The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-02-01
CHAPTER XII.

~ Siept us Sounuly as MS ComIuuCS
awakening, as was his habit, few
|< inutes before revellle. with mind
#hgularly clarified by sleep. He would
II to parade before his commanding
<&icer in the morning and state the
\ hts, leaving the rest to fate.
He was not destined TO, for the same
Hrporal who had put him on duty dur.
~ his previous afternoon 'off" called
I'm five minutes before parade.
''You can leave them buttons, Wes-
l." he said with grin. "You won't
he'd TO polish 'em where you're going.
BE sergeant major wants you at
ce."
Mark hurried to the Office, to find the
fgeant major In company with one
the senior captains; then he remem-
red that rumors of the preceding
ening had sent the Major away with
inspecting General. His Interview
st be postponed, then.
I Weston. you'd better get your
Rakfast at once" said the sergeant
= jor. And have your kit packed In
s fnty minutes. You and Hartley are
ing up TO the front"
The senior captain temporarily COM
+ hiding the detachment unbent from
I& official air which he was trying
f|fribly hard to assume.
You were specially asked for from
Il dquarters," he said, with another
q b.; and I'm sending Hartley be-
94b bse he's your friend. They want two
BE men for the stretcher bearers
bpany. Wen be sorry to lose you.
S&ston."
lark saluted and went out just as
rtley appeared at the door. The
eeant major enlightened Hartley
K ehy.
IS y ou must have some pull at head
rters. Weston" he said. do you
Nv Major KellermanT
little. sir" answered Mark grlmly.
Well. he seems to know all about
and he told the o. c. over the tel
bne that he must have you. He'll
your o. @. now for while, so
gs ought to run smoothly for you"
Hes not a doctor. sir"
No, but the stretcher bearers aren't
edical corps; they're attached to
-th."
hrk hurried away. In the barrack
b, at breakfast, the two were the
pct of mingled jests and congratu-
4ns. The stretcher bearers. form
as II were. the last supports OF
infantry, shared with them the
N proportion of casualties. Keller
Rs scheme was perfectly clear to
was In a wretched state of mind
& the car steamed into the depot
e end of the narrow-gauge line.
escended into city, mushroom
pf the supply and transportation
ktment.
Sergeant and corporal, with nine
*n men of the stretcher bearers
hny. were waiting for the two.
little troop was returning to the
bes after five days OF relief at
&.
pure the two men from the base
talT asked the sergeant. "All
Fail In. Right turnI Quick
I"
3 moved away down a slope and
to pick their way along the be-
lg Of maze OF trenches.
roar Of guns. which had never
by night or day, and had long
to be noticeable, was louder
enly the sergeant stopped.
Pre- was ten OF you," he said TO
rporal.
here" responded the corporal.
sergeant turned to Mark.
e's your mater" he asked.
X, who had been pioddlng along
he impression that Hartley was
ng, turned round, to find that
the last OF the party. Hartley
where to be seen.
Sergeant ran back few PAGES,
rn breathless and red In the
He's gone. the silly fool I" he
fed. Must have taken the
turn at the bend. Go back and
70
Hartley was not at the bend.
geant Joined Mark, incredulOus.
crambled up the bank and
the level road. There was 10
an In sight.
taken the wrong turn some
insisted the sergeant. "Come
Fith me! We've got to find
~ began doubling back, shout
u they reached the end Of the
ystem. Still Hartley could not
b.
aln't on hand I'll be broke"
Pant grumbled. "And III break
for him. You medical corps
fe like bunch Of babies. Ought
W p nurse and baby carriage for
H1 you"
W antly he abandoned the search