Connecticut western news., 1917-11-15
CHAPTER II.


 CHAPTER IT.
 Eight Among the Army Dough.
 boys"
 TT may not seem far to most folks
 from a barge moored alongside
 transport, over the side and aboard But it looked like long, tough journey Co me.
 Three days and nights l tOiled and wWeated and woIi;ed on that barge un- xflI thought I would drop, but all the 13me 1 was figuring and watching watching for the chance to get aboard the big dun colored ship on which my husband and another piece of the Pershing expedition were to go to France. This watchful waiting wore n my tired nerves and weary body.
 From the time we left the train l hadn't seen my husband, and I began tO think one look at him would be a great tonic for sore eyes. Continually \ strained in vain for single glimpse. On the barge 1 had no trouble conceal Ing the fact 1 was a woman, because svery body was too busy loading sup plies to pay attention to me, and l found a place to sleep off by myself, which was comfort. At least I sneak d my uniform off-for short time. Finally there was even more activity khan on the previous days, and tugs began to hustle and cluster and fuss kuSily about us, so< I knew if 1 ever were going to make a break it would have to be then. It gave me a good Eea of how a soldier feels before he goes lover the top'' for the first time.
 Aboard at Last.
 They were getting ready to cast off She,. barge, and most of the officers were lining the rails of the transport astern when made my try. Once I had my feet on that deck I decided to go below and stay as quiet as possible. so I lost no time in ducking into the first companionway I saw. Unfortu- nately for me, second lieutenant hap nened to be ducking out at the same dime, and we bumped hard. He reeled hack and said:
 What the devil are you doingT
 I had come to attention at once and galuted.
 T was going below. sir," mumbled m my deepest voice.
 "Who are you?''
 Garter, sir, K company"
 Garter, be more careful about turn ing corners and going in and out of doors after this,'' he said touchily and moved off,
 "Yes, sir," I answered and saluted.
 When he had gone I was trembling all over, and I proceeded more care fully, you may be sure. It was the first time had ever been aboard big ship-the first time had ever seen salt water, in fact-so l didn't know my way around very well. However, when \ got downstairs I found that one of the transports decks had been made Into a big bunk room with the parti- lions 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 uuartered. They looked like old home week to one lonesome girl, and I 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 over the place. But they didn't recognize me, so threw my outfit into middle bunk that was empty. I was lucky to find one to spare, because they were using all the available space on that ship. The hunks were made out sf canvas stretched very tight, and they rode comfortably enough when we once got started.
 1 could feel the ship getting under way, and I was little sad, with no enc to talk to and longing to get out of Wy clothes and stretch out my weary body on one of those hunks. I was so fired of inhabiting that uniform knew would give anything to feel a little soft lingerie next me and perhaps have sn a petticoat again, although they eeu me the girls down east don't wear any of them nowadays-only the old fashioned girls.
 Under Way.
 The men were all around me, many had known in Douglas, but they didn't bother with me, because guess ihey were little blue at leaving them selves, as anybody was bound to be at time like that, and I suppose it was fhe sober atmosphere got me to longing For that lingerie there. You could have cut it with knife. The old timers probably put me down for a sobby xammy who had just joined. Finally straightened myself up and thought
 "Buck up! You're deuce of sol sfer." ...f.
 looked around. Tbe old timers who
 csmpaisned in the Philippines and