Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-10-14

two more trenches behind 'him-three
little lines Of bitches. each with q man
every yard Or so-just those three lit
tie lines between invasion. as Jim had
seen during these recent days. and
security and sanctity for honor, life
and possessions. Jim talked to his
men frankly before the battle began.
Every man was to stand and Aght -
long as he had strength. II the order
came to leave the trenches and ad-
vance the company was going to adj
vance or the officers would shoot the
men who failed.
During all the forenoon. for i've
hours following the dawn. that Sec
ton of trench was shelled A few Of
the men went mad that morning, two
from head wounds which made them
maniacs for the inhuman hour before
they died. Then. during snow furry
and the assault came-the charge OF
thousands OF yelling. white coated dg-
ures-and the American guns could
not oven make gnp In their line. It
was all up to the men In the first
line trenches. They were ordered, Aft
er they had emptied their nhes useless
~ into that charging line Of thousands.
to jump mp in front Of the trench and
face them with bayonets.
Only Jim Ashby, the captain Of .
company, kept his word. Wild, fran
tic as the madmen, he struck at the
men who crouched and wouldn't get
up; he dropped one. shot another. and
the men beyond that one> jumped out
Of bis way and fought. Another balk-
ed and deaed the captain. Jim scream
ed at him, struck him and shut his eyes
as his revolver went on at the blow.
He leaped up in front of the trench;
an opposing bayonet entered his body
and bore him back, and he tumbled
into the trench upon the body of the
soldier OF his command whom he had
Just shot
More bodies Piled above him; then
the battle was far beyond. Jim Ashby,
captain Of volunteers, moved his head
and. after struggle. was able to
touch with his lips the brow Of the
boy he had shot. The bullet had gone
through his head, and death had been
instant. @ -
MART" Captain Ashby whispered.
"Martv
Some time after the cold and the
snow had stopped the bleeding OF
Jim's wound and his coat was all sti6
with frozen blood men Of the regents
ambulance corps bore him to Z. church
at Auburn, where rows Of cots replaced
the pews and nurses were moving
about.
The bayonet, Jim was told. had
broken two Of his ribs and shattered
his collar bone. 1t had left a great
hole through his shoulder. but the steel
had. missed his lungs
1t was the twelfth day later when,
as he lay on his side staring at the
door. he saw Agnes approaching slow
II. gazing at every cot in her search
for--Mart.
s"Jim!" "a y.
: He had put back the bed covers
from his face. SO she saw him from
few feet away. Her cry was scarcely
more than a whisper Now she was
beside his bed
"Jimr' she cried again, but her eyes
instead of staying upon him glanced
now down the line Of cots beyond
"Jim! Mart-is he here toor
He tried to speak. but he could not
He wet his lips. and tried once moro.
"Agnes! Agnes! was all he could
say.
awha. is II! Mart, Jim9 You
know something Of Mart?-
She stopped. That Jim knew some
thing of her brother she now WAS GER
tain. His manner had told that to her.
He could not deny It now II he would.
He knew. and he must tell hex.
"Mart-Mart's dead, Agnes"
"Deadr' ~
"Yes. He was with me, Agnes He
was in my company"
$3.50 you saw him before-he was
killed?'
Eyes"
"And afterwardw
YES IL shot him"
Your
He told her all. He had to tell her.
but she did not understand for many
minutes. When the nurses had taken
her awaya doctor gave Jim morphine
to make him sleep.
While he remained In that hospital
Agnes did not appear again. His re-
y ~ -