Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-01-08
"Hell, No! | Want a Smoke
Was Words of a Dying Soldier


nurse. In few minutes rays OF con-
sciousness penetrated 90 the brain OF
the wounded man ana he started TO
Imutter:
Turn on the lights, It's dark MS
dark ] can't soc It's dark dark
Take that damned pillow off my head
It's dark. dark tell you What's the
matter with my mitts? They're ted
/ Ieobblcstones on them Where am !,
! smokey This dugout Ia dark Switch
/ on the glim'
! The nurse was talking to him In n
/ low voice and grooming her lullaby.
! My Goo how that girl could sing
II was not long btfore the blinded
soldier fell asleep He slept Tor three
hours. the nurse seated beside him.
Not for second did she leave her
I post. ! lnwardly wished that the pa.
tent would sleep Tor hours longer. The
presence of that nurse made me feet
appy ana contcnted All ov6r
The form on the bed stirred, and
then In plaintiye voice:
Where am - Where am - Turn
on the lights Turn on the lights
Tho sun was streaming thru the
window.
! The nurse was crying 80 was J.
The Jock on my left was softly cursinG
( to himself
/ The angel Of mercy leaned over her
/ patient aud In low voice whispered:
Never mind dcnrie, YOU are In the
hospital and " II soon be I'm Hhghty
for nice long rest
/ The Cauadiau's mouth twtcrcd
/ ! thot he was going 20 cry. II wns a
pretty mouth hut the Hips were
hlauchcd tU "A blush white
lie asked the nurse. what time Is
.ii?"
She answered. Three o'clock.
dearIo rry to Eo 10 sleep Youu
feel hettcr soon
The Canadian asked In piteous
voice why Is IL SO dark Then he
shouted, In tertnr-strickcn voice:
- know I know They've put my
lights OUT Good God Pm blind I'm
blind My eyes are gone gone
gon" \nd his voice died out m
a long sob
Three doctors came thru and held
a low-vutccd consultation Two uf
thcm lcft; one stayed
The Jock whispered to mo, poor
hloke, Hes g"tng west | know the
signs"
The diving man began To muttcr
The nurse bent over him She had a
writing pad and pencil in her hand
She whispered tu him. "D"aric. the
mail is going out DO you want m,
10 write a note home To the fulks'
: Just short note telling them tha'
. you are all right ana viii be win
them In "A couple Of months"
, The patient answered
"Home2 Folks2 I've never had an,
since | was kid nomr' cod.
i wish | had one
| The writing pad IN the nurses hant
was wet The baudage on nay shoulder
| was wet Perhaps the blood was soa X
ing thru But blood Is red
The voice OF the wounded MAJ
| again: ~ want want lwantu.--'
bQy2 What can ! yet FOR you a Tilc,
cool drink.
| The answer came back.
"A drink? Hon. no. want
smoke! where's my makinEs' / wan
| "A tng-a smUkt-l smoke
| She looked at the doctor II
nodded. She left the patient an,
| came over To me | felt as II | wer
| In the presence OF God She whis
pered 10 me. Have you got a cigar
ette. my dear. for that poor boy? w,
arc all out--have not received any To-
ten days. n the people nt home onl,
| realized what "A Eodscnd tobacco is 70
these poor wounded lads they woulC
send them out They are a. import
| ant az shells"
told her 10 look IN my kit bag Sh.
:! looked thru II and found one. all on
!, OF shape-s 9ioldflake. think Il wa
I, the only smoke lett I'm that ward o
90 patients
With Joy in her eyes she went bacl
10 her patient gently put the cigarett,
between his lips and lighted Il.
A conteuted sigh. two or three
weak puffs and the lighted cirnrett,
fell out OF his mouth on the sheet
lie was asleep
IL was getting late [ fell asleep
, When | awOke II was morning
The bed on my right was empty
! The nurses In the ward had red eyes
They had been crying
turned an inquring gaze to tn,
Jock on my left. He solemnly noddc,
and his mouth twitched / thot N,
was going 10 cry. but suddenly h,
looked AZ me, tears In his eyes. ant
said "Aw 70 to hell' and urucC
over on his side q