Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-24

cause | know there are thousands OF
American boys who, during the course of |
the World War, have travelled his OBJ |
scure road
had for Baker, when l first saw him, |
NIL the admiration ono soldier can have
for another He was one Of thoar splen-
did, high-hearted boys, strong and brawny
and his good sense Of humor WA sheer
contagion In fact, | grew fond OF him
from the start and this fondness soon
ripened into sincere friendship.
Private Edward A. Baker. Company of
Infantry, if YOU please That VIA Baker'
When ! really got tn know him was
on Christmas Day, 1910 We had all
planned 10 spend the last Chriatmas be-
fore going over with our folks back
home. but the uncertainty Of the army
like everything else in life), offered only
disappointment without consolation We
therefore survived the shock. when. on the
day before Christmas. the top kick
posted a notice on the orderly room door 20
tho effect that no pnsses would be isaucd.
Again, like the army We had arrived 1T
the conclusion that this man $ army was
inexpresalble
THAT sure is holll exclaimed Baker
Just when ! had made arrangements -
spend this Christmas at home
Cheer up. old boy said We're
both ~ the same beat md II the felix's
don't come u sec us tomorrow. well is
going To be indoor sports
As matter Of fact. the folks couldn't
come severe snow storm, sweeping
that seclion ~ the country during the
| night. had completely tied mp AL RAILWAY
traffic The large spacious oailionemeni
! was hidden from the rect of the world and
/ visitors on that particular day wrre tew
/ and far hetwecn.
/ II was during the early part ~ that
/ afternoon when Baker. ssatcd on the side
4 of his bunk III the camp hnrraek. called
me ~ his slde
1Nid. he said = just got II pretty
/ straight this afternoon that We re going
+ on q long journey and who'll viii include
/ trip ~ France
II ne sooner the better. | told him,
! for personally. | wae anxious "a Ref aNay
/ from tho mouotanv II camp life
"Nyeli. 10 this. hc continued. N
not bat yellow mud ms name isnt vel
low. hut tho return trip IL whnt aaetns 70
] hc bothcrire mo You know wa ran al
come back f
hooked at hm and he looked a mr
Pals "a Ne had lccn. felf ike knaeklng
the feeling If superstition from hla head
'.C.lne along old hos md snap cut II
H. aad grttFpnR ln hV The . y
hclt "Ita Christmas and ihia ia ~ time
Tor thc tear stuff
But to arouzn him from hia stiIpnr Mas
not ~ caay
Listen he continued IL waa rally
the frat time Ind known him % b. seri.
oua "wc may not bo here tins tifne ncxt
Christmas had dream last night and
when leave this country its going 10 he
ouc-way trip orriv
Wrong agaln, sava ! You only
think a. Icta split the deck for little
sociablc game. what do vou say
"No. It's fart. and Anco this may be
our laat Christmas togcthcr. | want -
give vou something You have beer de-
cent rrrt Of fellow ia fact slnre coming
info camp We have been pretty good pal
Reaching INTO the pocket of bis blouse.
he withdrew small white envelope and
handed il 70 me ! saw then he was
serious
4 want y0u - keep this envelope for
ore wear On next Christmas Dag. II |
nm stl alive, destroy T. On the other
hand. Il thev get me meaning The Boche /.
you inay read the few verses ard thluk Il
n least one gpod pal
I promised . do ~ hc requested and
dismissed further thought Of the incldeTt.
Three wears ago this. morning Deem
Der p. 1917. in what'should have becn
the quiet hours of dawn. company 81
lufartry. crouchcd in a roek-hewh trench
beneath the vague and lnvIsiblc paropiy
oi moaning shells The men Wcre waiting
FOR the laggard l!hmn.ed hands oi the
lieutenant 5 wrist watch 70 Indicate 1Q
which was the secret II hour aad What
& ko ffcf.f far.#as- caftad II ,fasr
To be exaet the company was going
over af5l5. allowing twenty-five mleate,
for barragcro!l on the artillery drums
before the curtain lifted on the super
battle the Aieuse-Argonne drive
II was bitter cold on top u thl< hi
, in the SCARED Nerdm country too cold
for the Imagination - el"etrdV tued
bodies with thrilling prospects oi battle
The mist grlpped the company The eeld
December moon looked down with M
difference
Lieutenant Edward 4 Baker promoted
from the ranks after a stumbling laspec
! ton up and down the narrow gully oecu-
ped by MS command took especial notice
OF the 100 who were sleeping aad ol the
: I05 who shyered ard cursed their Ill luck
at not being able To take a smoke
! 1t Was Christmas morning but not +
tit7t' StAAiitii A&tk u III As4tCAtt tAit AAtA >
IicUtenant Baker also knew 1t wa.
Chrstlnas. IT going to be some partyt
he exclaimed to himself 1t looks q!
2 though the initiation into the lines or
: this particular morning would be rough.
Its going 10 be some party h(
mused again I only hope for the SAX,
of these men, that il viii be over hYno
t The barrago had already started an,
tho lieutenant whispered to his sergeant
We 90 over at 5.l5. ! shall 60 with
YOU Repeat what | have told you
I The sergeant repeated the information
correctly and hurried ont Il pass tn,
: message on. | pom his return the eompan,
/ moved forward
f Twice While climbing over the trenche
, to get INTO position the company vas cut
, IN half bys soctachmcnts Of engineers.
Each time the lieutenant went back t
find the fractions and piece together hi,
send some one TO jail
| Elsie Moran was removed to her seat
Mrs Lawrence, coming 20, refused 10 b.
! taken from the court room, plc9dlng tina
she wanted to hear the sentence. that sh
| couldn't bear to be away from the seen
until she knew, until she had heard every
thing
Order having been restored the clerl
| now demanded.
what say you, Mr., Foreman. do yol
find the prisoner guilty or not guilty.