The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-10-16
COPYRIGHT. 1917. BY THE BELL SYNDICATE


swung into 'I've Been Working on the
Railroads.&c. trooper songs. Then
came away Down Yonder In the Corn
field" The boys were har1noniz1ng
again. Always singing, singing, sing
ing. Music is the safety valve Of the
soldier.
All the next morning there was an
unusual hurrying TO get the supplies
aboard. We knew the hour Of sailing
was close at hand, although no orders
had been given. You could feel 1t In
the air, the same az you can a strong
current Of electricity. / had not seen
my husband for three days. He was
busy aboard the transport, and I kept
close to the barge.
Shortly before noon I felt the time
had come. I crcpt up q ladder to the
top Of the barge. For awhile l stayed
there waiting for the way to be clear.
Soldiers were hurrytng back and forth
on deck. No one noticed me. II they
did they supposed. Of course, I was n
II them. waited until the deck at
that part Of the transport was free Of
anacerA because ! did not want to be
questioned Just thar. There was q pc
Rod Of confusion incident TO getting
under way. ! came up and stepped
over on to the deck Of the transport
We were on our way to Fraoce.
CHAPTER II.
Right Among the Army dough
boys"
TT may not seem far to most folks
from a barge moored alongside a
transport, over the side and aboard,
but it looked like a long, tough Journey
to me.
Three days and nights l toiled and
sweated and worked on that barge un-
til / thought l would drop, but all the
time / vas figuring and watching
watching for the chance to get aboard
the big dun celored ship on which my
husband and another piece Of the
Pershing expedition were to 60 to
France. This watchful waiting wore
on my tired nerves and weary body.
From the time we left the train !
hadn't seen my husband. and l began
to think one look at him would be q
great tonic for sore eyes. Continually
l strained In vain for a single glimpse.
On the barge l had no trouble conceal.
ing the fact / was a woman, because
everybody was too busy loading sup
plies to pay attention to me. and
found a place to sleep of by myself.
which was a comfort. At least l sneak.
ed my uniform off-for q short time.
Finally there was even more activity
than on the previous days, and tugs
began to hustle and cluster and fuss
busily about US, so l knew If ever
were going to make a break 1t would
have to be then. 1t gave me a good
idea Of how q soldier feels before he
goes "over the top" for the first time.
Aboard at Last.
They were getting ready to cast of
the barge, and most Of the officers
were lining the rails Of the transport
astern when I made my try. Once l
had my feet on that deck I decided to
60 below and stay as quiet as possible.
so I lost no time In ducking into the
first companionway l saw. Unfortu-
nately for me, a second lieutenant hap
pened to be ducking out at the same
time, and we bumped hard. He reeled
back and said:
what the devil are you doingT
I had come to attention at onc and
saluted.
II was going below. sir" I mumbled
in my deepest voice.
"Who are you?"
Garter, sir. Z company"
Garter, be more careful about turn
ing corners and going in and out of
doors after this" he said touchily and
moved of.
Eyes, SIR" I answered and saluted.
When he had gone I was trembling
all over. and | proceeded more care.
fully, you may be sure. 1t was the
first time I had ever been aboard a big
ship-the first time l had ever seen salt
water, In fact-so I didn't know my
way around very well. However. when
I got downstairs | found that n of
the transports decks had been made
into a big bunk room with the parti-
tons knocked out and hunks in tiers
Of three each all around the sides.
Luckily l spotted a couple Of the
boys from Company K and followed
them to the section In which they were
quartered. They looked like old home
week to one lonesome girl, and l got to
thinking of the nights down in Douglas
when they used to come over and sit
on our porch and spill close harmony
all owe the place. But they didn't
recognize me, SO I threw my outfit into
q middle bunk that was empty. l was
lucky to find one to spare. because they
were using all the available space on
that ship. The hunks were made out