Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-12-21
A TALE OF
ADVENTURE
By PAULINE D. EDWARDS

clothes Tor Belgian orphans at heu
Cross headquarters. Naturally they
talked as they worked.
Come, Madeline; can't you tell us of
some adventure that has befallen your"
my life has peer very uneventful,"
was the reply.
You were in Europe, weren't you,
when the great war broke out? Surely
there must be something interesting in
your experience at that time"
There was a romance"
"Oh, do tell us about i'll" chimed a
dozen voices.
ut wasn't much of a happening, but
since you want to hear it l don't mind
telling you.
You see, l was in Belgium when
war was declared, but l didn't know
that the Germans were going to come
in such a hurry, and | hadn't seen all
the sights. So l delayed getting away
till they were driving the French be-
fore them toward Paris.
'That's the way l got into Red Cross.
work.
"The only means by which l could
travel were the ambulances carrying the
wounded. l set myself up for a nurse,
taking care of a load of wounded men
who were being carried toN&he rear,
till a shell exploded under it and blew
it and its contents sky high"
Weren't you killed." asked one of
them.
NO." said the story teller; II wasn't.
killed.
"What saved your"
II was leaning over a wounded SOL
der at the time, and when he was
blown up his body constituted a pro-
lection for me. He was killed, though"
at seems to me- remarked one of
the ladies, that there Is some unnec-
essary information given here. Go on
with the story so far as regards your
self alone"
"And leave out the romance?"
Nor shouted every woman present.
"They took the ambulance I was in
to Calais
81 thought it was blown to atoms,''
put in a listener.
''That was a French ambulance. l
was picked up by English Red Cross
workers and at Calais was taken
across the channel"
The speaker stopped short, as though
she had finished her story.
"Where does the romance come inF'
asked several ladies at once.
"Oh, I'm going to tell you that. Do
you want to hear itY
"Of course all responded.
81 stayed in England a long while,
.--.-. e. xro,,oJoJ .oIJ;o,.c g., fho hos
| pital. At last l sailed for America in a
British ship. That was when the sub
marines had got to work, and We were
all fearful of being sunk to the bottom
of the ocean. Most of us remained
dressed day and night. l wore a tailor
made suit l had bought in London.
You see if l got through safely l
wouldn't have to pay duty on it, and If
we were blown up and / was saved |
would be well dressed and correspond
ingly we'll treated. If l was drowned
my corpse would be well gowned."
"How t%houghtfulT' remarked several
listeners soto voce.
"We hadn't peer out thirty-six hours.
when there came the sound of an ex-
plosion forward. I knew at once it
was a submarine. 1 went to my state
room, got out all my jewels and put
them on"
"What for?' asked a surprised lis
tener.
"For the same reasons I wore my
tailor made gown. I've been asked
not to give any unnecessary informa-
ton. l think I won't tell any more
of it."
$50 on.' was the universal cry.
swell when l went up the compan-
ionway | found a terrible scene on
deck. The officers were protecting the
boats at the point of the pistol for the
women and children. When one of
them saw me inc how well dressed I
was-most of the women looked like
frights-he offered me his arm and es-
corted me to a boat. l got in, and as.
we were pulled away from the sinking.
ship l threw him a kiss of thanks"
How lovely Was he the romanceT'
"No. I'm going to tell you about the.
romance now. The sea was running
high, and one huge wave came along:
and turned our boat over. l gave my.
self up for lost. Fortunately my tailor.
made gown l told you about caught a.
lot of air under it, and this kept me up,
for awhile. But the seas finally took.
all the air from under me, and l was
about to sink when l felt myself drawn
upon some boards. 1t was an impro-
vised raft. l looked up into the face
of the handsomest man ever saw.
""This raft is not capable of support
ing us BOTH he said. 4 give my life.
that you may live With that he rolled
off into the water"
How beautiful!' exclaimed a chorus
Eve women don't appreciate the eff
feet of own adornments. There was.
admiration in my preserver's eyes,
which no doubt was heightened by my