The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-12-05

be serving an apprenticeship In vii
lage apothecary shop. Anything that
means confusion. delay. unnecessary
excitement IS bad and unmerciful."
Marta was not yet at the end OF her
resources. The recollection OF the dy-
ing private who had asked her mother
for a rose in the last war flashed into
mind.
"You haven't any flowers! They
won't do any harm, even IL they aren't
sterilized. The wounded like flowers.
don't they? Don't you like flowers
Look We've millions!"
Yes, l do They do. A good idea.
Bring all the flowers you want to"
The major surgeons smile TO Marta
was not altogether on account OF her
suggestion 1T ought TO help anybody
who was ever wounded anywhere in
the world to have you give him a
| hower!" he was thinking
She ran for an armful OF blossoms
and was back before the arrival OF the
first wounded man who preceded the
stretcheTs on foot. He was holding
up hand bound in a white first-aid
bandage which had red spot in the
center. Those hit in hand or arm, IL
the surgeons glance justified il, were
sent on up the road to n point a mile
distant. where transportation in requi-
sitioned vehicles was provided These
men were triumphant in their cheer
fulness. They we're alive; they had
done their duty, and they had the
proof OF IL In the coming souvenirs OF
scars.
Some OF the forms ON stretchers had
peaceful faces in Inconsistencies OF
their condition. Others had look OF
wonder. of pain, of apprehension in
their consciousness that death might
be near. The single word "Shrapnel!"
by hospital-corps corporal told the
story OF crushed or lacerated features,
in explanation OF white cloth cover
ing n head with body uninjured
Many OF the wounded looked at
Marta even more than at the flowers.
1t was good to see the face OF n wom-
an, her eyes limpid with sympathy,
and IL was not what che said but the
way she spoke that brought smiles In
response 20 hers. For she was no
solemn ministering angel, but high
spirited. CHEEKY, Of the sort that the
major surgeon would have chosen to
distribute flowers TO the men. Every
remark of the victims OF war made its
distinct and indelible impression on
the gelatin OF her mind.
II like my blue aster better than
that yellow weed OF yours, Tomb
"You didn't know Ed Schmidt got II?
Yes, he was right next to me In the
line"
"Say, did you notice Deilarmes
smile? II was wonderful"
"And old Bert stransky! heard
him whistling the wedding march as
he fred"
Miss. I'll keep this flower forever!"
They say Billy Lister will live-his
cheek was shot awayl"
Once we got going didn't mind.
1t seemed like as II Id been fighting
for years."
Hole no bigger than lead-pencil.
I'll be back in week."
Yes; don't these little bullets make
neat little holesg"
we certainly gave them a surprise
when they came up the hilIl ] won
der II we missed the fellow that
jumped into the shell craterl"
Our company got IL worst!"
Not any worse than ours, I'll wa
CERT
"Oh-oh-can't you go easier?
Oh-hh--" the groan ending in clench.
ing OF the teeth.
Hello, Jake! You here, too, and
going in my automobile? And we've
both got lower berths!"
"Sh-h! That poor chaps dying!"
Worst OF all to Marta was the case
of shrapnel fracture Of the Uranium,
with the resulting delirium, in which
the sufferers incoherence included
memories OF childhood scenes. mo-
ments on the firingline. calls for his
mother. and prayers to be put out OF
misery A prod of the hypodermic
from the major surgeon, and "On tho
operating table in fifteen minutes" was
the answer 10 Martas question II the
poor fellow would live.
Until dark. in groups. at intervals.
and again singly, the wounded were
coming in from brigade front in the
region where the rifles were cracking
and the shrapnel clouds were hanging
prettily over the hills; and stretchers
were being slipped into place in the
ambuIances. while Marta kept at her
post
we shant have much more TO do at
this station" said the major surgeon
when a Flooding section OF infantry in
retreat arrived.
CHAPTER xI.