The midland journal., 1917-01-05

1t was onlyNthe Mrech/0f a church no.
for the German shells had swept IT,,
leaving ruin In their wake. Even the
statue Of Christ on the Gross which
surmounted the altar had not escaped
desecration, for the upper part of the
crucifix had been snapped or like
matchwo0d and now rested against the
lower part of the figure of the Savior.
Re~eHforcements had reached Trench
"a in time thanks to Larry's heroism;
and though he knew nothing OF what
had happened after he had fallen close
BY the telephone, the British troops had
\ stemmed the gap in their defenses.
Along with others of the injured,
Captain Redmond had been hurried
| away from the front as fast as was
possible, until at last he had been re-
ceived into the field station for the
English wounded for which purpose
the Red Cross had pressed that tiny
church into service. When Larry
reached that place it had been far to
| the rear of the British first line. But
! now, alas! those heroes in khaki had
been forced back until the boom Of
their guns was plainly audible in the
violated sanctuary.
Captain Redmond lay upon heap
Of straw on the floor. About him were
many other men, swathed in bandages,
as he was, and among them there
moved soldier with the Red Cross
insignia upon his arm; and French
priest kneeled beside the stricken and
prayed for the welfare of their souls
as well as their bodies. It was early
morning, three or four hours past mid
night, and the cluttered nave was only
dimly lighted by few lanterns.
A doctor strobe through the door
way.
81 want to see Doctor Charles" he
announced, and to the man who rose
from one of the altar steps, where he
had been examining charts of the
wounded, he explained that he was
Doctor Aubrey of the Second corps,
sent to relieve the medical officer sta
toned there, who had been ordered to
join the ambulance forces at the front.
Doctor Charles handed over his
charts at once and prepared to leave.
81 see Captain Redmond is still
here" Aubrey remarked as he scanned
the records. "How is he?"
''Still out of his headp'
"Will he pull through?"
HE ought tor
"Brave chap, wasn't ha?" said Doc
tor Aubrey-''to get us that informa-
tion about Won KIuck's fianking move
mentv'
'If it hadn't been for Redmond they
would have captured our entire army"
the departing surgeon replied.
pretty big things for one man to
dor the newcomer exclaimed.
Doctor Charles agreed with him, and
after saying a hurried go0d-by he
| passed on into the gray Of the ap-
preaching dawn.
AS Aubrey set about his duties it
seemed to him that the roar of the
artillery became increasingly distinct.
And it was not long before the blare
of a bugle sounding retreat was watt
ed Enthusiastically through the open
doors.
At the sound Of that order one Of
the men lying upon the floor raised
himself upon an elbow and listened
II tell you-retreat! Retreatv' he
cried. "Right to the very gates OF
Paris! Oh, Ethel-where are
your
"Who's that?" Doctor Aubrey asked
of one of his Red Cross assistants
Captain Redmond! He goes on like
that most of the time," the man an
swered.
"The telephone! I've got to get to
that telephoneg Larry shouted. "Come
on, Larry! You can do it! It's only
a few feet morey
The doctor kneeled beside him.
"There, there, old man! Take it
easyw he said. 1t was plain to him
that the wounded man was living over
again those tense and terrible moments
in the trench.
All at once dazed look came over
Captain Redmond's face. He looked
at the doctor curiously.
"What place is this? Who are your"
he asked. He had at last regained
his senses.
you're at an English field hospital"
the doctor said.
''Then they got me, didn't theyY
said Larry. did 1 telephone head
quarters in time? can't remember.
There was bomb. I tried to crawl to
the phone. Was I too late?
Tell mep'
''Your information came in time &c
prevent their fanking our whole army"
Doctor Aubrey told him.
THANK Godr Larry murmured.
| 0AuN Mise VVtIIo,1ohhv9 Gho WOE NJ