The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1919-06-05


her and she liked him, so he made hay
while the sun was shining.
"She didn't exactly turn Ginger
| down. but he was no boob and saw
how things were. so he eased out Of
the running. although II almost broke
his heart; he certainly loved that girl.
This state OF affairs widened the
gap between Huston and Burton. They
hated each other pretty Herceiy. but
Burton never went out OF his way to
show H. while Huston took every op-
portunity to vent his spleen. Ginger
saw Betty very seldom. and when he
did. she was generally accompanied by
Huston.
"Then the war came; Ginger imme-
diately enlisted rs private. He could
| have had a commission. but did not
want to take chance OF having to
mix with Huston.
"a few weeks after Gingcr's enlist.
ment. Huston Joined TOWNS losing
prestige In Betty's eyes by staying in
mutt. He went into the O. T. C.-(of-
ficers' training corps). In seven months
he received his commission and was
drafted to France. Ginger had been
out three months.
Before leaving, Huston proposed to
Betty and was accepted. by one Of
the many strange condolences that
happen in this world Huston was sent
to the battalion and company that Gin.
| ger was In and was put in command
Of Ginger's platoon. Then things hap
pened.
| "Ginger could hardly believe his eyes
when he first saw Huston and knew he
was to be his platoon commander. He
knew he was In for II good and
plenty.
THAT night Huston sent for Ginger
and had talk with him. Tried 90 make
him believe that he harbored no AMI
mostly. detailed him as mail orderly.
the first act of campaign OF petty
cruelty. BY being mail orderly Ginger
would have to handle Bctty's letters to
Huston and Huston's letters to her.
Ginger saw through IL Immediately
and his hate burned stronger. From
that night on II was one indignity aft
er another, just merciless persecu-
tion. but Ginger never complained (;
just stored up each new Gct and swore
vengeance.
| 1T came to such n pass that Gin
ger could bear II no longer he decided
to kill Huston and only waited for n
favorable opportunity to present itself
| I g.. II,
which had held him back so long; he
couldn't bear the thought Of her griev-
ing for her dead lover.
"One night. In the front-line trench,
orders were received that after an
hours intense boInbardment of the en-
cmy's lines the company would go over
the top at four-thirty the next morning
Huston was 10 go over with the first
save, while Ginger was In the second
Here was his chance.
"All that night he crouchcd on the
fire step, muslng and brooding nursing
his revenge. lie prayed to Betty to
forgive him for what he was going tc
do.
after the bombardment the mex,
morning over went the first wave, q
line of bnyonets and madly cheering
men. Ginger only saw one In th"t
crowd his eyes never left Huston. His
finger twitched and carcsscG the trig
ger Of his riile-his long. op
portunty had come.
"Thc first wave had gone about six
~ yards when Ginger let out curse
Huston had been hit and was down
and he saw his revenge slipping
through his fingers. But no. llustOr
was not dead; he was trying to rise tt
his feet: he was up, hopping on on'
leg, with the blood pouring from thu
other. Then he fell again. but wa
soon sitting up bandagng his wounded
leg using tournlquet from his first
aid packet.
~ surge OF unholy JOY ran through
Ginger. Lifting the safety latch on hi
rifle. unhccdlng the rain Of bullet
which were ripping and tearing tn
sand'bagged parapet about him. h
took deliberate aim at Huston. The
h. saw n vision Of Betty dressed II
black, with tcar-siuincd eyes. With
\ muttcrcd curse Ginger threw the riil
: from him, climbed over the parape
and raced across No Mans land. y
: act Of his should bring tears To Betty
brown eyes. He would save her wortl
less lover and then get killed himself
1t didn't matter.
Reaching Huston he hlsSed at him
: Damn you. | was going to kill y0l
but | won't. I'll carry you back I
Betty. But always remember II wa
: the man you robbed who saved you
Il worthless life, you despicuble skunk
o "liustOn murnurcd: Forgive m
n Burton, but for Gods sake get me Oh
=, of this. I'll he killed-for Gods SAX
man, hurry, hurry"
u THAT'S II, is III Whine, damn yoI
whine. It's music To my ears. Lie
N tenant Huston begging n "bally boun'
= or" for his life. and the boundcr giyir
II TO him. | would to God that Bet
n could see and hear you now
r. with that Ginger stopped and. |
er main strength, lifted Huston oi,o h