Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-11
IN FRANCE
WITH EMPEY

tearing the sandbagged parapet
about him, he took deliberate aim at
Huston. Then he saw a vision or
Betty, dressed in black. with tear
stained eyes. With muttered curse
Ginger threw the rife from him,
climbed over the parapet and raced
across No Mans Land. No act or
| his should bring tears to Betty's
brown eyes. He would save her
worthless lover and then get killed
himself-it didn't matter.
Reaching Huston, he Kissed at
him: Damn you, l was going TO
kill YOU, but l won't; I'll carry you
f, back to Betty. But always remem-.
her, il was the man you robbed who
saved your worthless life, YOU des-
pieable skunk!'
Huston murmured: Forgive me,
Burton, but for Gods sake. get me
out of this. I'll be killed-for Gods
sake. man, hurry. hurry
That's 1t, is it? Whine, damn
you. whine. It's music to my ears,
Lieutenant Huston begging a "bally
er giving it to him. l would to God
that Betty could see and hear you
now
with that Ginger stopped, and,
by main strength. lifted Huston onto
his back and staggered toward our
lines. The bullets and pieces OF
shrapnel were cracking and swish
ing all around. He had gone about
fifty yards when a piece of shell hit
his left arm just below the should
er. Down he went, Huston with
! him, but was soon up. his left arm
dangling and swinging at his side.
| Turning to Huston, swho was lying
on his back. he said: L am hard hit
its your life or mine. We're only
ten yards from our trench; try to
make it on your own. You ought to
be able to crawl in
But Huston answered.: Burton,
don't leave me here-I am bleeding
to death. For the love of God, get
me in! You can have Betty
money, anything 1 have, it is all
yours-just save my life. Answer
me, man, answer
You want my answer. do you?
/ Well. take it and damn you' With
that Ginger slapped the officer in the
face; then. grabbing him by the col
lar with his right arm. the blood
wound in his left. Ginger slowly
| dragged Huston to the trench and
tainted. y mighty cheer went up
from our lines. Stretcher- bearers
took them both to an advanced first
aid post. and their journey to Blighty
/ and Betty was started.
ON the trip over Ginger never
/ reSained consciousness. They land
ed in hospital in England and
were put in beds next to each other.
Ginger was taken up into the pic
lures Operating theater), where
ms arm was amputated at the shoul-
der. Huston's wound was slight;
bullet through the calf of leg,
while Ginger was coming out of
ether he told all he knew. A Red
Cross nurse. with tear-dimmed eyes.
was holding his hand. Occasionally
she would look across at Huston in
the next bed; he would slowly nod
his head at each questioning glance
OF hers, while the red blood of
shame mounted to his temples.
/ Then Ginger came to. He saw
beautiful vision. Thought he was
dreaming. Sitting by his bed,
dressed in a Red Cross nurses uni
form. was Betty, Huston's Betty,
/ holding his hand. Betty, with tears
in her eyes. but this time tears of
JOY. The sweat came out on his
forehead-t. couldn't, be true. He
Sasped out the one word, Betty
STOPPING over, the vision kissed
| him on the lips ahenurmured:
My Ginger, YOU have come back to
| Betty
Then he slept. Next morning the
colonel of the hospital came to Gin
| gers bedside and congratulated him.
| telling him that he had been rec
commended for the v. c. Ginger re-
fused the V. c. from the govern
ment: said he had not earned it,
would not give the reasons, but per
sisted in his refusal. They can't
force You to take a V. c.
rive months later Ginger and
Betty were married. She cuts his
meat for him now; says that all his
| faults were contained in his left
arm. He lost that. So. you see,
Ginger was somewhat of man, aft
er all, wasn't he, mates?"
we agreed that he was. I asked
! Happy how he came to know these
details. He answered:
We'll, Yank. Betty happens to be
my sister. Gimme a fag, some one.
am about talked out, and, anyway.
| we We only got few minutes before
stand to-"
Just then the voice of our ser
geant sounded from the mouth of
6he dugout Equipment on!
So it was a case of turn out and
mount our gun on the parapet. 1t
was just getting dark We would
| oAAN ~ at olduu IN the
Fmorning. Tommy is like an owl.
sleeps in the day and watches at
| night. 1t was a miserable night.
rainy and chilly. The mud in the
! trenches in some places was up to
| our knees. We knew we were in
| for 1t and wished we were back in
/ Bighty, where one can at least
| change his clothes when they get
wet, instead of waiting for a sunny
day TO dry them. At times we have
! been wet for a fortnight