Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-05-24
"Bride of Battle"
by VICTOR ROUSSEAU
A ROMANCE OF THE AMERICAN ARMY
FIGHTING ON THE BATTLE
FIELDS OF FRANCE.
Copyright by W.. G. Chapman.
BY VICTOR ROUSSEAU
one half turned away.


one half turned away.
And the thought OF the internal uai
poadcd Mark to madness. AS his cap
tor never suspecting resistance on
his part, let the muzzle OF the pistO
drop, Mark drew back his hand and
struck upward with all his might.
He felt the burn OF the powder as
the discharged bullet sped under his
chin. hc heard the startled cry OF The
Germans: and then Il furious outhursi
OF machine gun fire came from the
trenches opposite. Two Very lights
went up. revealing the two struggling
men to the scntrics on either side.
Mark saw powerful man. ser
rcant. he thought. with CLOSE cropped
yellow hair and the body Of Il Her
culcs. The man dashed at him. strik
ing madly with his bare fists. Til" two
fought amid Il hailstorm OF bullets.
suddenly the German uttered u
choking cry and dropped. blood
squirting from his throat. whcr" Il
chance bullet had found him. As h"
fell. Mark pr"cipitat"d himself upon
him and lay fat on the ground.
The firing died away. Th" star
shells grew infr"qucnt: they disclosed
no movement in the terrain between
TN. lines. Mark drew out his first aid
applianc" and Strov" Ia handag" the
wound. But the man, VIII" had
wri,hcd weakly in his arms. suddenly
COLLAPSED and lay still. Mark felt the
face grow cold beneath his fingers. II
was unnecessary to continue bandas-
ing.
And, since there was nothing els"
TO do. ne began to crawl back toward
the parapct of his lines. y Whispered
challenge. an answer, and h" had
scaled the sandbags and descended
into the mud of the trench, to find
the firing posts crowded and himS'l!
facing Kcllcrman and the company
captain.
Inwardly boiling. he stood still. II
WAS too dark to see the expression on
Krllcrman's face hut he could imagin"
the snccrins grin that disiigurrd II.
Well" said kcllcrman sharply.
THE man YOU sent me to bring in
was dead. He had been thrr" for
days"
"whcrc are your companions" de-
mandcd kcllcrman.
Captured"
And you?"
I'VE were attacked in the dark. |
fought with my man until bullet
Killed him. The others wore IaKcn.
and your strctcher?" asked Keller
man With a bland s.n'"'"
81 left il between the lines. DO yo,i
wish me to go back for it. sir"
"This man is lying" said Krllcrman
to the captain calmly. Ell" abandoned
his companions and ran away. IL" lost
his stretchrr. Put him under arrest.
The captain hcckon"d Ia TN" pla-
toon sergeant. who came forward
I'D like to say one thing. said
Mark. striving to keep his voice
steady. "Wc three were sent o"t to
bring in Il dead man. who he'd """n
dead for days--anyonc here vii! i'nr
me out in this. Was the man v"nnd"i
tonight: There was only on" body in
this section"
cut il out" said the sergeant. lay
ing his hand on Marks shoulder.
But Mark swung clear of him ana
turned and faced k"ll"rman again.
"You sent me ont tonight To put me
out of the way" h" cried. losing all
self control. For reasons that yol
know. and | know. yon wanted m"
dead. and you were willing To send
two others to their death also. iou
lied TO mo To put me of my guard.
d--n you, You trcachcrous dog And
here's the blow You gave. back
again."
He struck Ecllcrman u buffet that
sent him recling back against In"
parapct.
Ito BE Continued.)