The Dolores star., 1918-07-26

CHAPTER N-continusd.
-
When my schummy enemy" FIRST
started his conversation with me, the
0erman doctor in charge reprimanded
him for talking to me, but he paid no
attention to the doctor. showing that
some real Americanism had soaked
into bis system while he had been In
the q. 9. A. asked him one day what
ne thought the German people would
do after the war; II he thought they
would make Germany q republic. and
much to my surprise he said very bit
terry. IF had my way about It. I
would make her republic today and
hang the ID kaiser In the bar
gain" And yet he was considered an
a1ceilent soldier. concluded. how
ever. that he must have been q Ger
man socialist, though he never told me
%. On one occasion I asked him for
mis- name. but he said that I would
probably never zee him again and 1t
di6at matter what his name was. !
did not know whether he meant that
the Germans would starve me out, or
Juse what was on his mind, for at that
time I am sure he did not figure ON
dying. Tue first two, or three days
was Ia the hospital I thought surely
he would be up and gone long before
was, but blood poisoning set In
about that time. and just q few hours
before left for Courtrai he died.
Ono Of those days, while my wound
was st1ll very troublesome, I was
given an apple; whether Il was just to
torment me. knowing that ! could not
eat. u, OF whether for some other rea-
saa. do mot know. But anyway q
German flying oficer there bad several
- his pockets and gave me nice one.
OF course there was no chance Of my
eating q, % Nhsa u oGlcsr bad gone
and discovered this San Francisco
fellow looking at It rather longingly,
Z picked It up. intending to toss It
over 30 him. But he shook his head
aAd said, "H this was San Francisco
wsuld take It, but I cannot take It
from you here" I was never able to
aAdaestand just why he refused the
apple. for he was usually sociable and
good fellow to talk to, but appar-
eatiy ~ could not forget that was
hls enemy. However, that did not stop
one Of the orderlles from eating the
apple.
One nactice about the hospital i'm
pressed me particularly. That was,
lf Q German soldier did not stand
much chance Of recovering sufficiently
to take his place again in the war. the
doctors did not exert themselves to see
that he got well. But If q man had
q fairly good chance Of recovering and
they thought he might be Of some fur
ther use. everything that medical skill
could possibly do was done for him.
I don't know whether this was done
under orders or whether the doctors
juxt followed their own inclinations
n such caSes.
Ny teeth had been badly Jared up
from the shot, and hoped that I might
have a chance to have them fixed
when I reached Courtrai. the prison
where was to be taken. So I asked
the doctor II It would be possible for
ne to have this work done there, but
he very curtly told me that, although
there were several dentists at Cour-
ernl. they were busy enough fixing the
teeth Of their own men without both
sfing about mine. He also added that
I would not have to worry about my
eseth: that I wouldn't be getting 80
much food that they woulc De put out
Of commission BY working overtime. !
wanted to tell him that from the way
things looked he would not be wear
ing his out very soon either.
Ny condition improved during the
next two days. and ON the fourth day
OF my captivity was well enough to
write q brief message to my squad.
ron. reporting that was prisoner Of
war and feeling fine" although, as o
matter OF fact. was never SO de.
pressed In my life. realized, how.
ever. that II the message reached my
comrades It would be relayed to my
mother I'm Nomence. H.. and I did moi
want to worry her more than was ab
soistely necessary. II was enough fol
her TO know that was q prisoner. She
did mot have to know that I wa.
wounded.
I had hopes that my message woult
be carried over the lines and droppet
~ one OF the German flying officers
That II courtesy which u usual,
praetlced ON both sides. I recalled
hoW patiently We had waited in ON
airdrume fpe nsws Of our men who hal
HaaIea 70 F1tnrn. and ! could pictur,
NJ aQunAfoa apeculating on my fate
Tat b eae sf tAe sa0dest thing
Nnnoeeo1 IN servies IN the b. =. @
Sea daH - @scA what happens 3