Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-01-08
He Couldn't Shoot
His Friend
3, OSCAR cox

lcopyrlsht. 1917. Western Newspaper un'on-s
There was charge sind counts
charge in France. the American trecpsl
being engaged with the Germans. All
day this see-saw went on and toward
evening the field was covered with
dead and wounded Americans and Ger-I
mans. At intervals In the fighting the
American ambulance corps undertook
10 bring In some OF the wounded. and
attempts had even been made to bury
the dead
Just before dark Colonel B--I
who was trnversIng the field. espted
one Of those receptacies In which -
American troops bury their dead.
What kind OF receptacle is used
depends upon circumstances. Some
times when there Is time for an Inn
presslve funeral IL Is coffin; some
times when the armies are active II
Is rough box. and there are occn-
slons when the dead are shoveled into
trenches without any covering what
ever.
"what Is that doing hereT' asked
the colonel.
Nobody knew. The colonel was
about 10 make an examination when
shells began to burst about him and
he and others who we're present sought
cover.
About ten o'clock that night Colo
mel B. bethought himself Of the
burial box that he had seen and began
to wonder how II could have come 10
be on the battlefield. II occurred TO
him that there had been some stupld-l
ity on the part Of one under his com
mand and II the general should run
across II. there would be some unpleas-
ant criticisms. The colonel, calling
his orderly, a strapping son of Erin.
told him about the burial box and or
dered him to go out and bring II In.
mike" he said In conclusion. az You
find corpse In II you needn't bring
the corpse with you; dump It out and
bring the box"
aye. aye. SIR" replied Mike, saiut-
ing. and departed on his errand. lie
had not far TO go nor had he anything
to fear, for the German lines were
several hundred yards distant and
there were the remains OF scrub trees
between them and the Americans.
There was moon but most Of the
time 1t was covered by clouds. Mike
was not long In making out an-Hhiong
which being made Of newly PIlyGed
wood was very light In color.
lie paused and looked at II. There /.
was no Drawer soldier In the American
army than Mike ODonohue when a
real. live, flesh and blood enemy was
encountered, but Mike had no stomach
for a corpse that might face him WITH
rlld chostly eyes, and through whom
bullet might be sent without Ell
feet. Before approaching further b
determined TO discover whether or nd
there was a corpse In the box.
"Come out o. thnt, ye Spalpeen.
he said. II know ye're there Cou,<
out. l say, before I put n bullet into
We with my revolver" III
To Mikes horror the lid Of the boz
was raised and by the moon he saw q
pale face peer out and voice said: 81
Don't shoot, my friend. / surrend-
err"
Mike stood trembling like leaf He
was tempted to turn and run but he
shrank from facing his colonel II he
did lie stood his ground but was un-
able TO articulate u word. The man
in the box threw off the lid and sat up
Il go init you TO der rear" said the
corpse.
The corpse got out of the box and
advanced toward Mike.
The Imagination Is capable of work
ing wonders. Mike saw plumb through
the figure. IN
II am not armed" said the ghost.
The statement put courage inkc
Mike. He pulled himself together Cnf
was about TO return TO the colon(
with his prisoner when he remeuI
bered that his orders were 10 briQ
back the box and leave its contents
eco back" he said. "and get you
coffin. "Ye're no good yerself; u
coiiln1l serve for another CORPSE"
The prisoner shouldered the box an
the two returned 20 the colonel.
NNiohSAs NAih AAihtt boAuunts
brought ye I didn't think u
want me 60 he corpse, becau1
It's alive"
The colon ustOnlshed, eau
on the prise xplain.
you see, ven der var b
Duet l vas iarek." said
prisoner, "a t to Shermap1
fight for de rIand. Ven. ven
cont Duet { cl; us To-Day, al
saw De Star. So could
belieYe mine w. ~ astonlsl
I didn't know 'aer vas n Sheru|
or an Amer u - Co1t.' | 81
dare is min eat, Herman Hou6
who lifed neA door to me In Amerlc
How can 81 Of lIGmanf But q
don't shoot Il frients my captain "a
shOot me- Slfugf Ian N hnliaF oro O.