Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-11-02

when they used to come over and sit
on onr porch and spill close harmony
all over the place. But they didn't
recognize me. so threw my outfit into
q middle bunk that was empty ! was
lucky to find one to spare, because they
were using all the available space on
that ship. The hunks were made out
OF canvas. stretched very tight, and
they rode comfortably enough when
We once GO. started.
could feel the ship getting under
way, and | was q little sad. with no
one to talk to and longing to get out Of
my clothes and stretch out my weary
body on one of those hunks I was 30
tired OF inha biting that uniform knew
! would give anything to feel q little
soft lingerie next me and perhaps have
on a petticoat again. although they
tell me tho girls down east don't wear
any OF them nowadays-only the old
fashioned girls.
Under Way.
The men were all around me. many
had known in Douglas. but they
didn't bother with me. because I guess
they were n little blue at leaving them.
selves. as anybody was bound to be at
a time like that, ard | suppose Ii was
the sober atmosphere got me to longing
for that lingerie there You could have
cut II with knife. The Old timers
probably put me down for sobby
Sammy who had just Joined Finally
! Strengthened myself up and thought:
Buck upl You're a deuce OF q sol.
der"
! looked around The old timers who
had campagned in the Philippines and
some even In Cuba back In 1898, while
most of them had been In Mexico. did
not look sad. but ! will say there we're
darned few of them grinning as we felt
the ship slip out OF that dock. The
youngsters the boys who had just
come In the regiment on the border
and had never been east before-show.
ed 1t They didn't know whether they
would ever be back again. and they
were thinking about 1t and about the
little red house with the white fence
back home and the girl and wondering
why they Joined the army and wishing
they were In Arizona. But ! don't
want to pull any sob stun.
This Is a fine way to send us or"
complained one boy who was not more
than nineteen a very pronounced rock.
lie There are no flags, no bands, no
cheers, no beer nothin'. It's great
way to fight II war"
Wait till you get yer there. kid.
and you'll wish you were back here"
remarked Private Smithers grand
lighting man. but always u private. al
though an old timer In the army. His
name is not Smithers either II \ told
his real name 1t might get him In bad
But hold your head up, son. The
worst you can get Is to be killed, and
you won't know about that" be con-
Guided
The case OF Private smithers reminds
me Of an army story.
You object to your men drinkinyT'
asked a friend OF the colonel OF a regt-
ment on the border one day. "Why,
Private Bill Jones has always been Q
drinker when ON leave. and you say he
Is fine soldier"
Eyes. and he's always been pr
vate." answered the colonel
This fitted Smhhers' case exactly.
He was a good soldier and fine fight
er. but cut from the pattern OF prt-
vate and always intended for one
Pretty soon | noticed him staring ut
me closely. and ! moved away, al
though | knew Jim Smithers wouldn't
tip me of. However, | didn't want
him to get on If could help 1t.
1t seemed risky to go on deck yet. so
I sauntered toward my old stamping
ground, which had been SO friendly to
me en- route from Douglas-the ships
kitchen.
What I really wanted to do was page
my husband. for I hadn't caught .
glimpse of him on the transport-in
fact, had not seen him since the troops
left the trains. No sign of him. !
wondered q little how he would take
II when he found me still along.
THAR she blowsr' hollered voice.
we COulu ieeI tue sup tuONub uhuch
her own power. and by the glimpses
I caught through the portfolios ] saw
we had Strengthened out in the stream
Then a panic seized me. What IF my
husband was not aboard that ship3
Suppose he had been transferred to
some other regiment at the last min.
ute. They do such things in the army
without asking the permission Of
wives. which makes the husbands
harder to follow. | had no way OF
knowing whether he was aboard
What If
Hey, there. Joe. heave to and lend
a fellow a hand. will your What do
you think this is-a tango tear"
The speaker was one OF the Kitchen
crew. When the transport started its
perilous journey to some port In
France" be was hustling crates OF food
into the storehouse down below. 9th.
ers OF the men were busy with similar
tasks, getting things shipshape, There
seemed to be no romance about this
farewell. II was case OF getting
down to brass tacks. After awhile
stole abOye There was no excitampnt