The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-04-12

lying for more than day there when
they came upon me I had tried to
crawl back but could not. The thirst
was terrible. Monsieur-worse than the
wound. perhaps.
MY leg? The German doctor took
it on-yes-and they kept me Dor a
time-until was we'll they said Then
| they sent me back to France 7 was
J too lame to be or service. was 1t not
so. YES. Monsieur" lie looked down
ct his "pilon." i have my living 70
make now am strong. will any help
be given me? Here are my papers
they tell"
c.. another applicant. had been
2 chauffeur in Bordeaux thin wisp
( Of a man with g boys yellow nous
tache on his lips 1t was infnitesirlal
but it had been carefully pointed with
soap in lieu Of wax. lie wanted a leg
which viii bend. 50 may drive
again His story was bit different
Two OF Us were taken prisoner at
Maticourt. Wounded? oh. no. Mon
sieur. Both or Us are strong and IN
{ hurt though 1t had been a hard day
/ W. were just LUCKY ones-that was
all. We were only two-and OF what
good are just two prisoners? Only
good TO be shot, what Monsieur We
/ thought SO. But other prisoners arriv-
ed-that saved US. no doubt yes. Mon
sieur? IN Germany we were not too
unhappy. but there wss not enough
food. We were put TO work in stone
/ quarry because We were strong One
/ day a great block fell on my leg. That
/ is all. When I could no longer be used
for work I was sent back with many
others-au like me. And here I am.
Monsieur. I can still work. an still
very strong-all save my leg. Ny arm
Is steady-see. Monsieur? ] can drive
well. I think. Monsieur. VIII 7 get
a new leg If YOU find my papers and
everything are all correct? I hope
so. Monsieur. ! have wife at Bor-
deauN-I do not want that she shall
| do all the work-aIthough she has
done it all since I have been away"
One soldier came into the bureau
with a great pride shining in his face
despite his missing leg. for on his
tunic were the War Cross with two
palms across the ibbon. and the Mill
tary Medal. 1t could not be said that
he was very shy. One of his first acts
was to draw from his pocket and show
to the bureau chief his citation for the
Medaiue Mlitaire. It read: "Jeune
soldat brave ct courageaux S'est
montre energique at plein d'entrain
a Tattaaue de combat etc tres
grieYement blesse"
"A cooper I am. Monsieur. from near
Epernay. was at the Marine and
came through without a scratch. My
leg-ah. Monsieur. that was later
the Chemin des Danes. Monsieur" He
said this with all the pride in the
world. 1t was a sudden bIow-and
I knew TO more till 7 woke with the
pain in a hospital station where I was
dressed What can I do? Anything
Monsieur. that man with one leg can
do. No. I do not want TO be a cobbler.
want to be q cooper again. want
10 be able to walk round and round
but comfortable, Monsieur. Can it be-
have no wife.-only an old father
but he is happy. He is a carter in our
little town. He must not be the only
one to work
Two farmers followed. one with the
Military Medal on bis coat. lie had
been in the heav9 artillery and had
lost left leg when q shell fell upon
his battery. only two az us were left.
Monsieur" he said simply and 7 am
not much more than half man now.
But 7 have children, Monsieur-lt is
necessary to work for them-other-