The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-10-10
CHAPTER II.
Right Among the Army Dough
boys"

boys.
TT may not seem far to most folks
from barge moored alongside a
transport. over the side and aboard,
bur it looked like long. tough journey
To me
Three days and nights toiled and
sweated and worked on that barge I'M
G. thought ! would drop but all the
tIup was figuring and watching
watching for the chance to get aboard
the big dun cOlorcd ship on which my
husband and another piece of the
Pershng expedition were to go to
France. This watchful waiting wore
on my tired nerves and weary body.
From the time we left the train !
hadn't seen my husband. and | began
to think one took at him would be a
great tonic for sore eyes. Continually
! strained in vain for single glimpse
Ga the barge | had no trouble conceal
ing the fact | was woman. because
everybody was too busy loading sup
plies to pay attention to me, and |
found place to sleep Off by myself,
which was comfort. At least sneak
ed my uniform olf-for short time.
Finally there was even more activity
than on the previous days. and tugs
began to hustle and cluster and fuss
busiiy about US. so | knew if | ever
were going to make break it would
have to be then 1t gave me good
idea Of how soldier feels before he
goes "0vcr the top" for the first time.
Aboard at Last.
They were getting ready to cast of
the barge and most of the officers
We're lining the rails of the transport
astcIn when | made my try. Once
had my feet on that deck ! decided to
90 below and stay as quiet as possible
50 ! lost no time in ducking into the
first cumpunionway saw. Unfortu-
natcly Tor ne. second lieutenant hap
pcucd to be ducking out at the same
time. aud we bumped hard He recled
back ard said
What the devil are you doing?"
had come to attention ut once and
salutcd.
Il was going below. sir" l mumbled
In my deepest voice.
who are yOuY"
Garter. sir. * company"
Garter. he more careful about turn
ing corners and going in and out of
doors after this" he said touchily and
moved of
"Yes, sir" answered and saluted.
When he had gone | was trembling
all over, and ! proceeded more care.
fully. you may be sure. 1t was the
first time had ever been aboard big
ship-the first time had ever seen salt
water, in fact-sO ! didn't know my
way around very well However. when
got downstairs | found that one of
the Transports decks had been made
into big bunk room with the parti-
tons knocked out and hunks in tiers
of three each all around the sides.
Luckily | spotted couple of the
boys. from Company X and followed
them to the section in which they were
quartered. They looked like old home
week Ia one lonesome girl, aud | got to
thinking of the nights down In Douglas
when they used to come over and sit
on our porch aud spin close harmony
all over the place But they didn't
recognize me. so ! threw my outfit into
a middle bunk that was empty | was
lucky To find one To spare because they
were using all the available space on
that ship The hunks were made out
of canvas. stretched very tight. and
they rode comfortably enough when
We once got started
could feel the ship getting under
way. and | was Il little sad. with no
one to talk to and longing to get out OF
my clothes and stretch out my weary
body on one of those hunks | was 50
tired of inhahting that uniform | knew
! would give anything to feel little
soft lingerie next me aud perhaps have
on n petticOat AGAIN. although they
tell me the girls down east don't wear
any of them nowadays only the old
fashioned girls