FOREWORD
"Over the Top" is a true
story of trench warfare on
the French front, written by
an American soldier who
got into the great war two
years ahead of his country.
Sergeant Empey tells what
the fighting men have done
and how they have done it.
He knows because he was
one of them. His experi
ences are grim, but they are
thrilling, and they are light
ened by a delightful touch of
humor.
CHAPTER I.
From Mufti to Khaki.
It was In nn office In Jersey City.
I was Bitting at my desk talking to
a lieutenant of the Jersey National
Guard. On the wall was a big war
map decorated with variously colored
little flags showing the position of the
opposing armies on the western front
In France. In front' of me on the desk
lay a New York paper with big flaring
headlines :
LUSITANIA SUNK! AMERICAN
LIVES LOSTl
The windows were open and a feel
ing of 6prlng pervnded the air.
Through the open windows came the
strains of a hurdy-gurdy playing In the
street "I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be
a Soldier."
"Lusltanla Sunk I American Lives
Lost 1" "I Didn't Raise My Boy to
Be a Soldier." To us these did not
seem to Jibe.
The lieutenant In silence opened one
of the lower drawers of his desk nnd
took from It nn American flag which
he solemnly draped over the war mnp
on the wall. Then, turning to me with
a grim face, said:
"How about It, sergeant? You had
better get out the muster roll of the
Mounted Scouts, as I think they will
bo needed In the course of a few days."
We busied ourselves till late In the
evening writing out emergency tele
grams for the men to report when the
call should come from Washington.
Then we went home.
I crossed over to New York, and as
I went up Fulton street to take the
subway to Brooklyn, the lights in the
Guy Empey.
tall buildings of New York seemed to
tyo burning brighter than usual, as If
they, too, had read "Lusltanla Sunk I
Ajnerlcan Lives Lostl" Thoy seemed
Jpbe glowing with anger and righteous
Jndlgnation, nnd their rays wigwagged
tho message, "Itepny I"
Months passed, the telegrams lying
handy, but covered with dust. Then,
'cho momentous morning the lieutenant
with a .sigh of disgust removed tho
flag from the war map and returned
to his desk. I Immediately followed
(Ill i
AN AMOKM SOLDER
WHO WENT
MtiIJlKWIT
MACHINE GUNfiCRERYIHGIH fRAWCE" '
mThuxwiovcy
' this action by throwing the telegrams
Into tho wastcbaskct. Then wo looked
at each other In silence. Ho was
squirming In his chnlr and I felt de
pressed nnd uneasy.
Tho telephone rang and I answered
It. It wns u business call for me, re
questing my services for an tuit-of-
town assignment. Business wns not
very good, so this was very welcome,
Artcr listening to tho proiwsltloiw I
seemed to be swayed by n peculiarly
strong lorce witnin me, nnd answered,
"I mn sorry that I cannot accept your
oner, nut I nm leaving for England
next week," nnd hung up the receiver.
ine lieutenant swung nround In his
chair, nnd stared at me In blank nston
isiunent. A sinking sensation enmo
over me, but I defiantly nuswered his
look with. "Well, It's so. I'm going."
And I went.
The trip across was uneventful. I
landed at Tilbury, England, then got
Into a string of matchbox cars and
proceeded to London, arriving thcro
about 10 p. m. I took n room In n hotel
near St. Pnncras station for "five nnd
six fire extra." The room wns minus
the fire, but the "extra" seemed to
keep me warm. That night there wns
a Zeppelin raid, but I didn't see much
of It, because the silt In tho curtnlns
wns too small and I had no deslro to
make it larger. Next morning the tel
ephone bell rnng, nnd someone nsked,
"Are you there?" I was, hardly. Any
way, I learned that the Zeps hnd re
turned to their fatherland, so I went
out Into the street expecting to see
scenes of awful devastation and n cow
ering populnce, but everything was
normal. People were calmly proceed
ing to their work. Crossing tho
street, I accosted a Bobble with :
"Can you direct me to the place of
damage?"
ne nsked me. "What damage?"
