Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-02-26

sfomachs. the regiment stealthlly 0
ed into the danger zOn herman SEN
tries were cut down by silent blades.
The Germans. unsusneciing any dan
ger. were seated around a fire drink
ing coffee. eating bread and telling
stories of the war.
Suddenly II crash Of rifle shots was
heard. Four or five members OF the
outpost fell dead or dying. Their
comrades seized guns, and a san
culinary conflict ensued. At last the
survivors of the German troop, out
numbered. were dispersed in confusion.
At roll call by the first sergeants or
the different companies of the Upper
airy guards the name of Patrick Roo
ney. Company g, received no answer
Patrick Rooney was officially listed
and published as missing"
Days later, when Molly received the
news. she became Frustrated. Her
grief was inconsoIable. Michael sought
to comfort her. He was now entirely
well and ready to return to war.
Don't think | want to take advantage
of a soldier who may still be alive"
he said at parting. "Ill make no more
love to you until | find out whether
Paddy is alive or dead. I'll take my
chances against him if he is alive"
Scouting duty fell to the lot of
Michael on his return to active service
Fleeing from a party of German troop
ers near Verdun who had caught
glimpses of him, Michael sought shell
ter in what appeared to be a deserted
farm building. In the semi-darkness
he saw two figures. He raised his ri
1e. They raised their weapons.
'sWho are ye?" asked Michael tensely.
Hes an Irishman sure by his voice."
Michael heard one say to the other.
That's good enough fer us"
Reassured, Michael lowered his rife
and stepped warily forward.
Could it be possible? Yes. surely
enough before him were Paddy Rooney
and George Murray of the Tipperary
guards.
The two rivals for the hand of Molly
Molloy gazed at each other in amaze
ment.
81 heard you were killed" said Pat
rick.
81 thought you were dead" answer
ed Michael.
al had a narrow escape responded
Patrick. George Murray and meself
have been hiding hereabouts for weeks.
The Dutchmen have been so thick
around us that we couldn't get back to
our lines"
Eyes. and they're after me now
They saw me come this way" said
Michael. ''and'-suddenly he paused
and peered through a window-"and
there they come now he exclaimed
excitedly.
The other two men followed the di-
rection of MichaeI's gaze. Sure enough,
a large scouting party of Germans was
advancing down a bill and directly to-
ward the hiding place,
Mal0ney's briin was working quick
ly. He was struggling with his inner
self.
Finally he spoke in solemn tones:
"Paddy Rooney. you and l wuz old
time school friends. You won the heart
of-of- Molly Mollny-the girl / love
too The soldiers voice broke. "Bnt
-she-loves-you-and I'm going to-
~save-you." he paused. then went on:
1.-THE Germans only saw one man
come this way. If they shoot one man
they'll pass on. The other two will be
safe"
"Wha do you mean" gasped Pat
rick.
81 mean this. me hhoy I'm going to
go outside. If the Germans get me.
why, they get me. that's all. And Mol
ly Molloy will not lose her Paddy. I'm
doing this for Molly"
mo. nor cried Patrick. springing to-
ward him. But the move was too late
Michael swung the door open and sped
along the roadway. which wound along
the foot of the hill.
Rooney and Murray looked anxious
ly through the window. They heard a
volley of rifle shots. and they saw
Michael Maloney. private of the front
rank of the Tipperary guards. fall
headlong into a ditch. The scouting
troopers scrambled down to the road
way and turned the body over on its
back to make certain that the man was
dead. One of them raised his rifle and
with a violent thrust drove his glitter
ing sword bayonet through the throat
of their victim.
"Wir wollen es sicher machen"' 1--WE
will make sure) he grunted. Soon the
troopers disappeared in the distance.
Patrick turned to Murray. tears
| streaming down his cheeks. I
blessed is be who gives his life for a
friend"