The Washington herald., 1913-04-20

MES. Inc TWO tents OF the DIVISION war
In the hospital had been pitched end I
end, thus turning them into one. tn
sun filtered through the cracks of tn
canvas: it poured in a broad, dancing
shifting column of gold through the opel
tent flap. The air was hot. not an en-
durable dry heat, but a moist sticky hea
which drew an intolerable mist from tn
water standing in pools beneath the plail
flooring of the tents. The flies had N
barrier and they entered in noisome com
panies, to swarm, heavily buzzing, abou
the medicine spoons and the tumblers ant
crawl over the nostrils and mouths o.
the typhoid patients, too weak and stupiS
TO brush them away. The other sick mel
would lift their feeble skeletons of hands
against them, and a tall soldier, wht
walked between the cots and was the solt
nurse on duty, waved his palm leaf far
at them and swore softly under his
breath.
There were ten serious cases in the
ward. The soldier was a raw man de-
tailed only the day before and not used
to nursing, being a blacksmith in civil
life. An overwcrned surgeon had in
structed him in the use OF a thermometer
but he was much more confident of the
success of his lesson than the instructed
one. There was one case in particular
the cot where this case lay more than
once and eyed the gaunt figure which lay
so quietly under the sheet. with a de-
jected attention. Once he laid his hand
shyly on the sick mans forehead, and
when he took IL away he stranged des-
perate sort OF sigh. Then he walked to
the end Of the tent and stared dismally
down the camp street, flooded with sun
shine. We'll, thank God, there's Spruce"
he i'm ho
ing a bale Of mosquito netting, was walk
ing smartly through the glare. He stopped
at the tent. How goes it?' said he,
cheerfully, but in the lowest OF tones.
He was a short man and thin, but with
a good color under his tan, and teeth
cleaning at his smile, white as milk.
why. I'm kinder worried about Max
we'll"
Before he could finish his. sentence
Spruce was at MaxwelPs cot. His face
changed Cit the hot-water bottle
quicks you CAM he muttered. land git
the screen-the one I made"' AS he
spoke he was dropping brandy into the
corners of Maxwelrs mouth. The brandy
trickled down the chin.
He looks, awful quiet. don't he?"
whispered the nurse with an awe-struck
glance.
You git them thingsw said Spruce.
d
his words, whereat the soldier shuffied
out of the tent, returning first with the
screen and last with the bottles. Then
he watched Spruce's rapid but silent
movements. At last he ventured to
breathe: Say. he ain't-he ain't-he
amt"
Spruce nodded. The other turned a
kind of groan into a cough and wiped
his face Awkwardly he helped Spruce
wherever there was the chance for a
hand: and in a little while his bungling
agitation reached the worker. who
Strengthened up and turned a grim face
on him.
Was il me?' he whispered then. For
Gods sake, Spruce-I did everything the
doctor told me, highs 1 could remember.
] didn't disturb him, cause he 'peared to
he asleep. II never saw a man die be-
fore"'
1T amt no fault of yours said
Spruce i'm the same low whisper. I'm
sorry for you. Did you give him the ice
j got?"
Eyes. / did, sergeant
And was there enough for Green and
Dick Danvers?'
Yes. I kept it rolled up in flannel and
newspapers Say, / got A little more,
sergeant"
How"
THE doctors or some fellers had tub
of lemonade outside, little bit further
down. ] Clipped off Bit
Spruce ground his teeth, but he made
no comment. All he said was: You go
git Capt Hale and report. Tell the cap |
tain / got his folks address. They'll !
want him sent home. They're rich folks |
and they were coming on; guess they're |
on the way now. Be quiet
The soldier was looking at the placid |
face sob Cloked him. He said |
Thank YOU, every time l gave him any, |
thing he sulped. God! it's murder to |
put fools like me at nursing; and the |
full of women that know how
and want to GOMEZ
"S-s-s! 'Tain't no good talking. You |
done your best Go and report
AS the wretched soldier numbered off, |
Spruce set his teeth on an ugly oath.
81 ought to have stayed, maybe" he |
thought, but I've been doing with so |
little sleep. my head was feeling dirty |
queer: and the doctor sent me- Col |
lapse, of course; temperature ran down /
to normal, and poor Tooley didn't notice,
and him too weak to talk, Well, 1 hope
I git the G boys through, that's all |
ASK
lay the nearest of the G boys, greeting /
him cheerily. Hello, Dick?"
Dick was a handsome young specter,
Just beginning to turn the corner in a |
bad case of typhoid fever His blue eyes
lighted at Spruce's voice: and he sent
smile back at Spruces smile. Did you
get some sleep?' said he. What's that 1
you have i'm your hand?'
That's milk. real milk from a cow
Yes, lots of sleep; you drink that"
The sick man drank ii with an express
sion of pleasure. II don't believe any of |
the others get milk he murmured;
save the rest for Edgar
Edgar don't need It, Dick" Spruce
answered gently.
Dick drew a long, shivering sigh, and
MS eyes wandered to the screen. HE
was a soldier and he died for his country
Jest the same as if he were hit by
Mauser" said Spruce-he had taken the
sick boys long, thin hand and was
his fingers.
Its no more AN what We all got to
expect when We enlist"
"Of course said Dick, smiling, that's
eli right, for him or for me, but he
he was an awfully good fellow. Chris"
Sure said Spruce. Now, you lie
still; got to go after the other boys"
Come back when you have seen them,
Chris"
sure
Spruce made his rounds. He was the
star nurse of the hospital. 1t was partly
experience. Chris Spruce had been "A
soldier in the regulars and fought In
iians and helped the regimental surgeon
through bad attack Of typhoid. But 1T
vas as much a natural gift. Chris had
light foot, a quick eye, soft voice;
lie was indomitably cheerful and con.