Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-29
to forgive him for wha, he was going

After the bombardmcnt the next
morning. over went tho first wave. u
lin" OF bayonets and madly cheering
men. Ginger only saw ono in that
crowd: his eyes never left Huston. His
finger twitchcd and caressed the trig-
ger OF his riflc-his long look cd for
opportunity had come.
The first wave had como about sixty
Yards when Ginger let out curse.
Huston had been hit and was down.
and he saw his revenge slipping
through his fingers. But no. huston
was not dead; he was trying to rise
TO his feet; he was up, hopping on ono
leg. with blood pouring from the other.
Then he fell again. but was soon sit
ting UP bandagins his wounded leg.
using tourniquet from his first aid
packet.
c a surge ; e nnh oily Joy ran through
his rifle. unhccdinE the rain OF bull
let's which were ripping and tearing
tho sandbaggeu parapct about him. he
look deliberate aim at Huston. Then
he saw vision Of Betty. dressed in
black. with tcar-staincd eyes. With
a rnuttered curse Ginger threw the
rife fSom him. climbed over the para
pct and raced across mo mans land"
no act OF his should bring tears to
Bcttys brown eyes. He would save
Eer worthless lover and then get killed
Teaching Huston he Missed ut him:
Damn you. L was going to kill You,
but | won't. I'll carry you back to
BETTY. But always remember, it was
the man YOU robbed who saved your
worthless life. You despicable skunk!
huston murmurcd: Forgive me-
Burton. but for Gods sake. get me
out OF this. I'll be kilied-for Gods
sake. man. hurry. hurry!
That's II. iS ITO Wilma DAMN ,-o,,
whine! It's music to my ears. Lieu
tenant Huston begging 'bally boun-
der ior his life. and the bounder Civ
ing it TO him. would TO Col THAI
Betty could see and hear you now
singers Toward Lines.
With that Ginger stopped. and, by
main strength. lifted Huston onto his
back and staggered toward our lines.
The bullets and pieces Of shrapnel were
cracking and 'swishins' all around.
He had gone about fifty yards when a
piece Of shell hit his left arm just
below the shoulder. Down he went,
Huston with him. but was soon up.
his left arm dangling and swinging
AT his side. Turning to Huston. who
vas lying on his back. he said: Il am
hard hit-!ts your life or mine. We're
only ten yards from our trench: try to
make " on your own. You ought to be
able TO crawl in
don't leave me hcre-I am bleeding to
death. For the love OF God. get mo In,
You can have BettY--money, anything
nave. II is al! yours-just have my
nc. Answer me. man. answer -
GU want my answer. do you?
wen take it and damn you" With that
Ginger slapped the officer in the face:
then, grabbing him by the collar with
ms right arm. the blood soaking his
tunic from the Shell wound in his
left. Ginger slowly dragged Huston TO
inc trench and tainted. a mighty cheer
went UP from our lines. S,retcher
bearers took them both to an advanced
nrst-aid post. and their journey to
Blighty and Betty was started.
On the trip over Ginger never re-
gained consciousness. They landed in
hospital in England. and were put
in eeds next to each other. Ginger
was taken up into the pictures (op-
sra.ims theater) where his arm was
ampu,ated at the shoulder. Illusions
wound was slight; bullet through the
calf OF leg.
While Ginger was coming out of
ether he told all he knew A Red
! cross nurse. with tcar-dimmed eyes,
was hoidins his hand. Occasionally
she would look across at Huston IN
the next bed; no would slowly nod
his head AT each questioning glance
or hcrs, while the red blood Of shame
mounted to his temples.
sees Tears of JOY.
men GinGer came to. He saw a
beautiful vision. Thought lie was
dreaming. Sitting by his bed dre.sad
In Fed Cross nurses uniform. wa
betty. Huston's Betty, holding hi,
hand BETTY. with tears I'm her eyes
out this time tears OF joy. The sweat
came out on his forehead-it couIdn,,
Betty "ofu
STOPPING over. the vision kissed him
on the lips and murmured: MY Ginger
you nave come back to Betty
hen ne slept. Next morning the
coiohe! or the hospital came to Gin.
gers bedside and congratulated him
teHins MN that he had been recon-
inendcd for the V. c. Ginger rofn.ad
the V. &. from the government. .aid ~
had not earned it. would not give the
reasons, but persisted in his refusal
lhey can't force you to take a V. G
rive months later Ginger and Rot.
- were married. She cuts his mea,
TOT MIN now; says that all his faults
we're contained In his left arm. 1T.
loS' mat So. YOU Sec Ginger wa.
somewhat nj n man. aftcr ali
he. matcs?" ""Sh
We agreed that he was. ask.d
Happy how he came to know the..
details. lie answered.:
"! iank' Betty happens to be
my sister. Gimme Il flag. some ono
al" talked out. and anyway, we've on,,
soI lew minutes before stand to-;
Just then the voice of our screesn,
souhdcd from the mouth of the due
our: "Equipment on! Stand tot"
30 II was a case of turn out and
mount our sun on the parapet. IT wa,
Just getting dark. We would dis,noun,
II at stand down" in the morning
| omiI@ is like an owl. sleeps in the
cay and watches at night. 1t was q
fiiseraoie- night, rainy and chilly. The
mud in the trenches in some places wa.
up TO our knees. We knew we wcrt
In for 1t. and wished we were back T.,
fiighty, where one can at least change
ms clothes when they get wet, instead
or waiting for sunny day to dry them
~ times We lave been wet for a fort.
night.
THROAT-CUTTING INCIDENT
TOLD OF IN OFFICIAL ORDER