The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-10-27
BY D0NAL HAMIL TON HAINES
eorsricnr, ,"s. ~ rnx rrsssos rurlrsri~c CO.
tCsrnased from ,srfsy9ayl

hslwhard hit You've done your duty,
now you get back home TO that girl
Shell cure ye up by the time me an
Shorty here finish this war--hut there
can't nobody else do it Don't stop at
hospitals 20 on home."
He Watched the slight figure crawl
hack through the underhrush and drew
a long sigh of relief.
Now" he said, q can have both
hands for fghtlnl'
Burke scrambled forward Tho
slashing fire OF the batteries had sent
the gray-cad troops scurrylng back
under cover of the timber, and the
brown masses were swarmng over the
tabeland But there were no sup
ports, and the gray troops in the for.
esi swepi the ground they had lost
with CALLING yoleys, Deprived of the
heartening thunder of tho batteries
bchind them. the nervous lines fell
hack down the hill.
"Well," said burke to the tall man.
we've been mp once; we can go
aeain!"
Cautiously the gray figures stolu
back 10 the position about the farm
houses, while the brown regimenti
gathered themselves In the dip alone
tho road for another rush Suddenly
from the rear sounded rumble ol
who's aud the cracking Of whips
Rrrke crannd his neck above the BUSH
es. and cav the two supporting batter
ies lopinw OF to another position
While he watched they circled around
20 point whore they could reach
closer ia the onomy--providng they
were left alone. Burke strained his
eyes . see more ccarly and then rose
TO his foet IN excitement.
Now they have done ~" he walled
"Sen tham batteries around there
without any infantry to cover en-
nrrbe was net close enough TO seq
he cold aal expressions on The faec
OF the trained artillarymon as they
carried ont orders they knew to he
sheer folly. hut he could sec the gun
ners withcred at their pieces, and the
horses shot down in The traces by o
rillcfre which they we're helpless 70
return Then to make matter worse.
the haif-crazed field officers endeayored
20 fling their already shaky infantry
back against position which they
might carry. but could not possibly
hold.
Side bv side. Burke and the tail
soldier went back up the slope Again
the seatteriGg yolleys swept them, and
agaln the for melted into the trees
GIVE 'cm fhe bayonet Burke yelled
90 TIC raen about him, get clear
through to them guns!
pa. the hrown lines had had enough
Of The pummellng A little knot OF
nic1 eaheYea about Burke and fought
as ho fought taking all The cover they
coald nnd, and shooting cautiously
Burke accepted The implied command
Shoot at their legs" he ordered
these guns 70 high
In front II the little group the gray
lines kGpt 10 he woods, but on both
sides Of them the tableland was being
cleared OF their own men. Across, be
yond he houses they could see gray
figures about the wreck Of the two
wasted batteries And then. far 10
The left. the heads Of fresh gray col
nmns appeared The brown lines did
not hreal., the men did not run They
siinpIy atopped fighting and started
in he other direction Burke. keeping
his litrle cluster Of men well in hand
and making his slender stock Of car
tridges count saw the sudden reced'
ing Of the brown wave and grinned
through the CRIME on his face
"Hullol" he exclaimed "the army's
roin' home,
He rose 10 his feet. then erouched
fo&n aud commenced scuttllng
through tho brush, then rose to his
feet and ran
"fIere," bawled the tail soldier be-
hind him, where You goin'?'
I'm eoin to get out" replied Burlie
without hating.
A wave of that useless. impoteni
rourage which turns men into fool
TO-. heroes2) smote the tall man SUD
denly
"Yoa amt" he shouted You're
ton,in' back With me here where We
b'long. rou'Ve been hullerin about
what a ,ot 0 fools we are. an now
You're tryin 10 run You come back
He ran few steps reached out
long arm ana grippad Burke by th'
sleeve.
You come back, be repeated
Burf, tened up0n him lcok hat
was nc cri,e amusement nor yet al
ger drew bact hls rife and strucA
The tail man squafelv IN The pit o.
the s;oms h -ith 1e ironshod butt.
The tall man eriinc ar5 sat down all.
ruDtly-the breath driven from his
bodv
Now" said Burke unfeelingly. you
look about as foolish as you are! Be
Ter todde along when YOU get your
wind"
lie passed into the midst OF scene
OF pitifu confusion. The brown regi
ments h0pelessly mingled togeihe
were all moving one way At mrs.
there were no signs Of panic. the men
were even good-natured But their Of
hcers. crazed by defeat tn The mrs
hattie. flew in their faces Ike madmen
For a time the men brushed them aside
without angsr
Got licked good and proper. didn't
We" Burke inquired genialiy Of a big
Kansas infantryman.
Dunno. replied the other drlly.
"All I've got 10 say Is that II this IS
war. / don't want none OF it,