The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-07-13

md we said a long goodby each time
Orders to Leave.
At last we moved camp, got up close
% railroad junction and only a section
us. Something was surely IN the
Wind. ] got another leave We stayed
wo weeks on that Kentish hillside
hen a deilnite-absolutely definite
ssurance came. We were to go toner
ow.' asked for leave Relused-no
cave, no more leave. Then was GER
ain - going and | was more
certain that ! was going to get that
asst goodby.
For Last Word.
/ fixed the matter up with pal OF
course and then the ward sergeant
vas my very good friend went to
london on my own. | had to say
Ioodby. The pal was to wire any
igns OF untoward movement in time
or me to rejom Risky Certainly
ut what OF that-goodbys must be said
nd one never knows with girls-a
asst word might mean all the differ
nee
| got into town late in the evening
No red cap stopped me. | gained the
District railway-six, seven, ten stations
bassed. was there. The house seemed
II darkness. Had luck forsaken me
md the girl gone on provincial trip
o some outlying factoryH No-luck
,eld. Ny knock answered-she was
i home. | had come to say "goodby.
No wire came, but ! returned to
amp next day. Now going seemed a
certainty. was impatient. The last
koodby augured we'll that she would
ome out sometime The sooner | got
way the sooner that sometime woald
tome.
She saw me to the train the next day.
Ne said goodby again in the station
,ard, then | got my train. Ten hours
alter | was in boat train going north
was on my way home.
Compensstions of Suffering,
There were a goodly number OF the
boys gathered on decks as We pulled
but from Liverpool docks | was sorry
Ind sad / had landed at another
port in England long months before,
had fought. bled, faced death, had
hearty surrendered to the sweep OF
bis giant sickle. was crippled, a
naimed being for life. | had landed
light hearted boy; was leaving,
Still with the God given gilt OF op-
imism and good spirits. but a man
bf serious thought and more serious
purpose. was to leave, but more
lad, that | had come Perhaps liberty
vas a half point the nearer tor each
bint OF hearts blood the soil of France
had soaked into her laboring bosom.
A Badly Shot Up Bunch.
The boys aboard we're a mixed bunch.
Ne had sprinkling OF one-leggers,
apping about on temporary crutches.
They would pot get their new legs un-
)il they had been home a little while,
We had a number OF one "wingers."
vas one myself, though the wing still
hung to the shoulder. l came in the
bhot up lung class too, and l had the
Added distinction" of gas. We were
pretty sight, but we could laugh al
ourselves and at each other and that
has 4 mighty share OF the battle.
Under the shadow Of the snowy cliffs
Newfoundland we got our first real
Sub" scare.
Wonder Working Gun.
Il was going on toward noon and
nost of us who could move about were
pn deck. Fore and aft we're the ships
runs, shrouded and silent all the pas
Sage. Under the gun shelters groups
of she'll shock boys had made them
De1ves what almost amounted to head
auarters. No one disputed their right
of pre-emption. Some of these boy:
were bent in two and trembled contn-
ually with ague, some had actually be
come crared. They were most pitiable
Halifax, then Quebec, whe , at the
lime the main discharge depot was ir
Being. We hung about there severa
days and tasted OF the hospitality o'
many persons in the city. The boys rar
riot We had some money among u'
end Il burned to be spent-spent or
things we had dreamed Of in III,
trenches and in hospital.
Bananas Wholesale.
One lad INDUCED in dream Of ban
snas. He bought, paid for and luggeC
20 headquarters a whole branch of th'
fruit-there might have been thirty Of
more punches on the main branch.
cannot tell whether he ate them all
but they began his journey WESTWARD
with him.
At last came the final medical In
spection for discharge. ! came last OF
the list, and so II was that saw tn
results Of many examinations.
The doctors are strict, though abso
iutely just and fair, but few malinger
ers get by. Like any other army tn
Canadians have had . few Of that i'll
There were two chaps who had planner
and carried into execution "gettin
away turn from the trenches. One de
veioped severe she'll shock, the othe
became totally deaf.
Catching Mslinserers.
The shell shock lad was a terribl
case. The worst had seen myself. II
vas bent double. quivered a, he waiket
his shaking hands unsteadiiy holding
supporting staff, he stammered as h
spoke and generally was what the boy
call a case" He sat across the depr
office from me and had just receive
his papers. II was apparent he wa
waiting for his friend. They ha
ehumrned together on board, so thef
was nothing odd in his waiting.
For the moment the exsminiu
major was occupied with some paper