Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-11
The Dailv
Short Story
DYNAMITE RAM
BY Edith Walters Tupps,

sponded David Aldrich, and os,, 's
or his way ''ei
/ Lee stood looking after n. =
companlonable fellow in A so,. "a
wonderment. II can't undsr.i.as
/ IT," he soliloquized. We erl..-s
! in the same town, good 80
/ back there are our mutual gris.4
We came over IN the same ~.
We are chartered IN the ssfns ~
( Torment here on the front ~.
! since We left home Aldrieh
been getting further and fuy,ss.
away from the boys. | waas.
what has come over him" Ana a.
( open-hearted bright-faced yarss
| soldier sighed sorroWfully.
For he himself had his trouAi.
It was not until he had left bas,
and winsome Myra Randall hssir
him. that he began to get lonnor.
and miserable. and wondered ~
he had not spoken out the loFs ~.
ging at his heart-strings ir n.
girl who saw him leave ana ero5 4
over il, and kissed her htsd -
him at the last So. when Il %.
to Paris, Lee purchased r,sg
Then he sat down and wrae al
secrets OF his soul TO Myu n.
asked her TO accept the pretT es.
clet as ar engagement ring. Foun
she write back the words IN
would buOyN him up 10 allan
deeds, and to feel that be lad
sweetheart awaiting his return+
And now two months had eous
by and there had been no rspIy
and Lee went through all the ma.
cries Of an unhappy lovei.
II was two nights after thai
when by chance sentry dub
brought Lee and Aldrich on bais-
that joined, Ii was possible duhg
that night on rounds 10 meet ana
pass a few minutes in hail or 20
sip, but Aldrich purposely eYadei
this meeting.
II Lee could have seen Aldri)
about an hour after they had COT
on duty and the camp had settI
down, The latter, resting for I
moment where the earth from
. "a u gut GAl EGuFt+ nun lAblu EEHEEiA
view. stood glaring wildly IL thFl
direction of Lee. His eyes wera
like balls Of fire his lips eemed
( to eXude a venomous HIS. His
gun was at his shoulder and aimed
al the unsuspecting Lee, and he
resembled some demon bent upoh
frenzied, murderous mission.
One touch of the finger he VI
I tered hoarsely, and they will judge
! II the work of a sniper. Oh, Mere
iful Father, what am l thinking
Of? Am | lost, accused soul
indeed"
! or a sudden a powe rful revulsi1H
Of feeling overpowered him. He
flung his weapon 10 the ground al
! though il were a serpent Of fire
He dropped 10 his knees, and COW
ering his face with his hands
i'moaned and groveled there. Then,
limp and Ike an automaton, be
resumed his sentry duty. but with
eyes ever bent away from Lee, as
though he dared not take hin
within the scope of his vision.
/ II was at dusk. a week later. A
terrific combat had been raging
between advance parties Of the op-
posing forces since mid-afternoon
A constant rain of dynamite, o.
curtains OF shellfire, and creeping
I jumping barrage had brough.
about Observation-Disclosures. TAX
ing advantage Of the heavy fog,
score Of enemy balloons were send
ing down tons Of deadly explosives
Lee. rushing madly for a covert
TO which the company had been OF.
dered, sprang from the disorderei
ranks as he noticed a man fall a.
the scattering contents of a BOMB
from aloft engulfed him. In the
glare he recognized David Aldricn
A group of three from the enemy
rushed at Aldrich 10 dispatch nm
with their bavonets.
Lee threw himself forward, hero
ic fervor infusing him with pro.
digious strength He knew ng.
how he had done II till II was a.
over. A writing trio lay upon tas
ground. Another shell burst WIZ
in 10 feet of him and a dozen ms
siles seemed TO cut arms and enesN
vet he lifted Aldrich in his arm
staggered towards the nearest shel,
I ter and fell down. collapsed sn'A
his company comrades -
You'll do" finally greeted Nh
at the side OF his cot in the ne'o
hospital next morning. Iheh ~
surgeon added. Il think you g
strong enough to get over to Wala
nine. The man YOU risEea yVu'
life to save. David Aldrich, is car.
ing for you constantly ana ~
won't live the day out. ,.u.4
Cheer up. old fellow. halvs
Lee, as an hour later with the ai'
of an attendant he managed ."
reach the side of Aldrich.
I've done my bit, whlspeItN
Aldrich. family There IS SOM
thing 20 tell YOU" and he CROP
within his breast. producing 10Y
ed letter. open it. read u 81
then curse me for the miscreaH'
lave BEEN ,,
Lee traversed the creased. W..
missiye In was dated two mon1I.s,
back II was from Myra Randa!l
and r. toId MIN mat she was wear
I ing the euga gement ring. ~
Il loved her low murmureu ~
dying man. IL loved her 80 al sie
intercepting that letter. MAUI
/ kept il next 20 my heart as - =.
shed memento. Lee. forgive me-
II You can ast
"Oh. freely. dear old comrads
poor tortured soul Don't give 10.
der. Aldrich. We are an ~
friends" but with fast glazing -
the hand OF the other WAS grop'4'
for his own. -.
Don't tell Myrs"-it was ~
hing whisper now. nOpb -