Rock Island Argus., 1917-11-21
Til e Daily
Short Story
IN AMBULANCE DRIVER.
By F. A. Mitchell.

St1Aitat4C WRSn ina
worlds war broke out. was inspired
by patriotism to be in it. The United
States did not at first show any dis
position TO enter the fray. so Jimmie
could not enlist in q lighting regiment
I But he could drive an ambulance. md
/ Americans who went over to asssst
| the western allies usually Joined an
lamhulagce corps This was the besf
Jimmie could do to make a soldier or
himself without fighting under a for
eign flag
/ Well, Jimmie sailed for France apd>
in due time found himself at the front
/ The only comfort he anticipated from
! driving an ambulance instead of fight
ling in the trenches was that he would
be in less danger But when he en-
tered upon his duties he found that in
war there is danger for every one.
/ One day while driving a load NJ
wounded a shell burst near fis anbv-
lance and took away his right foot and
ankle. When he recovered from his
wound he was discharged and return
ed to his home in the United States
Now Jimmie was entitled to the en-
comiums due heroism Just as much as
any other hero. He had a decoration
and he. walked on a cork foot and
ankle.
All heroes in war do not receive the
same treatment, circumstances having
a great deal to do with the matter
Tune removes many OF them from the
public memory. OF the heroes Of the
war between the states only few Of
the central figures are now household
words. On the northern side. the names
of Grant, Sherman and Sheridan are
about all that are generally known.
There never was hero Of that or any
other war vino died of disease. A man
must be killed in battle to be a dead
hero.
| Jimmie Throcbmorton was confident
on returning to his home that he would
be appreciated for the work be had
done. He had gone to the war from a
large city. and absence from numer-
/ Gus thTong is not noticeable Jimmie
was walking along a crowded street
/ in citizens dress after his return. He
iwore an overcoat that covered his dec
; oration button and no one would have
noticed that the leather over his right
foot covered cork instead of flesh and
blood He met friend and they
stopped for a brief chat
Hello, Jim," said the friend. DO
you expect 10 be drafted?H
They wouldn't take me; I've got
cork foot"
What are you giving me-"
True. I've been to the war and
had my foot shot off !"
Jimmie had much trouble in con-
: yincing his friend of the truth Of his
statement The man didn't know that
:. Jim had been out of the city. Jim
/ was working up some interest in him
self as a soldier when he mentioned
the fact that he had been an amhu-
lance driver
: oh" said his friend, 'T thought
you were a soldier" and passed on
L with so long. Anyway, you've es-
: capped the draft
Jimmie moved away, cognizaDt for
! the first time of the fact that the man
: who does his duty to his country
should not look for a reward in the
plaudits of those he fights for
He received other reminders of this
n fact. One person, noticing his decora-
a ton button, asked him if it was the
+ badge of the Sons OF the Revolution
/ Another asked if it was the badge OF
e a confederate camp. Finally Jim told
d inquirers that his grandfather had
y been pirate and the badge was given
le his progenitor for long service under
/ the skull and bones flag.
81 But all this was a bagatelle TO whai
II happened to Jimmie when he fell IL
le love. He had suffered so acuteiy fol
/ having driven wounded men from tht
: battlefield, both in the loss of limb ana
T. from want of appreciation, that h'
L never mentioned his military service
TO his enanlorita. She asked him whs
he didn't go TO the war, and instead o
l. telling her that he had been there, h
sr said he had enlisted, but had beer
1t fred from the army because he wa!
r lanle
e. Jimmie got engaged in the sprinl
s and in the early summer followed hi
o, fianee to Lake -z-. Of course
IN there was plenty of boating Jimmie'
sa girl was very fond of padding. Moth
~ ing would do but they must go canoe
i'd ing. The girl was a good swimmer
le but Jim couldn't swim at all. Il
changing places they upset the canoe
he The girl struck out beautifully hu
III on looking about for her lover say
G only one foot floating on the surface
80 She swan for it and righted its owner
IN The cork was SO much lighter thai
re. any part of his body that it stayed N
IN while the rest of him went down
IS Holding his head above water, sh
IL supported him to the landing, whiel
ell was close at hand.
C This was the crown Of ignorniny fo
a Jim's pride in his service TO his coun
rs try.
One evening Jim took his girl TO
lecture on the war by one who wa
10 familiar with what was going on
aI the front. He had seen jim at wor
ed there and dragged him up TO the plai
ID, form and told the audience what
lie hero he was. A speech was called 70
Vi and Jim said;
cd Ladies and gentlemen, II ma
n goes TO war for any other than patr
. otic reasons, he is fool
1t was very short speech, hlt yer
se- much TO the point.
is xu.zu,x,zz,yxuz.-..rz
ne