The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-10-15
The Hero Of
Belleau Wood
By JOHN PALMER

age young American before he vol
unfairly enlisted In the Canadian
expedttionary force for service In
the war. He had probably had some
trouble. with bic young wife and
enlisted IN 1 moment Of piuue.
He had never discovered himself.
Men are capable of INFINITE heroism.
of infinite basenesA The Same indi-
viduai will display both. Dean had
been an average soldier, until the
attack on Pelican Wood.
Then, running forward IN q show.
er OF lead and bursting shells, with
his stomach upheaving and an aw.
ful sinking IN the base of his spine.
Dean found that he could 60 no fur
ther.
He dropped. The result Of the
attack was never known to him.
He only knew that at nightfall a
vast empty silence had SUGGESTED
the he'll Of earlier hours.
All about him were dead men.
Crawling forward, Dean eneoppt-
cred one Of these corpses. The
touch Of hiS hand upon the cold facs
terrified him into hysteria.
However, Dean accomplished
what he had set out "a do. He .ex-
changed Identification disks with
the dead soldier. Then he made
his way back toward the rear. LAe
It was time Of rout and con-
fusion. Regiments were undistin-
guishable. Every man was put to
whatever job he was at hand for.
As q driver Of q wagon, Dean found
himself q little later back at the
base.
He discovered that he was Thorn
as Jones. incapacitated for further
service by reason Of disability that
had developed. He learned the
symptoms and passed the superb
cdal medical test. A month later
he was back in Canada. Another
month, and he was discharged
Thomas Jones, with a war pension.
A week later he was fleeing for
his life. The news Of the impos.
ture had become known. As Henry
Smith, Dean crossed the American
border.
Thus On average young American
who had Quarreled with his wife
found himself a nameless man and
a fugitive-all because he had not
known himself He might equally
have become hero.
He imagined that the story. was
known 81 his home town. For
years he wandered from place to
place, until at length he thought It
safe to return with the object Of
persuading Mary to accompany him
West under the name Of Smith.
III fate was with him. He ar.
rived on armistice day. He had
not thought Of that. It was simply
an example Of the fatality that
dogs ones footsteps.
On the town green q memorial
had been erected to the men who
fell in the war. In his shabby
clothes, disguised with a mustache
Dean mingled with the crowd un.
recognized.
He wandered aimlessly to and
fro, looking 1t the statue with the
Hreaths, at the weeping women.
He knew himself more clearly than
at any time before for the scoun-
I. drel that he was.
Presently his heart gave great
bound. He saw Mary-Mary, lean.
ing on the arm Of young fellow
whom he knew as q former friend
Of his-one williams. 4 y
They were walking very loving.
" together. Dean watched them,
choking Incapable Of moving as
they approached him. even had they
recognized him.
But they did not recognize him.
They did not cast glance at the
shabby. tramp standing beside the
monument. but halted httle dis
lance away.
II ought not to have brought you
here today" said Williams.
~rm glad Jon did my dear
May answered..
Another glance 1t their demeanor
showed Dean that they were mar.
ried. There was no possibility Of
mistaking that. Married, not long
married. happily marrted-Mary
happy al she had never been with
him.
Al Win ! had been I better wife
to, him.. ss5gss @5aa ssss 4
ne WASN'T worthy Of Jon.
81 n ~ q 80 I, !. ~, D llg,s
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