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THURSDAY, DEC. 14. 1944 THEODORE PRATT (Conclusion) He didn’t know when he left the fox hole and with the others ran upon the beach with a rifle in his hands. He was astounded, once, to note the bayonet on the end of the rifle, and that he had plunged it into a Jap soldier and was having difficulty in getting it out. Twist, he He wasn’t aware that other men, live men, were in the fox hole with him. thought, that was it. He twisted, and the blade came free. It was true what they said. He felt a sharp sting in his left shoulder. On top of his head there was a blinding clang. His helmet was knocked off. Something crashed on his bare head and after that he was aware of nothing. Mr. Winkle opened his eyes cau tiously. He had been conscious for a few minutes, but he couldn’t place where he was. The first thing he saw was the face of Jack Pettigrew. Jack had only a head, which floated in the air all by itself. The mouth in the head said, “Hello, Pop.” “So you made it, too,” observed Mr. Winkle. ‘Made it?’ Jack’s head in quired. “We’re dead, aren’t we?” asked Mr. Winkle. “You were dead the last time I saw you. This is Heav en, I suppose. Or is it—?” In some panic he demanded, “Which one?” The head laughed. “We’re in an Army hospital just outside of Los Angeles.” The rest of Jack came into focus. Clad in pajamas and a bathrobe, he was sitting on the edge of a white bed. There were lines of white beds. Mr. Winkle looked down at him self. He seemed to be all there. He wriggled his toes to make sure. His left shoulder felt a little peculiar and he had a slight headache, but otherwise he was intact. “I don’t understand,” he said. “We’re supposed to be on Talizo You—and the Japs ...” He looked around, as if to see the Japs swarm ing up the beach. “The Japs,” Jack grinned, “didn't get anywhere. We’ve taken the whole island since then. You saved it. You’re a hero. You’re going to get a medal. The President told about you in one of his speeches.” “The President .” Mr. Winkle faltered. This was the second time the President had paid some atten tion to him. “And look at these papers.” Jack rummaged in a locker between the beds and then held the front pages of newspapers so Mr. Winkle could read them. One of them was The Evening Standard. Mr. Winkle took it and saw big black letters which said: WINKLE, HERO OF TALIZO He dropped the paper. He was dizzy. “You’d better start at the beginning,” he begged Jack. “I’m supposed to call the nurse if you wake up,” Jack said. “You’ve been out for five weeks. You're not supposed to talk.” “You do the talking,” Mr. Winkle ordered. “And lots of it.” Jack himself had merely been knocked out and wounded by the explosion of the lucky shell in the fox hole. Mr. Winkle had been found on the beach with a bullet hole through his shoulder and a bad con cussion. At first it was thought he wouldn’t live. The doctors did a job on his head in the infirmary at Talizo. Another and more thorough piece of work was done after they were shipped back to the States on a transport. Jack assured Mr. Win kle that he was all right now. “You don’t have to worry,” Jack said. “Mrs. Winkle knows. I went home to see my folks. I’m here now only for a check-up before I join my new company. We’re head ed for the Philippines this time.” “You left out something,” Mr. Winkle said. “The most important part. The Alphabet, Freddie, and the others .” In a low voice, Jack said, “I was the only one.” It was a moment before he could ask about Mr. Tinker. Then he spoke only his name. “No,” Jack told him. At least, thought Mr. Winkle, Mr. Tinker had got his Jsp himself. Mfl. W/NKLE GOES 70 WAR W.N.U. RELEASE He would always cherish thinking of the sight of Mr. Tinker with his hands around the Japanese officer's throat. “That’s why I want to go back,” Jack said. “I’m going, too,” Mr. Winkle told him. “Well,” said Jack, “I don’t know about that.” Mr. Winkle worried about Jack’s last remark. He didn’t find out about it until Jack had once again departed for the South Seas, and he had exchanged letters with Amy, and was sitting up in bed. Then he had a conference with the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital and a Captain from Headquarters. “That skull of yours is fine,” the doctor told him. “Best man in the country did it.” “But it won’t stand another knock from a rifle butt,” the Captain point ed out. “It won’t get one,” said Mr. Win kle. He spoke almost snappishly at the Captain. He could read in his face the message he brought. “I’ll keep out of the way. The other time was just an accident.” “Quite an accident,” the doctor said dryly. He shook his head. “And your arm .” Mr. Winkle knew about his arm. Because of the bullet that had gone through his shoulder, he would nev er lift his left arm above his head again. It was perfectly good below that for ordinary use, but as far as the Army was concerned he was re garded as incapacitated. “Listen,” he said to the Captain, pleading