The Socialist and labor star. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1911-1915, 1914-07-24
By Nj. QUAD

HFulieS were III N!Htet IuiltciS. " III
miles OF neutral ground between. and
except for a little skirInishing along
the front there was rest foI half u mil
lion men.
Have sou ever killed ulau?"
OF a sudden, as he lay doing on bis
bed in camp one day, Private uolins
asked this question Of himself. When
the war was over and he returned
home he would be asked the question.
His friends and ueighbUrs wouldn't be
| satisfied with his record OF battles. but
would sweep 1t aside and say:
Yes, we know you were in five or
six battles and that you fired hundreds
Of bullets at the enemy, but can you
truthfully say you ever brought a man
DOWN.
He couldn't say 1t, and he felt that
be would lose caste. This feeling
brought sudden resolve. 1t was Il
resolve that startled him at first. but
the more he thought or it the more de-
termiued be was to carry 1t cut. He
would Kill a man. He would do it next
time be went on picket
This is your post, Holins," said the
corporal as he left him one afternoon
at the edge OF wood under large
oak. I'VE don't know exactly where
the enemy's picket Is, but it's some
Ent Ion ~
To-day | Shall kill man." said rri.
vate 1UlinS as be Wis left alone. and
he began his preparations at once. Al
long rifle shot away across an old cot.
ton field was long house with few
fruit trees standing about it. One
might be sure the farmer was OF to
war and that wife and children. II they
had not abandoned the place, were
having a miserable existence. Rollins
crept down to the fringe Of bushes on
his side Of the field aud peeret1 and
watched aud waited like an Apache
IN ambush. For au hour be saw moth.
ing. Then Il gaunt. i'll used dog came
among the trees and trotted about In
the Upcu in sneaking fugitive way.
II the dog was there the house must
be inhabited. He had just come to
this conclusion when be caught sight
Of figure among the trees. 1t was
between the hunSe aud the bushes.
where he believed the enemy's picket
was lying. 1t must be the picket on
bis way to and from the we'll. Per
haps he had gone to the bonse to light
his pipe or bell his coffee. There was
glimpse and 1t was gone Another
glimpse. another hiding. and then the
figure was fair to view. II was long
shot, bmt pretty fair target, and With
out au inStaut's hesitation be drew
up bis gun and fired. When he look
ed over the smoke the figure was gone
But | know hit him. and he's ~
ing dead on the grass!
Now | can tell them ct home that
I killed man! Mighty long shot, but
| dropped hin for sure"
The dog WIS still in the open. As
the shot rang out be looked back
among the trees. As the echoes died
away he turned his head toward Hol-
Inns and bowled dismaI!y. a moment
later and the figure Of a young girl
appeared beside the dog. She was
barehcadcd, barefO0ted and not over
eight years old. IeSitatiue for only
moment she began advancing across
the field. The smoke from the sol
diers musket had located him. The
dog followed at her heels, head and
tail down, and with surprise Holllns
watched the girls approach. 1t took
her FIVE minutes to cross the field. She
came straight at him rs he stood up
among the bushes, and when she
reached him she extended her band
and clasped his and said:
Come along. you"
He rested his muSket against log
and permitted her to lead him into the
omen and across the field. He did not
ask where she was leading him. Not
Question passed his lips, nor did she
speak further. Straight across the
field TO the trees among which his vic
i'm had stood. but long before be got
there be saw form on the grass. BY
and by they came close mp to It, anu
the girl let go bis hand and pointed
and said:
You shot mau"
y lt-ino 1poH rho
grass. soldier or farmer but q woman
The soldier rubbed his eyes and looked
around in q dazed way. a boy OF ten
and girl Of five came ont OF the house
and stood there and looked from the
soldier to the dead woman and back.
"Well?" queried Ho!lins Of the chill
dren as they continued to stare at him
They simply pointed to the mother
lying dead and uttered no word The
soldier tried 70 speak again, but he
couldn't. With face whittier than the
one on the grass. With Qni7ertng chin
and blinded eyes, he made his way
slowly across the old field to his post
As be lurcbed and staggered he heard
a dog howl again. but no one called TO
him. When be reached his post he sat
down or the ground and covered his
face with bis bands and groaned. Al
honr later the corporal came With the
relief. Holiins was lying on the
ground with his arms extended.
Say. boys" said the corporal as be
bent over the body. I'm be banged II
Dan haln't gone and killed himself
with his own musket! Who'd ever
have thought 1t Of himF'