The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-10-11
Continued
CHAPTER ~.
The Jig's Up!
TXTHEN rookie told me all the

" boys were talking about Their
being a woman on board th,
transport I knew things were getting
mighty shaky for me.
Rockies like nothing better than t.
crack wise, as the old timers call it, OF
anything connected with their troop
They have a keener sense for inside
news than 4 bird dog has for a flock Of
prairie chickens. This recruit was 9
specially busy one of the breed. he
was as pleased over the prospect OF q
new thrill as Mexican is over plate
Of redhot chilli con carni. 1t would be
red hot for me. all right, if they found
me out
By this time Smithers was proud of
me as if l was his own private idea.
He used to chuck1e as much when an
officer hove in sight and l stood at at
teAtion and saluted and got away with
it as he did when the "bOnes" rolled
him good pot in a crap game. Then,
If he saw me watching him, he would
try to look very severe and growl:
you shouldn't ought to "a done it,
kiddie. Sure huff you shouldn't"
What Cupid Smithers said when
told him the rockies were on the scent
and were talking sounded like a word
barrage from the heavy artillery. You
could smell the sulphur in the air. No
apologies either. He was mad clean
through
what them young shavctails need
is a set of knitting needles" he growl-
ed. Il tell you what you'd better do.
who tipped you off and see if you can't
shame him out'n the idea
That sounded fair enough. My cour-
age began to pick up. The game was
not over yet by long way.
I found my rookie astern. He was
with two or three other youngsters.
They were licking Germans right and
left, favorite pastime Of new men in
uniform. The old campaigners avoid
talk about soldering. You would new
er know by their conversation whether
they were on their way to war or to
tea party. The rockies had the
boches halfway to Berlin and were
using the kaisers helmet for a cuspi-
dor when l broke in.
''Hey there. Kid Pinkerton," I rag
ged. Found the fem YETI"
what do you mean?" demanded my |
rookie. bushing like Il high school boy. |
He knew | was kidding him.
Didn't you tell me there was a wo-
man ON board?"
''Sure | did heard
We'll. you sure are some fall guy.
Maybe you heard we are going TO fight
the Fritzes with pea shooters too.
You'd better get hep to yourself. The
first thing you know you'll be answer
ing to the name O. Patsy around here!'
Rookie Silenced.
That last shot hit the boy hard He
they were stringing him.
Every soldier breads being singled out
or the butt of his comrades jokes. An
lrmy Patsy has pretty tough time of
t. | was safe from that rookie, for
he present at least
| sneaked forward to the quarters
where my husband was bunking as
Don as flights out" | was anxious to
ell him what had happened. He was
Worried. but he tried not to show it.
lie told me to cheer up; that no matter
What happened he would stand by.
Vas | happy? Ask me. After all. he
hight weaken and let me go with him
lto France. Right then | wouldn't
ave traded my trusty old doughboy
utfit for the SWEETEST wardrobe in New
ork city. and. from what we hear
ack in Arizona. that is saying heap.
didn't sleep much. felt there was
in the air. Before midnight
lere was a submarine alarm The [
d timer in the bunk under me hadn't L
It the floor before he began to squawk. [
Some son of sea cook has shared
Y life belt!" he complained loudly. a
He was digging up his bunk like a b
)g after rabbit. Blankets. shoes and
othes we're flying in all directions.
he alarm sergeant, whose duty it was n
see that all hands were out of quar- ii
rs and on deck. was prOdding him n
me too gently to hasten him. sol b
er from Fl company. pal Of his.
me running up. r
Jaw. g'wan, you rummy!' he called,
0pping long enough to have good ST
Ugh. You've got it on you tt
The old timer beat it quick. It was
e first tip we had he was taking no gt
ances on being kissed by subma- al
lie. Afterward he insisted he had to
en- trying it on and left it there by &c
stake, but the boys wouldn't listen ps
him. You're just as likely to get in
ed to coffin and forget about hay St