The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-07-24
AT ZERO HOUR
BY GRACE WEATHERBY


or did she hear the postman's whistle?
Yes, sure enough the postman was
descending the stone steps of her
home. She hurried downstairs to- the
hall, where on tray were the let
tiers. There was fat letter for sister
Letitia, written in a weIl-known mas
culne hand; dainty pink notes for
brother Ted; bills for dad and an
assorted array for mother. Debbie
found several for herself. Three were
invitations, one u letter from n cirum
out West and strange letter written
In an irregular hand, which bore the
mark Of France. This she opened first.
The page was untidy, and here and
there were ink blots and finger prints.
The letter was short and read as fol-
lows: "Dere Friend, red yor story In
the paper today and ii was dandy. How
do you do it," Debbie laughed merri-
iy. for the writer referred to a little
story she had written n month or so
ago which was published in a news
paper. She continued, thoroughly in
terested. ''The wether Is nice here l
am In good health and hope you are
to. / thot I'd rite you while I got
the time. Say, miss. If you aint to
busy will you rite to yours truly. Jim
Bailey"
Debbe's face was sober rs she fin
ished the letter. "POor chap" she MUIR
INJURED. AS she sat there In the den her
thoughts wandered. and she pictured
In her mind the muddy trench. the
grim soldiers waiting for the Zero
hour"
II wonder what he is like" she
unused. The poor spelling and wording
betrayed the fact that he was unedu-
Gated. Debbies aristocratic nose went
up a trihe at the thought, but only for
a moment. He was ut least Il man,
fighting for his country. The busting
of the curios, which was always left to
Debbie's hands, was forgotten. She sat
down then and there to rite to Jim
Bailey" She wrote long CHEEKY let
ter and ran out herself TO mail 1t.
Debbie's life was full Of events, and
although she did not forget her soldier,
she did not think of him often. and
was therefore surprised two months
later to receive another letter from
him. The letter was longer this time
and written in the same bad English
and poor spelling. He told glowlngly
of the attack. ave wiped n couple
hundred Of them Bochcs off the map. l
stopped bullet and some pieces of
scrapnle, but that don't mount to much
and I'M redy to go again." Debbie's
eyes filled in-spite of herself. How
well he represented the spirit of the
American soldier.
Quite naturally the correspondence
continued, and in due time Jim wrote
that he was coming home and that he
intended to see her. Debbies face
flushed. What would her family say If
they knew? But 1t was too late to
write and tell Jim now how matters
stood. and she must make the best
of 1t.
One day she received smudgy post
card mailed in her city, saying: I'm
back, and will see you tonite. JIM"
Brother Ted spied the card first and
soon his questions attracted the atten-
ton Of the rest of the family and Deb
bic was forced to explain. Ted thought
1t a great joke on sis, but mothers eye
brows went up i'm horror. Dad smiled
Understandings and advised his
daughter to "be nice to the young
man."
Debbie determined to do so. and
ming.
Brindley announced him in grave
voice. Lieutenant Bailey, miss" The
next moment tall. well-built young
fellow was coming toward her. His
trim uniform fitted him well and he
was immaculate. Debbie's eyes wild
ened. This was no jim Bailey; II
couldn't be You wouldn't expect such
splendid man as this one to write
such dreadfully mussy letters.
At length the soldier laughed ut her
pretty confusion. "Why. you aren't
! thought" suppose you let me
explain" said he. She sat down and he
took q chair near her. ut was this
way. Miss Debbie. Just an hour before
zero hour the fellows were all kind OF
sober. and it was pretty hard to wait
quietly for the word to go over. and SO
picked up fragment of newspaper
lying i'm the mud and CHANGED to see
your story there. Bob Small my
bunky, read II over my shoulder. II
was he who suggested that write to
you, and just for fun ] wrote In the
way did. BY the time we finished
the letter. zero hour had come and we
went over the top clear and level
headed. was In the hospital nearly
two months, and was so glad to get
your letter there. 1t helped lot. You
see, ! have only my mother and
don't get much mail. OF course,
could tell what kind Of girl you were
by the stationery and writing"
Debbie listened eagerly. and when he
had finished she held out her hand and
said, II am very glad to know the real