The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-01-10
Three Brothers
ccopyright, 1917. Western Newspaper uniOn''
By ALAN HINSD ALE

Before the recent German attack in
Italy the Italians and the Austrians
were fighting In the mountains, the Tor
mer slowly working their way down to-
ward Trieste. 1t was slow work. Inc
Italians after pulling guns up a decliv-
ity would spend months in reducing the
works of the Austrians on a height
where they had established themselves
on the other side of a depression in
the mountains. Then they would take
up the position the Austrians had left,
the Austrians would establish them
selves on another defensible height,
and the work of reduction would begin
again.
In the Italian artillery forces there
was a gunner named Luigi Marini,
though he was known only to his fell
low soldiers as Luigi. Me was a re-
markable a%rtillerist. Eschewing the
modern contrivances for range finding,
he would aim his pieces and it re-
quired but two or three shots from
him to strike an object across a valley
several miles broad. He did such good
work that his officers did not attempt
to impress their instructions upon him,
but left him to demolish breast works
and dismantle guns any way he saw ht.
When Luigi's gun was once in posi-
ton, it was always placed behind a
rock-it was left him to serve, the rest
of the squad going to other duties. Only
one person remained, a stripping boy,
named Arturio with no beard on his
face, who helped him while loading the
CUR. When Arturio was not nus en-
gagged he would be picking off the Aus
TRANS with his rifle. He seemed de-
voted to Luigi and both were attached
to the gun. They were known among
Arturio, and the gun.
At one time the three brothers were
operating across a valley so narrow
that they could use both the gun and
the rifle.
But the enemy soon saw the neces-
sity Of stopping this effective work.
An officer with a pair of glasses kept
watch of the Italian lines and after
awhile located the spot whence came
the shots that were doing so much
damage. He called to one of his own
gunners, pointed out the rock behind
which Luigi's gun was stationed and
told him to put it out of commission.
The gunner began to send shots to the
location indicated and at the fifth shot
two of the three brothers were knocked
out. One was Luigi, the other was the
gum. Luigi was killed and the gun was
dismantled and rolled down the noun
tain side.
Arturio was not injured, but he was
thrown into great grief by the loss Of
his brothers. He vas found weeping
and wringing his hands. This was not
considered very soldierly but Arturio
had done such good work that his COM
rades were disposed to excuse him.
(which are you weeping for, Ar
turio," asked a comrade, Luigi or the
gun?'
Both" was the reply.
well, cheer up; there are more
guns just as good as the n you have
lost"
Eyes, but there are no more
Luigis."
ARTURO grieved all that day. His
captain ordered him to another gun.
He obeyed the order, but did not stick
to the gun. His captain found him be-
hind the rock which had protected Lui-
gi's gun.
what is the matter with your" ask
ed the captain. HAS the loss of your
gun taken the courage out of you?
Go back to the gun to which l ordered
you"
ARTURO said nothing but went back
to the station to which he had been
ordered. But he was useless there
and those serving the gun told him
that they had no work for such a weak
ling, and he soon returned to his or
iginal position. The captain having no
time to attend to his case he was left
there until the enemy were driven
from their line cross the valley, and
took up a stand further on. While the
Italians were getting their guns across
the valley lowering them with ropes,
and raising them on the other side by
the same means Arturio went to head
quarters. The general happened to be
standing there smoking a cigarette.
General" said Arturio, "T would
like a discharge"
"On what grounds, my boy?"
Il am the wife of Luigi Marini."
1.-THE man who ~dismounted so many
of the enemy's guns2"
"Yes, general"
Il have heard of the three brothers.
So you are the last, and a woman"
Yes, general" she replied holding
her rifle toward him. Il have avenged
the others. There are ~twenty-seven
notches on the stock, one for each Aus
trian l have brought down with my
rifle since they killed my husband"
The general examined the rifle and
the notches admirlngly. Then the
woman held her hat To tho lioht IL