In surprise, I answered, "Why, the
damage caused by the Zeps."
With a wink he replied :
"There wns no damage; we missed
them again."
After several fruitless Inquiries of
the pnssersby, I decided to go on my
own In search of ruined buildings nnd
scenes of destruction. I boarded a bus
which carried me through Tottenham
Court road. Recruiting posters were
everywhere. The ono that Impressed
me most was a life-size picture of
Lord Kitchener with his finger point
ing directly at me, under the caption
of "Your King nnd Country Need You."
iso matter which way I turned, the
accusing finger followed me. I wns
nn American, In mufti, nnd hnd a little
American flng in the lapel of my coat.
I had no king, and my country hnd
seen fit not to need me, but still that
pointing finger mndo me feel small nnd
in at ease. I got off the bus to try
to dissipate this feeling by mixing
with the throng of the sldewnlks.
Presently I came to n recruiting of
fice. Inside, sitting at a desk was a
lonely Tommy Atkins. I decided to In
terview him In regard to Joining tho
British army. I opened the door, no
looked up nnd greeted me with "I s'y,
myte, want to tyke on?"
I looked at him and answered, "Well,
whatever that Is, I'll take a chance
nt It."
Without the aid of an Interpreter, I
found out that Tommy wnnted to know
If I cared to Join the British nrmy. ne
nsked me: "Did you ever hear of tho
Royal Fusiliers?" Well, In London,
you know, Yanks nre supposed to know
everything, so I was not going to ap
pear Ignorant nnd answered, "Sure."
After listening for ono half-hour to
Tommy's tale of their exploits on tho
firing line, I decided to Join. Tommy
took me to the recrultlng-hendqunrters,
where I met n typlcnl Krigllsh captain,
no nsked my nationality. I Immedi
ately pulled out my American passport
and showed It to him. It was signed
by Lansing. After looking nt the
passport, he Informed mo that he was
sorry but could not enlist mo, as It
would bo a breach of neutrality. I
insisted that I was not neutral, be
causo to mo It seemed that a real
American could not bo neutral when
big things were In progress, but tho
captain would not enlist roe.
With disgust In ray heart I went out
In tho street. I had gono about n
block when n recruiting sergeant who
hnd followed mo out of tho office
tapped rno on the shoulder with his
swuggor stick and sold: "S'y, I can
get you In tho army. Wo linvo a 'lef
tenant dowti nt tho othor ofllco who
can do anything, no has just como
out of tho O. T. C (Officers Training
corps) ntul does not know what neu
trnllty Is." I decided to take n chance,
nnd accepted his Invitation for nn In
troduction to the lieutenant. I entered
tho otllco nnd wont up to him, opened
up my passport nnd said:
"Before going further I wish to state
that I nm nn American, not too proud
to fight, nnd want to Join your nrmy."
He looked at me In n nonchalant
manner, and answered, "That's nil
right; we take nnytlilng over hero."
I looked nt Mm kind of hard nnd re
plied, "So I notice," but It went over
his head.
Ho got out nn enlistment blank, nnd
placing his finger on a blank line said,
"Sign here."
I answered, "Not on your tintype."
"I beg your pardon?"
Then I explained to him thnt I would
not sign It without first reading It. I
rend It over and signed for duration of
war. Somo of tho recruits were lucky.
They signed for seven yenrs only I
Then ho nsked mo my birthplace. I
answered, "Ogden, Utah."
no said, "Oh, yes, Just outside of
Now York?"
With a smile, I replied. "Well, It's up
tho stnto a little."
Then I wns taken before tho doctor
nnd passed as physically fit, nnd was
Issued n uniform. When I reported
buck to the lleiitennnt, ho suggested
thnt, being nn American. I go on re
cruiting service and try to shame some
of the slackers Into Joining tho nrmy."
