The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1919-05-22

one OF these parties. oh, yes. l was
a sergeant then, but lost my stripes
--dlsobedience of orders they called
II. l suppose ought to feel lucky
wasn't shot, but I'll leave 1t to you
whether did right or not
"At that time I was In for com.
mission, but, Of course, didn't get 1t.
II had received IL, no doubt by this
time I'd be pushing up the daisies
somewhere In France. In those days
officers didn't last long-made fine tar
gets for the Boches.
"Thls patrol was in charge of car
ried rations for three days. We were
to scout around just In front of the
advancing enemy. but our orders were
nc> TO engage them-just get informa-
Il =. II the information obtained was
valuable enough, was to send Il In
by one Of the men. There were four
teen Of us, and we were mounted. I
was In the Lancers then, and was con-
sidered n fair rider.
"The first day nothing happened.
We just secuted around. BY night
fall We were pretty tired, so when we
came to a village-wasn't village,
either; Just five or six houses clus.
tered around church, decided to
go into billets for the night.
"Riding up to the largest house,
which had four-foot stone wall run
ming around Its garden. l dismounted
at the gate and knocked with the hilt
Of my sword. Pretty soon light up
peared ut the front door-the house
was on sort of knoll, so this door
was In plain view. Then the sweet
est voice ! ever heard called out In
trembling tones. in perfect English,
too, but with just the suspicion of an
accent:
"'Who Is there, pleaseT
II answered, Just n few English
Lancers who desire place to rest for
the night. The barn will do. We
don't want anything to eat, as we
have rations with us. So. IL you will
accommodate us, miss, l will be much
obliged I was in love with that girl
before saw her-the voice had done
the trick.
"She answered. Just a moment,
please, until l tell father and then
the door shut and the light disap-
peared. We didn't have to wait long
before the door opened, and she called
to me.
"Father bids you welcome, and 30
do I, soldiers Of England
'Then she opened the gate. There
she stood on the gravel path with the
lantern held shoulder high. trem-
bled all over-thought l saw a vision.
l tell you, Yank. she was beautiful.
One Of the kind you would like to
take in your arms, but won't for fear
Of crushing. No use for me to try to
describe her. Yank. it's out of my line
but she captured me. heart and soul.
There / stood like great, big boob,
shaking and suffering. At last I
managed to blurt out a stammering
Thank you, miss
"She showed US the way to the sta
bles and stood In the door holding the
lantern so we could see to unsaddle. l
was fumbling around with the buckles,
but for the life of me couldn't get that
saddle off. One of the men, with wink
and broad grin, came over and help
ed me. That grin got my goat. so on
the sly, I kicked him on the shin. He
let out an explosive damn After
that damn the silence was painful.
The poor fellow felt like fool. was
sorry for him, even though I could
have killed him for his thoughtless-
ness. But our embarrassment was
short.lived, because silvery laugh
came from behind the lantern, a laugh
that was not loud, but II echoed and re.
echoed among the rafters overhead. I
can hear II right now. Yank.
"After the horses had been unsad-
died and fed, the men looked appeal.
ingly at me. knew what they want
ed--they were dog tired, and dying to
hit the hay. Just as ! was about 10
ask permission for them to turn In, the
angel butted In with:
Poor, tired soldiers, sleepy and
hungry. Come right into the house.
Jenn has some supper and wine ready
for you
I'VE stammered our thanks and fol.
lowed her into the house like a string
OF sheep. Yank, TO me that meal was u
dream. She fitted around the table,
filling glass here and there, laughing