Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-09-25

! You haven't any flowers! They
won't do any harm. even if they aren't
sterlized. The wounded like flowers
don't they? Don't you like flowers
Look! We've millions!"
Yes, / 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
| flower!' he was thinking.
She ran for an armful Of blossoms
and was back before the arrival of the
first wounded man who preceded the
stretchers on foot He was holding
up hand bound in white first-aid
baudage which had a red spot in the
center. Those hit in hand or arm, If
the surgeons glance justified it, Here
sent on up the road to a point q mile
distant, where transportation in requi.
sitiOned vehicles was provided. These
funess. They were alive; they had
done their duty and they had the
proof of it 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 a white cloth cover
ing head with body uninjured
Many of the wounded locked at
Marta even more than at the flowers
1t was good to see the face of wom-
an, her eyes limpid with sympathy,
and it was not what she said but the
way she spoke that brought smiles in
response to 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, Toni"
You didn't know Ed Schmidt got it?
Yes, he was right next to me in the
line"
Say, did you notice Dellarme's
smile? 1t was wonderful"
And old Bert Stransky! heard
him whistling the wedding march as
he fired"
Miss, I'll keep this flower forever!"
'They say Billy Lister will live-his
cheek was shot away"
"Once we got going | didn't mind.
1t seemed like as if Id been fighting
for years."
Hole no bigger than lead-pencil.
I'll be back in a week."
Yes; don't these little bullets make
neat little holes?"
I'VE certainly gave them surprise
when they came up the hill! l won
der if we missed the fellow that
jumped into the shell crater!"
Our company got it worst!"
Not any worse than ours, I'll wa
ger!"
"Oh-oh-can't you go easier
Oh-h-h-" the groan ending in a 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 a shrapnel fracture of the Uranium,
with the resulting delirium, in which
the sufferers indifference included
memories of childhood scenes, mo-
ments on the firing-line, calls for his
mother, and prayers tc be put out OF
misery. A prod of the hypcdermic
from the major surgeon, and con the
operating table in fifteen minutes" was
the answer to Marta's question if 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
ambulances, while Marta kept at heI
post.
I'VE shan't have much more to do at
this station" said the major surgeon
when plodding section Of infantry in
retreat arrived.