"All you have to do," he said, "Is to
go out on the street, nnd when you see
n young fellow In mufti who looks
physically fit, Just stop him nnd give
him this kind of a talk: 'Aren't you
Swearing In a Recruit
ashamed of yourself, n Britisher, phys
Icnlly fit, nnd In mufti when your king
nnd country need you? Don't you
know thnt your country Is at wur and
thnt tho plnco for every young Briton
Is on the firing line? Here I am, an
American, In khaki, who enmo four
thousand miles to fight for your king
and country, and you, us yet, hnve not
enlisted. Why don't you Join 7 Now
Is the time.'
"This argument ought to get many
recruits, Empey, so go out anil seo
what you can do."
He then gnve me n small rosette of
red, white and bluo ribbon, with thrco
little streamers hanging down. This
was tho recruiting Insignia and was
to be worn on the left side of tho cap.
Armed with n swagger stick and my
pntrlotlc rosette, I went out Into Tot
tenham Court road In quest of cannon
fodder.
Two or threo poorly dressed civil
ians passed me, and although they ap
peared physically fit, I suld to myself,
"They don't want to Join tho urmy;
perhaps they have someone dependent
on them for support," so I did not ac
cost them.
Coming down the street I snw n
young dandy, top lint nnd ull, with a
fashionably dressed girl walking be
side hlra. I muttered, "You are my
meat," and when ho came abreast of
me I stepped directly In his path and
stopped him with my swagger stick,
saying :
"You would look lino In khaki ; why
not chango that top hat for n steel
helmet? Aren't you ushnmcd of your
self, a husky young chap like you In
mufti when men aro needed In tho
trenches? Hero I nm, an Amcrlcnn,
came four thousand miles from Ogden,
Utah, Just outsldo of New York, to
fight for your king and country. Don't
bo a slacker, buck up nnd get Into uni
form; como over to tho recruiting of
fice and I'll havo you enlisted."
Ho yawned and answered, "I don't
enro If you enmo forty thousand miles,
no ono nsked you to," nnd ho wnlked
on. Tho girl gnvo mo n sneering look;
was speechless,
I recruited for threo weeks nnd near
ly got ono recruit.
This perhaps was not tho greatest
stunt In tho world, but It got back nt
tho officer who hnd told mo, "Yes, wo
take anything over horo." I hnd been
spending n good lot of my recruiting
tlmo In tho saloon bar of tho Wheat
Sheaf pub (there wutuvvcry attrnctlvo
hlondo bnnnnld, who helped kill tlmo
'
I was not ns serious In those dy ns
I was a llttlo later when I reached
tho front) well, It was tho sixth day
and my recruiting report wax blank,
1 was getting low In tho pocket bar
miilds haven't much uso for nnynno
who cannot buy drinks so I looked
around for recruiting innterliil. You
know u tniin on recruiting service get
ii "boh" or shilling for every recruit
ho entices Into Joining tho nrmy, tho
recruit Is supposed to get this, but he
would not bo a recruit If ho were wise
to this fact, would he?
Down nt tho end of tho liar wns n
young fellow In mufti who was very
patriotic ho had about four "Old
Six" ales aboard. Ho asked mo If ho
could Join, showed mu his left hand,
Nwo fingers were missing, but I said
that did not matter ns "wo take any
thing over here." The left hnnd Is
the rlllo hand nn tho piece Is carried
at tho slope on the left shoulder. Near
ly everything In England Is "by tho
left." oven general traffic keeps to tho
port side.
I took tho applicant over to hend
quarters, where ho was hurriedly ex
amined. Recruiting surgeoni were
busy In those days nnd did. not hnve
much time for thorough physical exam
inations. My recruit wns passed n
"lit" by the doctor nnd turned over to
a corporal to make note of his srnrs.
I wns mystified. Suddenly the corpo
ral burst out with, "Bllmo me, two of
his lingers are gone." Turning to mo
ho said, "You certainly hnvo your
nervo with you, not 'nlf you ain't, to
bring this beggar In."
The doctor mine over and exploded,
"What do you mean by bringing la n
mail In this condition?"
Looking out of tho corner of my eye
I noticed that tho officer who bad re
cruited mo hnd Joined the group, nnd
1 could not help answering, "Well, sir,
I was told that you took nnytlilng over
hero."
