The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-04-18

her TO see football game at the COX
lege: he was playing on the team, 30
she had to sit 1t out alone. During this
sitting 1t out she met Huston and the
trouble started. He was dead gone on
her and she liked him, 10 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 1t almost broke
his heart; he certainly loved that girl.
'This state of affairs widened the
gap between Fusion and Burton They
mated each other pretty fiercely, but
Burton never went out of his way to
show IT, 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 as private. He could
have had commission, but did not
want to take a chance Of having to
mix with Huston.
"A few weeks after Clnger's enlist
ment, Huston joined too-was losing
prestige in Betty's eyes by staying in
mufti. He went into the 0. 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 it good and
plenty.
'That night Huston sent for Ginger
and had talk with him. Tried to make
him believe that he harbored no ami
mostly, detailed him as mail orderly
the first act Of a campaign of petty
cruelty. BY being mail orderly Ginger
would have to handle Betty's letters tc
Huston and Huston's letters to her
Ginger saw through 1t immediately
and his hate burned stronger. From
that night OMIT was one indignity aft
er another, just a merciless persecu
ton, but Ginger never complained
just stored up each new act and swort
vengeance.
ut came to such pass that Gin
ger could bear it no longer; he decided
to kill Huston and only waited for {
favorable opportunity to present itself
| think it was only his love for Bett,
which had held him back so long; h,
couldn't bear the thought of her griey
ing for her dead lover
zone night, in the front-line trench
orders were received that after al
hours intense bombardment of the en-
emy's lines the company would go owe
the top at fopr-thitt the next uornina
Huston was to ss5 over with the frs
wave, while Ginger was in the second
, Here was his chance.
"All that night he crouched on tn
! fire step, musing and brooding, nursin
/ his revenge. He prayed to Betty t
. forgive him for what he was going t
do.
after the bombardment the mex
morning over went the first wave,
! line Of bayonets and madly rheerin
men. Ginger only saw one In tina
crowd; his eyes never left Huston. Hi
| flnTar : trir
ger Of his rifle-his ong-looked-for or
| portunity had come.
} 1.-THE first wave had gone about six
, ty yards when Ginger let out a curse
Huston had been hit and was dowI
and he saw his revenge slippiE
through his fingers. But no, Husto
was not dead he was trying to rise t
his feet; he was up, hopping on on
leg, with the blood pouring from tn
other. Then he fell again, but wa
soon sitting up bandaging his wounde
leg, using a tourniquet from his first
aid packet.
"a surge of unholy JOY ran throug
Ginger. Lifting the safety latch on hi
rifle, unheeding the rain of bullet
which were ripping and tearing tn
sand-bagged parapet about him, h
took deliberate aim at Huston. Thor
he saw a vision OF Betty, dressed ii
black, with teat-stained eyes. With
muttered curse Ginger threw the rif
: from him, climbed over the parape
and raced across No Nuns land. n,
: act of his should bring tears to Betty
brown eyes. He would save her worth
less lover and then get Killed himself
it didn't matter.
Reaching Huston he Kissed MI him
; Damn you, | was going TO kill YOU
but | won't. III carry you back t
Betty. But always remember il wa
: the man you robbed who saved YOU
I worthless life, you despicable skunk
e Illusion murmured: Forgive ms
u Burton, but for Gods sake get me on
of this. I'll be killed--for Gods SAX,
man, hurry, hurry