Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-07-26
The Making Of A Hero

encouragement. But the men were too
intent on the grim wo-k before them,
so, in the hail of lead, whsn Private
Cory dropped to the ground it was
generally understood that bullet had
knocked him over Such, however,
was not the case, as the ambulance
corps following in the rear soon dis
covered. He had merely tainted from
fright.
The doctor turned over the shivering
bit of humanity to look for the wound,
found none, and smiled. Cases of this
kind were not unknown to him. Poor
fellow" he murmured. Let him re-
main with the rest
"No, he was not hurt at ALL" he
said to one of his assistants. His
wound will come afterwards, when he
RECEIVERS from that faint, and God help
him then. There is no bullet wound
that will give him the agony that is
before him."
"Shall throw a bucket of water
over him, sir?" asked the man with a
blood-stained bandage around his
head, but sufficient of his face left un-
covered to show it's intense disgust at
his comrade.
"No, you must not disturb him.
was the curt answer, and he TURNED to
give his attention to the burdens
which the stretchers were now quickly
depositing in the improvised hospital.
Poor lad" he unused, as he bent
rxror h;o xryNrIx r,,,,ct oiua hin, q
word of encouragement when he comes
round"
But when later on, Private Cory
staggered to his feet, the kindly doctor
was too busy to notice him. He look
ed wonderingly round the tent. Then
the remembrance of what he had done
seemed to rise up and strike him full
| in the face. He sank down again with
choking sob. He clutched the earth
with his hands, as men do when struck
down in battle with mortal wound.
It was burning hot day-the
wounded were suffering terribly from
| the intense heat-but he shivered with
cold. Outside, the shells were scream
ing, while now and again came the
subdued but harsh growl of the
smaller arms. 1t seemed as ii thous-
and voices were shouting at him and
reproaching him for his cowardice.
Then a human voice joined in the wild
orchestra.
you bloomin' cur. Call yourself a
MANI"
| It was the stern surgent of his COM
| pany, who had been brought in
wounded in three places before he gave
up. His face was gray with the pain
he was enduring, but he must needs
give vent to his disgust at such
pusillanimity. A contemptuous smile
played about his bloodless lips.
| Il call it gettin' money under false
pretenses. You're clothed and stuffed
with the best o. everything the country
can send out, includin' briar pipe and
baccy, and then yer go and-Pah''
and he broke off. 81 couldn't hev
believed it o. any man in the whole
bloomin' company"
| He stopped because the pain OF his
wounds became too great, and he bit
| hard the piece of Cavendish he had in
his mouth to stifie groan, but other
men took up the cue.
No agony of the battle field could
equal what Private Cory was now en-
during. He quivered as il acted by
some powerful electric current, but he
made no answer to their taunts. and
| continued to lie with his face turned
to the ground he tried to reconstruct
the wreck of his manhood, but his
brain was still in whirl and those
shrieking shells outside still seemed to
be telling the world that he was
miserable coward.
A man was handing around some
broth. He had been hours without
food. and the savory odor caused
craving hunger to take possession oil
him. A pannikin full was being
passed. from which men took drink
their expectant comrades looking on
with eager. wistful eyes. Cory raised
his head. hoping his turn had come
but he was Immediately greeted with
storm of curses that caused him u
drop 1t again. Fool that he was to ex
pect it. He might have known.
At that moment the doctor came up
Give Cory some Of that soup. Hol'
up. my lad" he said, not unkindly
: "you may make a soldier yet. Drini
this" and he handed him the tin yes
Sc.
HE Is a broth of boy" shouted
man. and this poor joke was greete
with laughter even by those who knew
I that they had but few hours to live
: Cory sat up. The soup seemed Z
put life into him. and he ceased {
shiver. He was barely out of hi
teens. but his face. in its ashy gray
ness. looked more like that of ma
J, who had passed his prime.
"Fellin' a bit better now?" oegaI
the sergeant.
Hell run for it as soon as he