with him this time, “mostly I reach down working on a motor. I can still—” “You’ve done your duty,” the Cap tain told him. “More than your du ty. I’m sorry. I know how you feel.” •Mr. Winkle was amazed at the extent that a mouse could be changed into a lion. At the same time he knew that he was not all lion. He was both creatures. He smiled to himself wisely. Before, he had been taken too much for a mouse. Now he would be taken too much for a lion. He knew that each existed in all men, no matter what they had done, or, for that matter, hadn’t done. A year ago he quailed at the pros pect of being drafted. If anyone had told him then that he would be depressed at being discharged from the Army, and that he wanted to go back to war again, he would have thought him crazy. Mr. Winkle enjoyed, instead of shying from, every moment of his reception when he arrived in Spring ville. He beamed at the huge crowd waiting at the station. With satis faction, he saw and heard the Amer ican Legion band which had turned out for him alone this time. He read the banners and posters peo ple carried. He admired the deco rations, one of which read unasham edly: “Our Hero.” There was Amy embracing him and murmuring brokenly, “Wilbert Wilbert ...” “Look,” he said. Right there be fore all the people he lifted his arm to shoulder height, telling Amy, “That’s as far as it will go.” Amy stared at him, embarrassed and stricken. The crowd hushed. “It’s good enough for holding you,” Mr. Winkle told his wife, put ting his arm around her. The crowd roared its approval, while Amy, blushing, whispered to him, “Wilbert, you’re changed more than ever.” The Mayor stepped up and gave him the keys to the city, in the form of a large wooden key painted gold and festooned with gay ribbons. Then came the most important part of the ceremony, the part that made Mr. Winkle most apprecia tive and brought a lump to his throat. His own commanding officer be ing some distance away, it had been arranged for the Colonel who com manded the camp where Mr. Win kle was inducted into the Army to present him with the Distinguished Service Cross. The Colonel read the citation from a scroll. ”... awarded to Wilbert George Winkle distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in connection with military opera tions against an armed enemy beyond and above his duty ...” The Colonel pinned the medal on his tunic, stepped back and saluted him. Mr. Winkle was so surprised at being saluted first by an officer, and especially one of such tank as a Colonel, that he forgot to salute back. Instead, he found himself shaking hands with the Colonel. In the Mayor’s car, with the May or in front and Mr. Winkle and a weepy Amy alone in the back seat, they paraded through the town to the blaring accompaniment of the band and cheering people who threw a great many bits of* paper from the buildings. Mr. Winkle waved and waved his good arm, and it was borne in upon him that it was most men's dream come true, notably be cause this time no one called out derisively. Finally they were deposited in front of their house, where a num ber of people were gathered. Among them was Mr. Wescott, who had evi dently come out to see for himself. And having seen, he didn’t find any reason to laugh now. He couldn’t say anything at all when he opened his mouth in that endeavor, but simply stood there with his lips part ed, gaping. Mr. Winkle greeted him warmly and shook hands before going on with. Agny, up. their walk.. IT?E BLJ^riVN Ih whom Mr. Winkle had seen at the station taking pictures, followed them up the walk. “Listen,” Mr. Onward asked rather humbly, “how about an interview?” "No,” said Mr. Winkle, “no inter view.” "But plead. “Use the same one you printed before,” Mr. Winkle suggested. “That was a good one.” Onward began to Alone together in their house, Mrs. Winkle dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief, touched his medal with one finger, dabbed some more, and asked, "Whoever would have thought—?” "Not me,” said Mr. Winkle. "Not I,” she corrected. She spoke a little sharply, as If trying to hide her emotions or expressing a desire to bring him down a peg in case his popularity might have gone to his head. In trying to determine which it was, Mr. Winkle saw the answer to his speculation on whether or not Amy would continue in her new re on The Colonel pinned the medal his tunic. gard for him, or revert to the old. He found a support his changed her had him. number of things to belief that war had as permanently as it not find it comfortably She would to henpeck a national hero. Finally, there was Amy’s own in nate goodness, which she had desert ed only temporarily, and which was great enough for her to embrace for the rest of their lives. Amy had a great many questions to ask. Because she was still flus tered by everything that had hap pened, she began with a somewhat irrelevant inquiry. "Did you ever get to see any. cannibals?” she asked. “Oh,” said Mr. Winkle offhanded ly, "they’d all taken to the hills. There wasn’t one of them around. They couldn’t stand it.