The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-02-04
BELIEVE ME, WE BUSTED IT!
&C. N. Booth.) f..

&C. N. Booth.)
Allow me to introduce Private Clin-
ton Ball, originally and from time to
time of Jennings, N. c., but more re-
Gently returned from business mis-
sion to France. Mr.. Ball has just
blown into camp, carrying in his neck
a slight souvenir of his trip. He also
carries the conviction that the Heinie
who gave him the little token received
one also, but in more vital part than
the neck. Mr. Ball is quite sure OF
this for he had the satisfaction Of per-
sonally returning the favor.
I met him accidentally, so to speak,
through the medium of a package of
cigarettes. (By the way, here's a tip
for you: If you want to make friends
in camp, carry fags in your pocket.
1t. might be Well to wear one between
the lips Or behind the ear as a sign
that you have the goods.) He wanted
a smoke and l was fortunate enough
to have the wherewithal. AS he struck
his match on-well, on the place where
a man usually strikes match when
there is nothing else convenient, l
noticed his gold service stripe and
that brought on more talk.
What outfit, Buddy?"
"120th Infantry, 30th Division
Right there Private Ball was taken
prisoner for the first time in his mill
tary career. I led him around to my
cell and handed him my only chair.
I sat on the cracker box.
eNow tell US all about it.
But my captive just at this moment
seemed not one bit inclined to talk.
With set expression in his eye, he
>dived first into one pocket of his uni
form and then into another. The
pockets of his overcoat exhausted, he
attacked his blouse, then his trousers
Evidently he, was making highly i'm
portant but very unsuccessful search
for something Casting an aln1cr. des-
pairing look at me, he began to out-
ton his shirt. A horrible suspicion
came over me and / laid restraining
hand on his arm; it was time for
action.
Tell me-" I whispered, sis it coot-
ies?"
Nav, you rummy; it amt" By
this time he had hauled out soiled
tobacco bag suspended from his neck
by piece of cord, and opening it he
produced an equally soiled bit/of pa
per1which he handed me.
There. I knowed put the DANCED
thing somewhere"
"The DANCED thing" proved to be a
clipping from recent magazine short
story. It was Latin quotation with
a. free translation appended: "Forsan
ct haec OHM meminisse juyabit-It'll
be funny when it quits hurting.
Private Ball explained:
'I bought a magazine on the train
when was comm here yesterday yes
terday an found that in it. Looks
like French I dunno; but if it means
what it says it does I reckon it sure
does hit the buliseye. Come to think
Of it, didn't get hurt none to speak
of, but it's. just beginnin' to get
funny"
Silently I laid the package of cigar
cites on his knee and he was off.
There amt nobody can tell what
happened over there. There's just
naturally too much of it, an besides,
nobody don't know how to tell it.
Why, man alive, you don't even know
nothin' bout the rum drinkin' (water
we had sometimes, an it tasted pretty
good too. Most anythingll taste good
reckon when the back of your throat
gets all dried out like them pancakes
I had for dinner today. Why, them
cakes must of been fresh cooked
week ago. An say, do you know the
robber who run that restaurant had