The Bismarck tribune., 1918-12-12
HUN SHELL HITS
!. TWO BROTHERS
Talk Of Mother Before Death
+: =, +. Ends Suffering.
ARE Brave TO THE FINISH
Fate Singles eestliked Men Of o
Company to Be Struck by Same Ger
man Missiie-Were Good Pals, Who
Always Did a Little More Than
Their Share of the Workable SIZE
by Side.

Their Share of the Workable SIZE
by Side.
In tiny village Of Lorraine where
regiment Of "doughboys" were resting
after long stretch of time in the
trenches, German shell found mark
In two brothers. They were, rushed
to the nearest hospital, mortally
wounded, writes Frank J. Taylor, Unit
ed Press correspondent.
They We're just regular, hard-fght.
ing "doughboys," liked by all of the
men in D company because they were
good pals who always did little
more than their share Of the work"
Every man in the company admired
the brothers because he had seen
them behave bravely when it was hard
to be brave.
Out of all the men in D company ii
was hard to see why fate had singled
these two to be struck by one German
she'll Fate makes no explanations. so
the doctors in the hospital operated
skillfulIy and quickly ON the brothers
and placed them in beds. side by side,
in ward full Of wounded.
For time both men lay there hOv.
ering between life and death, and there
was uncertainty whether or not they
would ever gain consciousness.
Regains His Senses.
Finally one of them stirred Slightly,
opened his eyes and gradually came to
his senses. A mothcrly nurse bent
over him and eased his pain rs much
as possible. Then she whispered to
him that his brother was on the next
cot, but still unconscious.
The conscious brother looked dazed,
but gradually an enlightened look came
into his eyes as he recOllected what
happened in the last three hours. He
looked across to the next cot. falntly
reached his arm toward his brother
and whispered:
~~"Joe how are you"s
The other brother stirred slightly,
and gradually regaincd his senses. The
nurse gently cusrd him, as he looked
around with puzzled look, and finally
told him:
Here's your brother on the next
cot"
The second brother looked over with
panied amaZcment.
what are you in bed for, George?
Are you hurt, too?'
"Yes. Joe: they say the same shell
got us BOTH
'Are you hurt badly, George?"
81 think so, Joe; feel awful weak.
How are you? Does it hurt you lot,
boy?"
81 don't know as it does I'm weak,
too. But there's another feeling can't
describe"
what is it, Jce?'
II dunno, George. But, remember
the things mother used to tell us when
we were little, and fought to get on
her lap? I keep hearing her telling us
Sunday school stories. George, over
and over, just the way she used to do
1t years ago"
I'VE were on our way to mass when
1t hit us, Joe. Maybe that's why you
hear mother telling Bible stories. I
can hear her now, too, Joc.'
IT wish she were here, don't you"
II should say so, Joe. Maybe the
nurse of some one will talk to us the
way mother used to. We ought to do
1t, anyway, because if something hap
pened to either of US, mother would
like to know we We're all right"
II think so, too, but say-George."
Eyes"
IF should die, you'll be careful so
you can go back and look after mother,
won't you?"
"Thats promise, Joe. I want you
"to make the same one to me-"
Lets shake on it, George"
They reached their arms across the
space between the beds and clasped
hands.
Both Die for Country.
I'm not afraid said Joe, IF you
come through all right, George. wish
we didn't have to leave D company,
tuOuSiI. Dut even IL we get well, we
probably couldn't go back with the
boys I'm afraid I'm pretty low,
George. but don't you worry. There's
no pain now"
I'm not in pain. either, George, but
awfnlly sleepy. We don't have toSwor-
ry about Company D, because the
boys'lI never lose a chance to get a
German.
That's right, too. feel myself 60
ing to sleep: so good-by, joe"
''Good-by, George" \
The brothers drowsed back into their
pillows. and the old hospital chaplain.
who had just arrived. made his services
a simple prayer for two brothers who
were never to awake from the sleep
they We're enteripg.
In certain New England town a
brave mother has already been told by
Uncle Sam how the nation appreciated
the brave sons she reared. taught and