The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1918-02-07
CHAPTER VI.
Home Again, but Not Glad of 1t.

~ TOW all the troops were ashore. l
" spent most of the time allowed
me on deck daily for exercise,
watching and hoping for a glimpse of
my husband, eyes glued to the spot
where ! knew the camp TO be. The
boys must have been kept pretty close.
because | did not see them again.
My husband had promised he would
do everything in his power to get them
No permit me to land knew he would
keep his word. l still hoped they would
relent and | could go and join the Red
Cross. even if | could not be a regular
soldier.
Every time n boat put out from the
pier l held my breath and prayed it
was some one bringing good news for
me. Then when it didn't ] was so dis
appointed | would start crying all
fresh again.
Maybe you can imagine just how
felt There was the shore. only a
stones throw away. l had braved all
kinds of hardships and dangers to reach
it. My husband. the truest and best
Sammie that ever wore khaki, was
there And here | was prisoner.
A hundred times at night walked to
the portfolio and watched the lights
twinking in the town. 1t seemed
closer some way at night. One even
ing the officer of the ship was walk
ing by with a soldier My light was
out, and they could not see me. He
was apparently questioning the pri-
vate. | did not recognize the silhou-
ette, so l took him for rookie.
Garter said he tried to get her to go
back, but she wouldn't do it." said the
officer "She's one of those babies who
always have their own way wish she
had been my wife. for about a minute.
What he should have done was to
knock her cold. cali an ambulance and
take her to the hospital. Maybe after
that she'd listen to reason"
Eyes? After that there would have
been two of us in the hospital" l called
through the portfolio. And Uncle
Sam would have been minus one per-
fectly good soldier for awhile"
The officer wheeled around. He
looked as if he would sell himself for a
plugged penny. He started to beg my
pardon, but | ducked back into the
- My husband went ashore on Mon
Nay. Wednesday one of the boys told
me he had been back on board the day
before, but the captain had refused
him permission to see me.
That night kept my eyes on the
sailors on waxch. If one of them had
fallen asleep or gone inside after some
thing | made up my mind would go
over, take a chance and swim for it.
If / had to wait for one of them to
weaken would die of old age. You've
got to hand it to them for that.
Soldiers Get Great Welcome.
They told me the boys were having
a great time ashore The people had
given them the keys Of the town and
were doing nothing but showing the
Sammies around. France was turning
itself upside down to welcome them.
The French girls were bombarding
them with kisses and good things to
eat, and the men were slapping them
on the back and calling them comrade
and more in French as best they could,
which was none too good.
Don't it get your goat to think may
be one of them French dolls is plant
ing a kiss on your old mans browY'
said the guard who bought me the
II news. l knew he was trying to tease
me.
Goat nothing" ] laughed Let
them go to it. a soldier deserves al
the kisses he can collect"
The fifth day after | said goodby to
my husband | was up on deck watch
ing, as usual. for any sign of some one
coming to get me when a transport
- farther along the line of ships began to
leOve out In few minutes it was fol
lowed by another. That meant we were
about to start our voyage back. My
heart sank into my shoes. l would not
see my husband again. | was not to go
with the Red Cross and take care of
the boys when they were wounded.
Coming over the ocean did not seem so
wide. Now 1t looked like a million
miles across to me.
"Qur orders are to take you to your
quarters and keep you there until we
are safe outside" said one Of my
guards | don't remember how / got
there guess they half led me and
half carried me- | heard q bugle blow
ing somewhere over in the town. 1t
was manned by an American. Every
note came clear across the water. The
next thing | knew j was on my berth
with my fingers stuck tightly in my
ears and my face buried in a pillow
The boat was moving out.
- On the trip over | was not afraid OF
submarines. Now for the first time