The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1922-10-19

K. P. 1t was the wood detail that first
encountered the enemy-this when they at
tempted to carry off wood from behind
neighboring cook shack. The enemy won
hands down. Our neighbors were also of
an Ammunition Train, recruited entirely
from the hills of Tennessee You may
believe that they were no parlor hounds.
Festivities were not renewed until even
ing though there were several skirmishes.
1t was evident that trouble was brewing
and that the matter of supremacy must be
settled. Placing two hardboiled army
units together is like turning pack of
pit bulldogs into the same enclosure. But,
as l mentioned before woman precipi-
tated the hostilities or rather the decisive
battle.
Just outside of the army camp was a
small settlement not unlike a town in the
oil country that has come into being over
night. There were the usual souvenir
booths, drinking stands, and fruit racks,
where you could purchase large bunch
of white grapes for half a franc. Over
seas the Yank acquired the reputation of
being a free spender, so prices were
boosted when he was around yet the
"soap-wrappers" French bills) were
plentiful, in view of the rate of exchange.
Yin rouge (red wine), yin blanc (white
wine) and cognac (similar to whskey but
possessing a more potent kick could be
had very reasonably, and the Yank was no
prohibitionist; so more than one pair of
puttee-wrapped legs was unsteady, before
the evening had progressed very far.
AT one of the booths was particularly
attractive mam'seAe who could and would
Rirt with any male that came within range
of her trained eyes. The all-around ladies'
man of our outfit happened to be in town
that evening in company with his shadow,
Badly, bandy-legged hardbitten cow
puncher. Badly was Bucks inseparable
companion despite Bucks weakness for the
gentler sex, which was terrible affection
in the eyes of the rider Buck looked long
into the midnight eyes of Evon, and she
came back with interest. He was no longer
a ladies' mamie was lady's man. This
was a chronic state with him however, in
fact l am reasonably certain that he had
proposed to the entertainers in every cab
aret in Deming to say nothing of the
donors of the terrible atrocities made to
resemble socks. AS for Evon, proposals
were matter of course, to be listened to
attentively until the smitten swain had
no more wherewithal to pay for yin ordi
naire. 1t was a matter of business with her.
1t has been said that all the world loves
a lover, but we must amend that to all the
world, save another lover. Evon had
two thousand or more, as that is approx
mately the number stationed in or near De
Souge at the time. Among these was
son of Tennessee, who would have made
Jess Willard look like Ayweight. IN
fortunately he was among those present
and the fun began. For awhile it was an
even match-Buck's skill against the others
Drawn. Then someone hit Badly with
chair, and the affair became general Hos
tilities were started in earnest when the
enemy laid down barrage of wine bot
ties; this was followed with wave of
alcoholic gas.
Like the traditional, "Hey Rube" of
the circus, the call went forth and willing
customers came from all directions. From
the crossroad they came, from the road
houses, from the camp with trench helmets
in hand. A helmet by the way, is the
Yanks favorite weapon in time of stress.
1t is grasped by the chin strap and swung.
Cavalrymen who belonged with neither
faction, took stand in the road and dashed
forth at every head that showed. Back
and forth over the slippery floor, the battle
waged; outside in the mud was strug-
Cling mass of humanity, giving and TAX
ing generously.