The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-06-12
CHAPTER XII.

NhAFIEh ALL
The rife was lowered to position of
caution and his loud friend came slow
ly forward. He peered into the youths
face. That you, Flem?"
Yes, it's me-"
well, well, Elem, oil boy" said the
loud one, "by ginger, I'm glad t see
yeh. l give yeh up fer a goner.
thought yeh was dead sure enough"
There was husky emotion in his voice.
The youth found that now he could
barely stand upon his feet. There was
a sudden sinking of his forces. He
thought he must hasten to produce his
tale to protect him from the missiles
already at the lips of his redoubtable
comrade. So staggering before him he
began: Yes, yes. Twelve had an
awful time. I've been all over. Way
over on tn right. Terrible fghtin' over
there. l had an awful time. 1 got sep
grated from tn regiment. Over on tn
right, got shot. In tn head. l never
see sech fghtin'.7
The loud private hadstepped forward
quickly. What? Got shot? Why
didn't yeh say so at first. Poor oil boy"
Another figure at that moment
lcomed in the gloom. They could see
Il was the corporal ''Who yeh talllin'
10, Wilson," he demanded. His voice
vas anger-toned. Who yeh talllia'
10? You're the derndest sentinel
why-hello. Elem, you here? Why, l
thought you was dead four hours ago.
Great Jerusalem! they keep turnin' up
every ten minutes or So"
Over On tn right. l got sep
arated'-began the youth with consid-
cradle glibness.
But his loud friend interrupted hast
lily. Yes, an he got shot in the head
an he's in fix an we must see to him
right away" He rested his rifle in the
hollow of his left arm and put his right
around the youth shoulder.
Gee! il must hurt like thunder" he
said.
The youth leaned heavily upon his
friend. "Yes. it hurts-hurts a good
deal" he replied. There was faiter
ing in his voice.
"Oh!'' said the corporal. He linked
his arm in the youths and drew him
| forward. Come on, Elem. III take
Ieer "a yeh."
As they went on together, the loud
/ private called out after them: Put i'm
to sleep in my blanket, Simpson. An
/ hold on a minnit-here's my canteen.
It's full of coffee"
The youths senses were so deadened
! that his friends voice sounded from
afar and he could scarcely feel the
pressure of the corporars arm. He
submitted passively to the latter's di-
recting strength. His head was in the
old manner hanging forward upon his
breast His knees wobbled.
The corporal led him into the glare
of the fire. Now, Flem," he said,
lets have look at yer OF head"
The youth sat. obediently, and the
corporal, laying down his rifle, began
to tumble in the bushy hair of his COM
rade He was obliged to turn the Others
/ head so that the full flush of the fire.
light would beam upon it. He puck
cred his mouth with a critical air. He
drew back his lips and whistled
through his teeth when his fingers
came in contact with the splashed
blood and the rare wound.
''Ah, here we are" he said. He awk-
wardly made further Investigations.
Jest as thought" he added, present
IL. "Yeh've been grazed by ball"
The corporal went away. The youth
remained on the ground like parcel.
| lie stared with a vacant look into the
| fire.
After q time, he aroused. for some
part, and the things about him be-