Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-09-18

horn. when a snowstorm came aud
he and a companion and a guide had
chung to an ICY crack helpless for more
than an hour. when a slip by any n
Of the three would have dragged all
to death. Personal peril there had
been Al great and had lasted as long
rs this battle today: the danger Of his
Hide with Jim after lngouf. when the
spy had turned to throw his bombs.
had been eve greater; when Bob first
boarded the Arizona In the afternoon.
and the aeroplane dropped its ex,
plosives, he personally had been nearer
sbliteration than he had since.
But the battlei How was 1t so diff
lerent from other dangers? Because
while another was trying to kill him
be also was trying to kill? That vas
not It; for. when Ingouf tried to kill
him. he had killed Ingouf. and 1t was
not like this. When the acceptance had
destroyed men beside him the guns
from the ships were firing up at the
plane, but neither was that like this.
Those things wer all petty-pevsons':
that was II; everything before this
had been personal, and battle-battle
was not personal ut all. Or It had not
been personal till now-this moment
when he was alone at last, shut In his
room away from the rest, With Nellie's
picture in the drawer of his desk.
He sat up and leaned over and open
ed the drawer and took out the picture
and gased down at It. The sight Of
her face-her lips which he had kissed
so many times. her dear, soft eyes gaz-
ing straight into his, steadied him for
the lrst seconds and then unnerved
him. Women and children. some one
had said, had been killed-torn to
pieces, probably, and dismembered-
when the Carthage and the Peras had
shelled Ocean City and Virginia Beach
to draw the American ships out"
Well. the American ships had come
ont, and he had fought his turret and
given them shells for the shells they
bad sent ut Virginia Beach. A mast
was down on the Peras; other shells
must have hit: he must have killed
some OF the murderers aboard But
while be was squaring that score the
regents submarines were striking too.
The Balch had gone down with all
hands while the Arizona had had to
steam by at full speed
Little '.stubby' DER, Bob had learn
ed, had commanded the Balch. He
was not In Bob's class. but Bob had
got to know him pretty we'll when they
both were on Chinese station together.
StObby was "a game little chap: Bob
remembered the Army-Navy football
game in Stubs last year, when-well.
Rob knew Just how stubby spoke to
men and smiled at them when
rything was done and there was
ng left to do but cheer the ship
aved. as It went by. and then 80
with your own.
Stub, too, had been married; in
ele seal walled cabin. now deep
under the water, he had his
Of his widow. Did she know
Destroyer Balch lost with all
@FxAF&EM AhnS q OSAISASV InS
. which had gone to the shore.
and how would 1t reach-her7
ERE now 4 baby? Bob wondered.
had little Stubby Derr seen
1t the last moment. he was
ind need no longer smile At bis
got up and opened the door: 1t
hooking close in there with the
losed and covered He started as
w some one standing without;.it
FAIRY Starnes at the door Of his
Garry. too. had found It close
and sitting: his collar was loose. and
he had taken on his coat. but. like Bob,
he had not further undressed.
TITS hot" Bob said to him simply.
awful"
The friends faced each other an in
slant fairly. The same thought was
In the hearts Of both. and they both
knew 1t. Neither would say it to the
other, nor would either deny 1t as their
eyes met. What they had seen hap
pen to Stubby Derr was soon to come
TO them; when the great battle was
Joined. only the luckiest Of chances
could save either Of them. The end
might come before the great battle. Of
course; 1t might come tonight, at any
moment
Garry stepped back into his room;
Bob returned to his and put out the
light. He lay on his bed. trying now
TO sleep, but quite unable to. There
were a Thousand things which he had
meant to say to Nellie. and none Of
which he had said. He sat up once
and started to find the light to write
to her. then he lay down again. Those
rar> not fhn SORT Of fhinos onn conld