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Mr. Winkle realized their significance. He had found the thing to express what he felt about war, but hadn’t recognized it at the time. Cannibals merely killed and ate each other, or what human beings they could find for their meals. When civilized man’s war came among them, they were revolted and rv tired from the scene. "Why!” said Mrs. Winkle. “Why!” She looked startled. The commentary on human affairs didn’t strike Mr. Winkle as being grim. He had been through enough to appreciate its overtones in quite equitable fashion. Some day the cannibals on Talizo would be left alone again to go about eating each other in peace. At this thought he began to laugh. Mrs. Winkle believed he had gone crazy because of the operations on his head, but between his bursts of laughter Mr. Winkle informed her that this wasn’t so. The sounds coming from him brought Penelope, who trotted in to take a single sniff at him and then begin to lick and jump and bark in joyous welcome. She, too, noticed the difference in a man who had been to the wars and proved him self a warrior and who at last had found what meaning there was to it all. [THE END] Lice are getting me down Dreaming of a white Christmas well, we have it ani while you were dreaming Tuesday, it would have been appropriate to read Whittier’s Snow’bound and before someone objects, we hasten to admit that our white Christmas came two weeks early but everything els» about Christ mas has been early this year. mailed boxes to the boys overseas way back in October when Christmas look ed so far away and that snow that swirled in Monday night was the real thing oldtimers knew it was coming for the almanac .said so and to think it was the first snow’ of the season. that’s why some of the youngbloods showed a lack of control in a snow’ball battle in downtown section Monday night and a window glass was shattered anyway it’s an ill wind that blows no good and there wasn’t any school Tuesday and Christmas buying stepped up with shoppers taking sub stitutes in their stride—all except ny lons and cigarettes—and to think that grandma lived eighty years, happily, we trust, without either sugar for holiday candy making will be scarce— and bacon was off the market here over the week end to Mr. and Mrs. B. served their 56th 1 sary Wednesday. A former Get bottle of Dr. Hkss Liquid Louse Killbr (cotta J4 cent or let* per bir£). And next tian® you fepd tfie flock in ♦read a thin film I the Lousa JlUDt along the o to rooat, their from thia nico the simple way rooota. When the bird* body beet release* turn tine that kill lice. It I to destroy these paste/ Sidney’s Drug Shop Fifteen year* of business selling Quality Heating Prompt Service The Parks-Klay Co. Phone 79371 Lima. Ohio fire congratulations F. Biery who ob wedding anniver- Bluffton will welcome a former hometown girl Sunday night when Ola Luginbuhl Moser of Chicago appears as one of the soloists in the annual Messiah concert. The wife of Virgil Moser and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cal Luginbuhl, she recently made her debut in the Chicago Civic Opera. The start of her musical career goes back to singing in a church choir and study ing at the Bluffton college conserva tory under G. A. “Dad” Lehman. Lt. Gerald “Willie” Tipllehorn is currently reported with the American forces battling the Japs on Leyte island in the Philippines. Among the late garden products at tracting attention in the News window’ was a large turnip raised by N. W. Hochstettler, six miles College road. never when run is bad. “Jer- Bluffton man, who operates Dale a gasoline ry” Owens, filling station in Lima was awarded third prize by the county war finance committee in the window display con test held in that city for the promotion of war bond sales. The prize carried with it a $25 War Savings Bond. It looked like old times, Tuesday afternoon when a bobsled drawn by a team of farm horses went down Main street thru the business section. Meanwhile many rural residents were snowbound and rural route carriers were unable to make their rounds be cause of drifted roads. It was a big day’s work that Wood row Little, mail carrier on Bluffton rural route No. 1, put in Tuesday. With east and west roads choked with snow and north and south roads bare- For Vigor and Health— include meat in your menu. Always ready to servo you. ros Fresh and/Salt Meats THE Al C. & Y. RAILROAD NEEDS EMEN MAKERS 1NISTS PAIRMEN BRA BOILE1 MAC] CARxftl iSECTlONMEN TELEGRAPH OPERATORS BRIDGE AND BUILDING CARPENTERS meet WMC requirements, are full wartime jobs and possibilities for postwar Must These good work, and unemployment benefits. Call at station you C' Liberal railroad retirement the nearest A. C. & Y. rad the agent will give :ete information. ’Aron, Canton & iwn Railroad Co. iy passable, Little succeeded in cover ing 54 miles