11 taen be te leaned back and let hia his gaze once more unfocused tall fall upon the lane of the guard the moon I 1 light seeping through the disappearing haze glowed gloved feebly on the brass eagles of the helmeted giants and that Is all he muttered nothing more than that I 1 wonder |