The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-16
BUSINESS OF LIVING
BIZ lxRs. EVA LEONARD


Bertram Tells the Folks Back Home
of an American Soldiers Brave
Deed.
Dear Folks at Home:
81 surely have something to report
tonight. The air is electric with ex-
element. We were bombed by Ger
man planes last night a little after
shutdown Quite a number of troops
were quartered in a little village back
of the trenches The division that
were off duty were strolling about the
streets or sitting in the doors of the
cottages chatting cheerfully when the
peculiar whirring sound of the planes
arose on the evening air. The viii
layers recognized the sound at once
They have been visited before by the
German airmen, and they rushed out
into the street gazing skyward, fol-
lowed, you may be sure. by the Sam
mics. There were three of the MAJ
chimes and altho the French gunners
banged away at them the shots ended
in white puffs far below them and
they wheeled and curveted in the air
in the most eXasperating manner
dropping bombs on the groups of star
ing people. Several exploded and some
damage was done, but no one was
killed. One big bomb fell singing a
few feet away from where some fifty
villagers were standing. Quick as a
flash an active young American
rushed from the house doorway where
ne was standing and turning his pock-
ct searchlight on as he ran-the street
was dark by this time-he located the
bomb and before any one could stop
MIN had picked the thing up sand
hurled it into the river some distance
beyond the house. 1t exploded as it
in every direction. Young McClain
sauntered back to his post of obserya-
ton as calm as if nothing had hap
pened- Such a buzz as there was
around the fine modest young fellow.
1t was nothing, he asserted; no use
standing around and letting the thing
explode and kill somebody
Isn't that like an American? They
nave so much pep, so much initiative
Fhe youngster was a crack football
quickly.
His captain says the boy will sure
ly get French war cross with a palm
on it They are beautiful What an
honor to be the first American to be
decorated. Won't he 'swank'-that is
the English word for swagger. or get
the big head.
Il suppose you have seen by the
papers that the American engineers
were discovered by the German air
men men ana bombed while at work one
day last week. They were the first
Americans under fire. No one was
hurt, however
"Patty's last letter made me un-
easy She had been unable to be on
duty for a couple of days She is
working altogether too hard. You
know she can never take anything by
halves, but must use every ounce of
strength that she possesses. 1 can
only hope that she will not give out
altogether in this nerve wracking
work.
did you get my letter of congratu-
lauon, Douglas? You did not men
ton it in your last. 1 want you to
know that we are mighty proud that
one of our clan has perfected the dives
that will keep the Germans from re-
gaining any of their trade after the
war is over. We Americans are find
ing that we can get along without
German products and shall be very
much disappointed if we ever go back
to Germany for anything. We are
big enough and ingenious enough to
be self-sustaining. So 'Hurrah for
Douglas I say.
Tell Jack 1 am going to Paris
soon, and 1 shall look up his god
sons.
My best love to all
"BERTRAM
(To be continued.)