1 think they cnlled It "Ynnkec Im
pudence," anyhow It ended my recruit
ing. In training quarters, "tome
where In France," Empey heart
the bio guns booming and makes
the acquaintance of the "coo
tlet." Read about hit experi
ence! In the next Installment.
(TO Hi: CONTINUKU)
HAD CONFIDENCE IN EDISON
Negro Wat Sure That Wonderful Out
let He Invented Would Never
Kill American Soldier.
Two negroes were walking ulnuit
Now ntK street discussing the won
derful Inventions brougt t about by the
war.
"Yes, sab," ono said, "an' a friend of
mine who knows all about It says dls
lienh man Edison has done gone and
Invented a magnetized bullet tint can't
miss a German, kase ef dcrc's one In
a hundred yards do bullet Is drawn
right smack against his steel helmet.
Yes, sah, nil' he's done Invented tut'
other one with a return attachment.
Whenever tint hiillct don't hit iiothlii'
It comes right straight back to do
American lines."
"Dut's what I rail liivtntlii'," cx
clnlmcd the other. "Hut, say, how
about deal comlu' back Millets? What
do dey do to keep 'cm from hlttln'
ouuh men?"
wen, inun rnerr iiuiii't tell me
ubout It, but ef Mr. Edison iniido 'era
you can bet youiih life he's got 'em
trained. You don't 'spose he'd let 'em
kilt any Americans, do you? No, sah.
He's got 'fin llxt so's dey Jes' ease
back down iiroun' do gunner's feet nn1
say: 'Dey's all dead In tint trench,
boss. Scud mu to a live place where
I's got u chanct to do soinetliln'.' "
"Newport News."
In Virginia's early days communica
tion with the mother country was, of
course, wnony oy snips, mid when one
wns expected the colonists were all
eagerness for the news from homo.
On tho occasion of one, it tuny hnve
been tho first, of a certain Cnntnln
Newport's expected return from Eng.
Jiinu, nt or near the place now hearing
his name, a largo uumlirr of persons
collected to receive "Newport's news."
Henco tho name, now shortened to Its
present form.
The Sardine.
Tho fresh sardine Ih ii beautiful llt
tlo fish. Tho scales on Its buck nro
un Iridescent blue-green, tho exact
tint which tho sea so often takes,
whllo beneath tho scales there shows
up tho most wonderful peacock-blue.
Thero nro bars on Its back and sides
when It first comes out of the water,
llko thoso of tho mackerel, but thoy
seem to fade and dlsuppenr tho mo
ment It Is exposed to the nlr. Tho rest
of its body Is silver.
Flnett New Year Celebration.
Tho finest New Year celebration In
tho world is In Japan and China.
whero before the clock strikes Now
Year's ovo, every debt and account
must bo pnld. No good Chlinrjniiti or
Jnp over thinks of entering Iho now
year with an unpaid bill, Would that
wo might emulate that form of cole.
b ration I Ladles' Homo Journul.
Cawl Cawl
I'otor Monkln Brown, Berlin corre
spondent, Bitld In Ilnltlmoro In n loo
turo on tho blookndo:
"Tho (lorinniiM aro sufforlng from
our blookndo inoro than thoy'd liavo
tin think. Thoro's n real doarth of
foodstuffs nnd thoro'a n ronl post of
profiteers,
"Think of It tho fJormnnn nro now
eating orowsl Moro than thnt, tho
profiteers hnvo cornorod tho crows of
(loriimny, no thnt tho government has
hnd to fix crow prices, which rango,
I bvllovo, from CO to 85 cents, accord
ing to tho wtilnht nnd ngo of tho bird.
"lint Imnglno It. Cornering crow I
Thnt Is no wny to help your country's
cnwnl" -Datrolt Froo I'rcaa.
Sure! High Heels
Cause Corns But
Who Cares Now
You reckless men aud womon who
aro pcitorod w'th corns and who hare
nt least onco n wook Invited an awful
death from lockjaw or blood poison
aro now told by a Cincinnati authority
to use a drug called freexone, which
tho iiiomont a fow drops are applied
to any corn or callous tho soreness Is
relieved and soon tho entlro corn or
callous, root and all, lifts off with tho
flngors.
