The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-12
TO emotional promptings.

surgeon one day "Why should he
not have Albert? II would do the
man good"
The Saxon company TO which AL
bert had once belonged had been
caught In a shell storm somewhere
near scissors. Their trenches had
been torn TO pieces. Those who
tried to run away were cut down
by the steel hail when they left the
shelter OF the dug-outs Those who
remained were destroyed. There is
no other word which so well de-
scribes their fate. When the chas-
seurs came leaping into what had
been the German position they
found Albert lying face down in
grisly mire. He was red with blood
from his pale hair TO the hobnailed
soles OF his shoes, and yet he had
not suffered a wound. He screamed
when they picked him up. For days
he did not sleep.
The doctors call such cases "shell
shock" nowadays. The man recov.
cred in time sufficiently TO be sen
to the prison camp at Havre. II
this world had been at peace Albert
would have been sent to some sana.
forum until his bruised soul for
got It's horrors. Today greater suf-
ferers than Albert claim every inch
ma Oft
isolation as prison camp offers.
and protected from the thick witted
and brutal OF his cyi comrades.
More could not be dtSe, until Mar
eel appeared with his demand for a
Boche.
LET us try it," said the camp
surgeon seriously. Perhaps he
will be at ease with the boy"
II could not happen In any army
except the French army. They are
individualists. these French, to the
last inch of them. An English camp
is bound by rule and precedent.
Witness the violent outcries that the
English army Is every day throwing
away thousands of pounds of inval-
liable supplies because no way has
been provided by which less can be
drawn than the regulations pre-
scribe. nor may the surplus be law
fully turned back. A German sur
geon would have tried a new serum
or new machine on the man whose
nerves had been shattered The
Frenchman was inspired by kind
ness and sublime disregard for
regulations. Marcel was instructed
in his new duties.
"You are his guard" Marcel was
told. See that he does not escape.
II is possible that no other little
boy in France has been quite so
happy as Marcel. He would lead his
charge well up the coast, away from
bad little boys who tried to tease
them. They gathered seaweed
serupHleasly for the greater part of
each day,-As time-weRt -en -fhav
became friends. They managed to
talk In queer babble OF frea, .
and German. spotted with English
words Marcel picked up from the
innumerabl- Tommies that wander
about this town that has become a
great camp. Little by little Albert
regained poise. Thep-he-w would
mutter fierce German phrases. OF
shrink pitifully from terrors invis'
ible to the eye.
Sometimes-well hidden back OF
a headline-they played at being
soldier. Somawhere--where =" eve
get these things?-Marcel had Sc
cured rusty sword bayone; q d
what remained OF a shattered gun.
The bayonet became his sword, and
he put Albert through the manual
of arms. At first the soldier WIS
the instructor. but Marcel soon de-
veloped finely official manner. He
snapped at his army in due drill
sergeant style. Sometimes he would
nod gravely.
much better" Captain Marcel
would say. I'll make a soldier OF
you yet"
cit seems but dream, that day
at Affas, Albert began 10 50
have forgotten II. almost"
They were In furrow Of sand
they called the trenches" one day.
peering over the ridge of loose sand
toward the sea. Captain Marcel was