The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-10-26

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kiddie. Sure 'nun you shouldn't"
What Cupid Smithers said when 1
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 shavetails need
is a set Of knitting needless" he growl-
ed. II tell you what you'd better do.
You'd better find that talkative Teller
who tipped you of and see IT 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 a long way.
I found my rookie astern. He was
with two or three other youngsters.
They were licking Germans right and
left, q 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 a war or to
a tea party. The rockies had the
boches halfway to Berlin and were
using the kaiser's helmet for a cuspi-
dor when ! broke In.
"Hey there. Kid P1nkerton." I rag
ged. Found the fem yet"
"What do you meanT" demanded my
rookie. blushing like q high school boy.
BE knew I was kidding him.
Didn't you tell me there was q wo-
man on board2"
"Sure I did. l heard
'Well, 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 biz the boy hard. He
suspected they were stringing hin.
Every soldier breads being singled out
for the butt of his comrades jokes. An
army Patsy has a pretty tough time OF
II. I was safe from that rookie. for
the present at least.
l sneaked forward to the quarters
where my husband was bunking as
soon as lights out" / was anxious to
tell him what had happened. BE was
worried. but he tried not to show It
He told me to cheer up; that no matter
what happened he would stand by.
Was I happy? Ask me. After all. he
might weaken and let me 60 with him
into France. Right then I wouldn't
have traded my trusty old doughboy
outfit for the SWEETEST wardrobe in New
York city. and. from what we hear
back In Arizona. that Is saying a heap.
I didn't sleep much. I felt there was
something in the air. Before midnight
there was a submarine alarm. The
old timer In the bunk under me hadn't
hit the floor before he began to squawk
"Some son of a sea cook has SHARED
my life belt!" he complained loudly.
He was digging up his bunk like q
dog after a rabbit. Blankets. shoes and
clothes were flying In all directions.
The alarm sergeant, whose duty 1t was
to see that all hands were out Of quar-
tiers and on deck, was prodding him
none too gently to hasten him A SOL
der from 81 company. a pal Of bis.
came running up.
Jaw. g'wan. you rummy!' he called,
stopping long enough to have a good
laugh. you've got it on you"
The old timer beat 1t quick. It was
the first tip we had he was taking no
chances on being kissed by a subma-
rine. Afterward he insisted he had
been trying it on and left it there by
mistake. but the boys wouldn't listen
to. him. You're just as likely to get
fitted to a coffin and forget about hav.
ing it on as one Of those seagoing life
preservers. They had his number.
The next morning I decided not to
risk going up for drill. The rumor
about the woman was too fresh to be
safe. If it had reached any Of the off,
GERS they would be on the watch.
We turned out at 8 o'clock. Pulling
on our shoes. We next folded our blan.
kets, placed them at the head Of our
hunks and prepared for inspection.
Everything was as neat and clean as q
pin. Not q scrap Of paper or a bit OF
refuse could be found anywhere.
American soldiers are always clean. II
Is q hard and fast rule Of the service
They never wait until Saturday night
to take a bath. A regular always looks
as If he had Just been laundered.
I remained below, busying myself
around the hunks. The men had been
out only a few minutes when l heard
voices. I glanced toward the entrancs
of our bunk room. Two lieutenant
were. coming toward me between thu
tiers. I slipped In between two hunks
so I would be out Of sight as much Is
possible and became very Industrious
One of them saw me. I know now he
was looking for me, but then ther'
was a faint hope he was merely OF