Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-16

She stopped beside me and said IN
English:
to me. will you? Goodbye. my foolish
sergeant While you are rotting IN
prison think of your Adrienne, ban.
My hand gave the butt of my auto
matte just the slightest squeeze. ! was
thinking of her hand on my shoulder
Well, two could play that game.
THE captain said something to the
orderly, who left in the direction OF
the house. Now was my chance.
Springing to my feet and leveiing the
pistol at the captain. ] grabbed the
reins Of his horse from the post and
mounted The orderly came running
toward me. yelling out in German, and
l could see soldiers emerging from the
stable. had to act quickly
when / mounted. the captain
reached for his revolver. covered
him with mine, and. with shrek Of
terror. Adrienne threw herself in front
OF the uhlan captain to protect him.
] saw her too late. My bullet pierced
her left breast and a red smudge
showed on her white silk blouse as she
sank to the ground. I shot the order
ly's horse to prevent immediate pur-
suit, and then away on mad Eallop
down the road. 1t was long chase,
but 7 escaped them
The rest of my men were captured
At our headquarters / had to lie like
a trooper. Told them we had been
ambushed and wiped out. 1t was the
only way to save my skin. There were
no witnesses against me, SO | got OIL
with reduction to the ranks and a
transfer to another regiment They
smelled a rat. all right, but had nc
proof.
so that is my story. Yank. Just for
get that ever told it to you. Enough
to make a fellow get the blues occa-
sionally, isn't it? Just pass me fag
and take that look OFF your face
j gave him the cigarette. and, with
out a word. went out Of the dugoui
and left him alone. ! was thinking OF
Adrienne.
Upon reaching the trench I paused II
wonder and fright. The sky wa:
alight with a red glare. The din wa:
terrific A constant swishing ant
rushing through the air. interminglet
with a signing moan, gave testimony
that our batteries were sweatfnt
blood, The trench seemed to be roll
ing like a ship. / stood in awe. Thu
bombardment OF ours was somethinf
indescribable and a shudder passed
through me as thought of the havoc
and destruction caused in the German
lines. At that moment I really pitiet
the Germans. but not for long be
cause suddenly hell seemed to burs
loose from the German lines as thel
artillery opened up. ] could hea
their "fve-nines' screeching through
the air and bursting in the artiller.
lines in our rear.
Occasionally far-on rum-rum-rump
rump-crash: Bru-u-nn-n-R-g. couh
be heard as one of their high cafibere'
shells came over and burst in our re
serve. ] crouched against the parados
hardly able to breathe. While in thi
position right overhead. every instan
getting louder. came German shell
whiz bang-g-g. ] was blinded b.
the flash. Down ] went into the muo
Struggling to my feet in the red glar
of the bombardment. saw that tn
traverse on my LEFT had entirely dis
appeared. Covered with mud. weal
and trembling. could hear wha
sounded like far distant voices comin
from the direction of the bashed-i
traverse.
"Blime me, get is bloomin' nappe
outa tn mud: e's chokin' to death. Pas
me a bandage-tyke is b'yonet fer
splfnt. Blime me, is leg is smashed
not 'arf hit h'aint- TIL rest o. 20
blokes 'op it fer a stretcher. 'Ello. 'e'
got ANOTHER one-quick. tournique'