Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-05-31
Dynamite Rain!
By EDITH WALTERS UPPER
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Union,

lEicns dHHOunccu ElDeTL Let Sdylys
Come over to our quarters this aft
lernoon and help divide 1t"
ST can't do that" gruf1y responded
David Aldrich, and passed on his way.
Lee stood looking after the uncom-
ipanionable fellow in a sort of wonders
ment. Il can't understand it," he So
Hloquized. I'VE enlisted in the same
town, a good many back there are our
mutual friends. We came over In the
same ship, we are quaEtered in the
same ~cantonment here on the front
Ever since we left home Aldrich has
been getting further and further away
from the boys. I wonder what has
come over him. and the open-hearted,
bright-faced young soldier sighed sor-
rowfully.
Fol- he himself, had his troubles. 1t
was not until he had left home and
winsome Myra Randall behind him,
that he began to get lonesome and
miserable, and wondered why he had
not spoken out the love Juggling at his
heart-strings for the girl who saw him
cave and cried owe it, and kissed her
hand to him at the last. So, when he
got to Paris, Lee purchased a ring.
Then he sat down and wrote the se-
crets of his soul to Myra. He asked
her to accept the pretty circlet as an
engagement ring. Would she write
back the words that would buoy him
up to valiant deeds, and to feel that
he had a sweetheart awaiting his re-
turn?
And now two months had gone by
and there had been nc reply, and Lee
went through all the miseries of an
unhappy lover.
1t was two nights after that, when
by chance sentry duty brought Lee
and Aldrich on beats that Joined. 1t
was possible during that night on
rounds to meet and pass a few minutes
in hail or gossip, but Aldrich purpose
ly evaded this meeting.
If Lee could have seen Aldrich
about an hour after they had come on
duty and the camp had settled DOWN.
The latter, resting for a moment where
the earth from a dugout screened him
from general view, stood glaring Wild
ly in the direction Of Lee. His eyes
were like balls of fire, his lips seemed
to exude a venomous kiss. His gun
was at his shoulder and aimed at the
unsuspecting Lee, and he resembled
some demon bent upon a frenzied,
murderous mission.
"One touch of the finger he ut
tered hoarsely, "and they will Judge it
the work of a sniper. Oh, Merciful
Father! what am I thinking of? Am
I a lost, accursed soul, indeedi"
OF a sudden a powerful revulsion of
feeling overpowered him. He flung
his weapon to the ground as though it
were a serpent of fire. He dropped to
his knees, and, covering his face with
his hands, moaned and groveled there.
Then, limp and like an automaton,
he resumed his sentry duty, but with
eyes ever bent away from Lee, as
though he dared not take him within
the scope Of his vision.
It was at dusk, a week later. A ter
rifle combat had been raging between
advance parties of the opposing forces
since mid-afternoon. A constant rain
of dynamite, of curtains of shellfre,
and creeping, jumping barrage had
brought about OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Taking advantage of the heavy fog, a
score of enemy balloons were sending
down tons Of deadly explosives.
Lee, rushing madly for a covert to
which the company had been ordered,
sprang from the disordered ranks as
he noticed a man fall as the scatter
ing contents of a bomb from aloft en-
quilted him. In the glare he recog-
.nized David Aldrich. A group of three
from the enemy rushed at Aldrich to
dispatch him with their %bayonets.
Lee threw himself forward, heroic
fervor infusing him with prodigious
strength. He knew not how he had
done 1t till it was all over. A with
ing trio lay upon the ground. Another
shell burst within ten feet of him and
a dozen missiles seemed to cut arms
and chest, yet he lifted Aldrich in his
arms, staggered towards the nearest
shelter and fell down, collapsed, amid
his company comrades.
you'll do" finally greeted him at
the side Of his cot in the field hospital
next morning. Then the surgeon add
ed: 81 think you're strong enough to
get over to ward nine. The man you
'risked your life to save, David Aid
rich, is calling for you constantly and
he won't live the day out"
"Cheer up, old fellowr" hailed Lee,
as an hour later with the aid of an at
tendant he managed to reach the side
of Aldrich.
ave done my bit" whispered AID
rich, family. '"There is something to
tell you," and he CROPPED within his
breast, producing a folded letter.
"Open it. read 1t, and then curse me for
the miscreant 1 have beenl"
Lee traversed the creased, worn mis-
II NO dafad kuuo pna1+bz h.A