Baxter Springs news., 1919-01-17

even notice us. Never said q word,
lust filed his water bottle from the
water in the bucket. and went back
to the billet. We followed. my mOsp
tin was still sending 8. o. 8.
Happy, though dripping wet. silent
" fixed mp the milk for the dog. IN
appetite the canine was Q close sec'
ond to Hungry Foxcroft. After lap
ping all he cOuld hold. our mascot
closed his eyes and his tail ceased
waRging. Sailor Bill took Q dry Aan-
mel shirt from his pack, wrapped tho
dog In It and informed us:
me and my mate are going peio"'
80 the rest Of yOu lubbers battep down
and turn in."
We all wanted the honor Of sleeping
with the dog. but did not dispute Sail
or BIll's right to the privilege. BY
this time the bunch were pretty sleepy
and tired, and turned In without much
coaxing, % Il was pretty near day
break.
Next day we figured ont that per
haps one Of the French kiddisS had
put the dog in the grain bin. and, IN
the excitement Of packing up and leaV'
Ing. had forgotten he was there.
Sailor Bill was given the right %
christen our new mate. BE called him
Jim. In q couple Of days Jim came
around all right. and got very friaky,
Every man In the section loved that
dog.
Sailor Bill was cOurt-nartialed TO-
his mlxup with the QuartsEmaster'seE'
geant, and got seven days FIELD pun
ishment No. /. This meant that TIVE
hours each day for o week he wOuIo
be tied to the wheel Of timber. dug.
ing these twO-houf periods Jim Woulo
be at BIIl's feet, and, no matter how
much we cOaxed him with choice mov'
sells Of food, he would not leave until
Bill was united. When Bin was looSe
Jim would have nothing to do with him
Just walked away In contempt. jim
respected the kings regulations. ana
had no use for defaulters.
At q special meeting held BY tnee
section Jim had the oath Of allegiancl
read to him. He barked his conSent
no we solemnIy Swore him In a. 9
soldier Of the Imperial British army
fighting for king and country. jim
made a better solder than any on
Of us, and died for his king and conn
try. Died without q whimper Of CON
plant.
! From the village We made Severel
trips to the trenches; each time JlTH
accompanied us. The first time undel
fire he put the stump Of his tall b
tween his legs. but stuck to his post
When carrying In" II We neglected q
give Jim something to carry, he Woult
make such q noise barking that W
soon fixed him up.
Each day Jim would pick ont dlt
ferent man Of the section to follow
he would stick to this man. eating and
sleeping with him. until the next day
and then 1t would be some one else't
turn. When q man had Jim with him
It seemed as II his life were charmed
No matter what he went through, h
would come out safely. We looked ~
on Jim a. q goOd-luck sign, and b
lIeve me, he was.
Whenever It came key HOnnoyI
turn for Jlm's company. he was over
joyed, because Jim would ait IN dignh
fed silence, listening to the jew's-haEp
Honey claimed that Jim had q son
for music. which was more than n
would say about the rest Of us.
Once. at daybreak, we had to q
over the top In an attack. A man u
the section named Dalton was select
ed by Jim a. his mate In this aRaif.
The crew Of gun No. 2 were 10 stal
In the trench for overhead Ara pnr
poses, and, II necessary, to help ~
pei q probable countsrattack b. ~
enemy. Dalton Was veFy merTy. en-
hadn't the least fear Or miagiyingl q
to his safety, because Jim would D
with him through Il al
- A.. -sa.-a. rN.lkn, ~anu~nw onl1nr