Frooxono dries tho moment It la ap
plied, nnd simply shrivels tho corn or
callous without Inflaming or oven Ir
ritating tho surrounding ttssuo or
skin. A smnll bottlo of frooiono will
cost very llttlo at any of tho dnijj
stores, but will positively rid ono's
foot of ovory hard or soft corn or
hardened callous. If your druggist
hnsu't any frooiono ho can got It at
any wholcaalo drug bouio for you.
Adv.
That's the Question.
She Anything that la worth
wln
nlng It worth working for.
Ho Yes, but tho question Is, will
your fnthnr loosen up, or will I havo
to keop on working for you nftor 1'vo
won you? Boston Transcript.
Soothe Daby Rathea
That Itch and bum with hot bnths of
Cutlcurn Soap followed by gentlo
anointings of Cutlcurn Ointment.
Nothing better. For free samples ad
dreis. "Cutlcurn, Dept. X, Boston."
Sold by druggists nnd by mall. Soap
25, Ointment 23 nnd no. Adr.
High Visibility.
"Officer," said a lady much abovo
tho usual avoirdupois, "could you soo
mo across tho street?"
"Miitlmno. I could sco you half a
bfockl" Judge, v .
HHAKK INTO YOUK HIIOKH.
Allen't Kuot-K&M, tlx nll(itlc nawilrr. Mtket
Unlit or nw ilium few I our. IUIIcym Curni
Hunlon.. Hat. Hwollen. Tcmlcr. Achln KmL llaUl
nrcrywhrr. 2ic. IWt rrtt ny oUtitute.
Hmpl; KUKK. AiUreu. Altai 8. Olnutwl, L
Itoy, N. Y.
Judas Didn't Laat
Comparisons of profiteers to Judas
nro hardly fair, ns tho lattor eventual
ly developed symptoms of romorso
nnd bumpod off. Washington Star.
THAT CHANGE IN
WOMAN'S LIFE
Mrs. Godden Tells How It
May be Passed in Safety
and Comfort
Fremont, 0. "I was passing through
tho critical period of life, being forty-
six years or ago nnd
hail nil tho symp
toms IncldenttoUiat
change hent flash
es, nervousness, nnd
wna in a goncrul run
down condition, so
it wns hard for mo
to do my work.
Lydin B. Pfnkhnm's
Vogotablo Com
pound wns recom
mended to mo ns tho
best cmedy for my
trninlon which ft
BUrelV proved to l)0. I fi!l linf rnr nml
stronger In every wny sinco Hiking it,
mm uiu annoying symnioma linvtit snn
pcared." filrs. M, Godden, 025 Na
poleon St., Fremont, Ohio.
Such nnnoylng symptons na heat
flashes, nervousnsss, backache, head
ncho, Irritability nnd " the blues," may
ho speedily ovorcomo nnd tho system
restored to normal conditions by tills
i ii uuu root ami nero remedy Lydin fcJ.
Plnklmm's Vegetable Compound.
If nnV COmtlllfntlnna nninn llmm.
selves write tho I'lnkhnm Medicine Co.,
Lynn, Mass., for suggestions how to
ovurcomo thcrn. Tho result of forty
years experience Is at your servico and
your letter hold In strict confidence.
HI ft f V LOSSES SURELY PREVENTE1
ULHWY
tr CUTUR'S BLACKIEQ PUIS
LEG
I.OW'PIICIII,
I'tth. iclliMl
lal(ffflty
wettin ilixk.
croud Wh.fOth.r
10-doitpkf.BUckliiPMIi, 11,00
BO-tfiiiftlii.BIieklif Pun! It nn
1'wanr Inlcitur, Lit Cuilr- Implrtuiut Urixirtit.
in auM,io,Hr n Cum, iiiluttt itduato om II
.'!.01 f"1"'1" ' Vaci-inm AN II KIIU
.Ts Cutter Utntitory. Bukiliy. CllfornltJJ