The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-09-03
FIRST CALL
By
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
Author Of
"OVER THE IOP'
CHAPTER XIII.
IAN Aboard

D
Acantonment, rumors that your out.
ilt is to leave for the front will spring up
over night like mushrooms. Each r.
NOR will scud thrill OF eNpertancy
through you--i'e after all Is worth
living YOU write letter home sdying
"goodby" and-lhc rumor iilllc, out
After you have been fooled several
time, in th, manner you become skcp
teal
False. Alarms.
Then some day your sergeant (oi
course in strict confidence viii nm
part the information that the outfit IS
10 move, because the generals orderly
heard the adju,ant direct the sergeant
major 10 inform the company com
maDder, and rrst sergeant, 20 submit
reports Of the strength OF their con.
mands and TO have a special inspection
OF equipment You (also ~ confidence
with a knowing and important ar ell
your bunklc these glad tIdng- In
about an hour the whole company o.
excited and or pins and needle, The
report, arc submitted and the lnspcc-
ilou takes place but you DO not move
Rumor follows with drap.
poin,mcnt tackled 10 the end of each
You become "icd up
But az last the cycntl dag arrive,
A. morning drill the N'icer appear
10 be excited. give foolish command,
they fairly burst with suppressed ca
gcmcs, and excitement This feeling IS
communicated 10 the men and run,
through the ranks ike am electric cur
rent They know something important
q, going 10 happen they can smell %
'u the arr The ranks stiiicn and the
manual OF arms is executed with a vim
and snap that has long been missing
Each soldier IS saving 10 himself
Right after the manual Of arms the
old man J., going 10 tip ~ off to what
ln the air."
The manual Of arms is finished and
YOU open ranks for bayonet fighting
drill Ritter disappointment again
you cast scorniul and reproachiul
look 100 the direction. of your captain
Then Your hope revive, and you say
Right after baygnet fighting We get
the glad lIdings,' and YOU thrust and
llb It. # there really were a Fritz in.
front of you Nothing happens, re
call" sounds YOUR heart hits the zero
mark The company is marched off a
look ~ personal injury and indignation
.1 the face, ot the men The company
rclohc, o. barracks thoroughly dis
gu,tcd
What, thar Tho captain want, 10
say a lev words 20 the men? Well for
The love Of Nike. why doesn't ne spit
'cm out, what's he waiting for
Men, We break camp tomorrow
morning at 10 We're off at last The
regiment will entrain at , o'clock for
am Atlantic port Our chance has come
TO show what's in US. I know every
officer and man in the company will
make good Dismissed
Cheers ring out, hats are thrown in
the air. and the captain walks away
with shoulders back, and tears Of p-ide
for the company. his company. dlmming
his eyes.
Then comes a succession Of railroad
journeys, loading and unloading cars
until at last YOU arrive at the dock,
and there alongside looms up a mon.
Strous floating hotel 1t is the trans
port which is to convey you "oyer
there
Up the Gangplsnk.
iucr many cNaspcraiing delays YOU
finally go mp the gangplank; YOU have
uuw left terra ilrma and at last feel
the boards OF a ships deck under your
feet Perhaps for the first time you are
on the sea. You sure will be seasick
This is one Of the mcanest sensations
that can he imagined During this
sickness everything appears a deep in
digo blue color. Nothing matters
death seems welcome. Can't eat and
don't want TO- Telling you to be cheer
iul during this malady is worse than
useless. There is no preventative, ex.
cept TO stay on deck and hug the rail.
Afcr a couple OF days this sickness
will pass away and YOU will he fam