The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-10-17

| husband. but With the AID or Cupi(
Private Smithers ! sneuked up to hii
berth often at night He still insistet
be would report ME. The old timer!
who knew me covered me up. and al
the men were very decent. Whenever
an ofiicer came along they would fint
an excuse to gather around me. and
they did very little swearing. n Eel
low forgot and cut loose he got col
from somebody. The loyalty of these
boys had known on the bordeI
pleased me very much and battered me
| q little, I guess.
My headquarters were the kitchen
where was rated az one Of the cooks
and did my share. Here they called me
silent Joe" because I talked 50 little
afraid my voice would betray me
Glad that they gave me this reputation
I was ready to live up to It
Fools Husband.
One day ! was folding up my blan.
ket when I saw my husband coming
down between the tiers Of hunks.
"what are you doing there, rookie?'
he demanded. Don't you know therc
IL drill on dcckT
My back had been half turned toward
him. ! swung around and tore OF my
hat. My hair had been clipped short
but he recognized me and laughed
The Joke was on him.
"You fooled me. kiddie," be said.
You'd better 60 up to drill"
But the best I could do was to helI
myself to a good cry on his chest
There was no one who could see %
he was gentle with me as always, and
] was happy. had needed that cry
q long time. I think he was Q little
proud. too, to know his wife would risk
80 much and follow him so far just Ia
be near him. I enjoyed that moment.
I didn't care II all the offlcers on board
saw me, but none did.
1t was easy for me to 60 through the
simple drills on shipboard, for ] was
familiar enough with the army to show
up a lot of the rockies at It. Some OF
the men who did not know was
aboard were curious about my shaving
when do you get out your razorY'
a youngster asked me one day.
II don't have to use 1t except once
a week." answered. I'm kid yet
You 60 to 1t every day to look manly"
Once I did try to shave to play my
part.
or course there were always the sol
der songs, and we had quite a cOllec
ton Of musical Instruments aboard
manned by amateurs. One doughboy
who had recently returned from scrv
ice In Hawaii had brought a ukelele
along, and he went big, for the boys
liked those dreamy tunes.
1t Is a strange thing about a soldier
that he does not sing the stun written
for him, but prefers the tear jerkeri
and sentimental ballads The soldier
songs I'm France will be about bach
home and not about beating the boches
Yet these boys were going to the
trenches and that he'll with q smile and
q song. II any reformer kicks on that
crap game he ought to 90 himself. The
men are gambling their hveA Why moi
their money!
The Rookie Who Talked Too Much
Most Of the soldiers knew and had
served with and seen General Perish
ing. He sees more Of the doughboya
than most major generals and gets In
closer contact with his men. Yet they
talked little Of him except to show
they had faith In him. He seemed ia
be q sort of distant person who spent
his time In some indefinite place. The
captain is the soldiers friend.
There was much speculation as to
what they would do when they reached
France. and all were eager to get into
action. They wanted to try 1t anyway
I'VE may he fed up on 1t year from
now" declared one fellow who had
been watchfully waiting several
months in Mexico, but ! hope we get
some action sOOn."
! was beginning to think ! would
see the trenches myself and half hoped
So knew ! wouldn't be scared, and
l felt was part Of the expedition by
this time. Nothing would have suited
me better than to have climbed into q
ditch beside Corporal John Carter. u
s. A. l had caught the spirit Of the
crowd and had half got my husband
to consent to let me go along as far
as could make It. ! was happy.
Then one morning without any warn
ing a laxative rookie. who had been
seasick. but was now better and fresh
said:
ibid you hear there Is woman
= abOardf'
"You don't sayr ! answered. where
the devil Is sheT
~ don't know. cant make her,
he answered. 1--WE been looking every
body over. All the bows ON the shiI
are talking about It.
/ "Some men would make better old
maids than women" replied AND
turned on my heel and walked away.
There was lump in NV throat. The
nd timers knew enough ~ keep theil
mouths shut. hut these rokies were
iatural poa,,ina Tho t,ffit org vyo,llf