Baxter Springs news., 1918-09-20

settled Into d cOmf0rthDle positioh u"u
doze on for a few minutes when,
startled by some sound In the WOODS
would suddenly awake.
After what seemed like a year or
more, night finally came, and with
"dud" sky, low-hanging clouds and stiii
more rain. There was not star IN the
sky, OF course, and that made II very
bad, because without the aid or tne
stars I had absolutely no way OF know
ing which direction was going. II
was lust q case Of taking q chance.
probably would have been better on II
/ had simply picked out q place ana
stayed there until the weather I'M
proved, but naturally was impatient
10 be on my way when each day WITH
out food only lessened my strength ana
my ultimate chances OF reaching the
frontier.
So I left the woods and struck on In
the direction which ! thought was
north. hadn't been at all sure OF my
bearings the day before, and as II hao
rained the sun failed entirely to help
me out. but was almost sure had
the right direction and trusted to luck.
That night found more rivers, canals
and swamps than I ever found In my
life before, but had the good fortune
10 stumble on TO some celery, and after
nv diet of beets It surely was treat.
| Perhaps it's unnecessary to add that !
took on q good supply Of celery ana
for days went along chewing celery
like a COW would cud.
Along towards morning, when sup
posed had gotten In fairly good lap
of my journey-perhaps seven or eight
mIles-I began to recognize certain oD'
iects as familiar landmarks. At least,
I thought l had seen them before ana
ms I Travelled along knew positively
had seen certain objects very recently.
on ut my rlght-not over quarter OF
a mile-I noticed some fairly good
sized woods and thought ! would 60
over there to hide that day, because II
looked as though the sun was going TO
shine and hoped to get my clothes
dry, and perhaps get a decent sleep.
I had this celery and large beet. 80
knew I would be able to live tne Gay
through.
Finally made my way over to the
woods. II was still too dark In among
the trees to do much In the way OF
selecting my quarters for the day and
I could not 20 q step farther. So l
waited on the edge of the forest until
dawn and then set out to explore the
place, with view to finding some nook
where l might sleep. Imagine my dis
gust, and encouragement. too, when an
hour or so later came upon the exact
place where had spent the day before,
and I realized that all night long ! had
been circlIng the very woods ! was try
ing to get away from. think perhaps
I had gone all Of quarter Of mile In
the right direction, but then had lost
my bearings entirely. and daylight
found me with nothing accomplished
Pfie sun. however, did come out that
, day. and i welcomed Its warm rays
/ as they, perhaps, have never been wei
! coined before. was very tired-jusi
about all in--but / spent better day
! in the woods than the previous one,
, That night the stars came out;
, located my friend, the North Star, ano
, tried to make up for lost time. But
, when one is making only seven or eigh'
miles q day, or rather a night. one
night lost means a whole lot. especl
ally when each day keeps him from
, freedom. Such Ill fortune and dis
: couragements as this were harder t
endure, believe, than the actua
hunger, and the accompanying worr!
, naturally reduced my weight. At tlme'
: was furiously angry with myself fol
= the mistakes l made and the toolisl
things did, but always tried to se'
= something funny about the situation
= whatever 1t might be, that relieved
= the strain Of habit and helped to pas
= the time away. l think II q man Il
oyerburdened with a sense Of humo
and wants to get rid Of 1t, this trip
: took would be an excellent remed'
7 for 1t. Right at this time ! woul'
a have welcomed anything for compan
: ion. believe even snake woul'
have been q GOdsend to me.
|, With q name as Irish as mine, II ]
only natural that looked for goat
r. nlong the way, thinking that l mign
= he able to milk them. There are yer
:. few cows in this country, and the OF
7 portunities for milking them fewe
q than the cows themselves because the
% are housed In barns adjoining u
homes and always alertly watched 0
4 their fortunate owners. did mop
% that might find a goat staked ou
- some place in the fields, but In all m
travels never saw q goat or piI
- and only a few cows. Several times
- searched nests for eggs, but someooo
= always had beaten me to 1t, as ! neve
- " even found so much as a nest egg.
- There was no chance Of getting ava
. with any "bullying" stun In Luxen
~ bourg. knew, because the young me
have not been forced into the arm
A and are still at home, and as they al
q decidedly pro-Gernan, 1t would ha'
been pretty hard for me to deman
.Lf-- A.. khak Dork NJ fha c0untr