Omaha daily bee., 1915-07-09

like too the superstition OF the Moroccan soldier.
He the biggest. blacklist, handsomest Moroccan
that ever saw And full OF adventure othello must
have been like him The only trouble with this Otheo
that his Desdemonas could not understand word
he said, for he would talk in English and they UNDER
stood only French Notwithstanding that disadvantage.
they gathered around him in such numbers that a
tceman came TO clear the pavement butended by
Joining othelos train, though he also lacked the key
TO his tales.
The Moroccan's left arm was bandaged. He related
the story OF his wounds Seated with him at the cafe
table was another Moroccan Of lighter complexion and
two French soldiers, one Of whom spoke a few words
Of English To him othello addressed his frequent
Fluctuations OF You seer" You understand
~ see. understand" the little Frenchman replied.
gravey, but except for those and few like simple
phrases he did not understand othelo knew that he
did not and he was immensely pleased TO get listener
at last who really did understand He talked faster
than ever The Frenchman objected.
Tell 1t in French" he said, you speak French
well me"
do YOU" l said to the Moroccan
We'll yes" ne Acknowledged. 81 do. was brought
up on French. but learned English in Alexandria
years ago. and like 1t better speak it on prln-
ciple am superstitious about speaking English.
believe that 1t would be black ingratitude to speak
anything else. 1t due to EnglIshman that l
got off with only this" He touched his wounded arm
only for him and o command given in English ia
De back In the Argonne to stay"
The Moroccan said that the day when he got his
wound was day of surprise and confusion Men lost
their heads and the instinct Of obedience The Moroc-
can though usually steady fellow. was as bad as
the others. He wanted TO obey orders the life
or him he could not comprehend them Suddenly above
the endless French uproar there sounded a command
in English. Duck. l say. duck" That the first
command that had meant anything to the Moroccan
all day. He ducked and his arm caught the piece Of
shrapnel that would otherwise have strucy his head
only for that duck " said he. II should havs
been gone, and since stu here to tell It, should
expect to be struck by something deadly than
shrapnel II ever told IL in anything but English"
Absurd? Narrow-ninded? Possibly, but mixed with
the absurdity OF the narrowness is strain of loyalty
that Is very touching
Two Hishlanders on the lookout for sights" in
the Latin Quarter encountered a superstition whose
intensity OF expression somewhat overpowering
They stopped at cafe A tumult OF voices and
futter Of outstretehed hands greeted them.
Sit here. monsieur" said the occupant of one
table. and sit here" sit here" the occupants
OF others.
And what you you think the row was all about?"
said one OF the Highlanders. Luck That was what
they wanted us for. good luck Every man. woman
child Paris has the idea that to drink with a
in kits will bring him good luck. they nearly
had freefor-all fight to get at For a chap who
was always considered an unlucky penny home that
was cheering experience. Maybe they'll think moro
OF me when get back and tell them about It,"
The No SIS superstition has touch of real humor
IL is the confessed weakness OF Canadian soldier.
Since his enlistment he has been haunted by No
To start with, that is his resimentai number. In
Flanders he was bayonetted by a German whose
number also So
'And jolly good tAing for both Of us that It was
said the Canadian. "for / that let each
other off easier than we would have done IL we had
had different numbers"
They took him to the base hospital in motor ambu-
lance No. SSs In the hospital he harped constantly
on SIS that Just 10 humor him they tagged a nurse
with three eights and eased his mind and gave her
chance to pull him through. When commissioners set
| in he received letter from his wife. The Canadian
owns a little general shop back home and his wife
mentioned few details OF the business. among them
being the OF a well-to-do townsman. who owed
bill OF $780, which. apparently. he did not intend
to BY that time No SIS had taken it's place IN
the Canadians creed He had firm faith in its infal-
| hbility, he wrote back:
Send another cents worth OF something around
| TO his house then make out bill for HSs He win
/ be sure TO pay up
The Canadian chuokled.
And did her l asked
He took a check from his pocket. Here you are.
s. She proud of that she sent me the
check all the way here Just for to look at"
I