Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-11-09
CHAPTER Nv.
The Jig's Uni

mighty snaky Tor me.
Rockies like nothing better than to
crack wise, as the old timers call 1t. on
anything connected with their troop.
They have keener sense for inside
news than bird dog has for flock Of
prairie chickens. This recruit was a
specially busy one OF the breed. He
was as pleased over the prospect of
new thrill as a Mexican Is over a plate
OF redhot chill con carnL II would be
red hot for me. all right. II they found
me out.
by this time Smithers was proud Of
me as II was his own private idea.
He used to chuckle as much when an
officer hove In sight and stood ut at
tention and saluted and got away with
Il as he did when the "bones" rolled
him good pot In Il crap game. Then.
III he saw me watching him, he would
try to look very severe and growl:
You shouldn't ought TO "A done IL,
ziddie. Sure nun you shouldn't"
What Cupid Smithers said when
told him the rockies were on the scent
and were talking sounded like word
barrage from the heavy artillery. You
could smell the sulphur in the air. No
apologies either. lie was mad clean
through.
What them young shavetnils need
Is set of knitting needles" he growl-
ed. 81 tell you what you'd better do
You'd better find that laxative Teller
who tipped you off and see IL 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.
found my rookie astern. He was
They were licking Germans right and
left, favorite pastime OF new men In
uniform The old campalgners avoid
talk about soldering. You would new
err know by their conversation whether
they were on their way to 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 Pinkerton." | rag
ged. Found the fem yeti"
"What do you meanT' demanded my
rookie, blushing like high school boy.
He knew | was kidding him.
Didn't you tell me there was a wo-
man on board?"
Sure did. | 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 dnswcr-
ing to the name O. Patsy around here"
Rookie Silenced.
That last shot hit the boy hard. He
suspected they were stringing him.
Every soldier breads being singled out
for the butt OF his comrades jokes. An
army Patsy has pretty tough time of
It. was safe from that rookie. for
the present at least
sneaked forward to the quarters
where my husband was bunking as
soon as flights out" was anxious TO
tell him what had happened. He 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 l happy? Ask me. After all, he
might weaken and let me go with him
into France. Right then | 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 heap.
didn't sleep much. | 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 rabbit Blankets, shoes and
clothes were flying In oil directions.
The alarm sergeant. whose duty II 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
dier from II company. a pal OF his,
came running up.
Jaw. g'wan. you rummy" he called
stopping long enough to have good
laugh. you've got It on you"
The old timer beat II quick. II was
the first tip we had he was taking no
chances on being kissed by subma-
rine. Afterward he insisted he had
been trying ii on ana left II 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 1t on as one OF those seagolng life
preservers. They had his number.
The next morning | decided not to
risk going up for drill. The rumor
about the woman was too fresh TO he
safe. If 1t had reached any OF the Off.
GERS they would be on the watch.
We turned out at 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 a
pin. Not scrap Of paper or bit OF
/ refuse could be found anywhere.
American soldiers are always clean. II
Is a hard and fast rule OF the service.
They never wait until Saturday night
to take bath. regular always looks
as If he had just been Numbered.
| remained below busying myself