of his regular 62 mile route. However, to do it he drove 7‘ miles taking advantage of broken ■bride. north on the who was sta Pacific where Pfc. George Duffman tioned in the Southwest the days get really hot, is now getting a taste of cold weather in his new lo cation at the Army Air Field in Os coda, Mich., on Lake Huron, where he is refueling planes. George says that up there the only certain way of get ting out of that place during the winter is by air, as there is no bus service and altho there are two trains scheduled into Oscoda daily, it’s certain whether they will the weather aostoffice sible. He returned to Tuesday afternoon at about three hours later than his regu lar schedule—by the way he came back minus his tire chains—having Tuesday night hf* was scoring all the local auto supply stores seeking new chains, which by the way are about ass scarce as sugar. Just in case you have never tasted bear meat, you can find plenty of Bluffton people who will vouch for the goodness of it since the annual meet ing of the ^Sportsmen’s club Tuesday night when bear meat sandwiches were one of the main features of the pot luck supper. The meat was pre sented to the club by Lester Hahn who bagged a black bear on a hunting trip to Canada last month and has had the carcass frozen in a locker here since that time. The meat is dark and in a measure similar to moose meat. Beaverdam Mrs. Maggie Weaver is spending the winter month with her daughter, Mrs. Troas Beach in Lima. Miss Ruth Yarger was a guest at a miscellaneous shower at the home of Mrs. Rex Mathews in Lima, honoring Mrs. Lloyd Taylor of Sante Fe, a re cent Mrs. Arthur Pugh entertained a group of friendsat her home on last Thursday evening, celebrating her birthday anniversary Those enjoying the affair w’ere: Mrs. A. J. Lutter bein, Mrs. Harmon Downey, Mrs. G. T. Arnold, Mrs. Ed Coook, Mrs. Rus sell Wolfe, Mrs. Everett Rowland, Mrs. Russell Brackney of Lafayette, Mrs. Orville Huber, and Mrs. Ralph Marshall. Mrs. Martha Bassett spent the past two week in Florida. Marian Pugh is one of tw*o mem bers of the Sophomore class at Heid elberg college in Tiffin appointed ap prentice on the staff of the college anuual, the Aurora. Miss Bernice Huber spent the week end with her sister, Mrs. Gladys Wil liams at Lansing, Mich. Mrs. Roscoe Holmes is spending the week w’ith her mother, Mrs. Nora Eckenwiler who has been quite ill the past two weeks. Mrs. Ed Bassett is visiting at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mayberry. The W. S. C. S. of the Methodist church met on Friday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Ed Cook, with nineteen members present. The following offi cers for 1945 were elected Mrs. Winter Hog Fountains All Metal Construction Bluffton Implement & Harness Co. Bluffton, Ohio Russell Wolfe, Pres. -Mrs. Harmon Vice l'rs.: Mrs. William Ymmkman. recording sec.: Mrs. Ar thur i'ugh assistant -ec. Mrs. Everet Rowland, correspondent sec. Mrs. I. J. Amstutz, treas. .Mrs. Frank Hall, pianist Mrs. Wm. Amstutz, chorister Mrs. G. T. Arnold, sec. social and local church activities Mrs. Chiles, sec. of spiritual life Mrs. W. T. Cordrey, sec. Missionary education Mrs. Roscoe Trout, sec. literature and publications Mrs. Ed Herr and Mrs. Ray Zimmerman, sec. young peoples’ work Mrs. Daryl Robnolte and Mrs. Donald Michael, sec. children’s work. The program “Christmas in our Homes and Settlement” was in charge Mrs. Clayton Rupright. Mr. and Mrs. Ypsilanti, Mich., Mr. and Mrs. Cloyce Robnolte and family of Findlay, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Hedges and family of Lima were here Thursday to attend Guy Ackerman of Mrs. Robert Edwards of Bowling Green university is spending the week end with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Barnum. by the school on Wednesday evening, December 13 at the H. S. auditorium. The public is cordially invited. Mr. aqd Mrs. Ralph Yarger and family of Muncie, Ind., are visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Yarger and family. Mr. and Mrs. Donald Michael and ‘amily were Saturday evening visit- 45-Plate TIGER CHIEF Guaranteed 18 Months on a Service Basis $625Exchange Battery Recharging .............. Gamble’s AUTHORIZED DEALER WANTEDf WANTED WHOLE MILK for the manufacture of Spray Powder AND SOUR CREAM TIRES, TUBES, PONTOONS, LIFE BELTS, LANDING BOATS for the manufacture of Butter THE PAGE DAIRY CO BLUFFTON, OHIO PHONE 489-W The Army and Navy are still needing large quantities of The demands are urgent—more help is needed to make these very essential war materials. While your farm work is light you may be able to work 8 hours—either day shift or night shift—to assist in producing this war material. Or if you are not now in war work, you can help our boys at the front by helping to produce these important war items. Paid While You Learn Steady Work Good Pay Good Prospects for Regular Employment After the War Come in and talk over the matter with Mr. Capell, our Personnel man. He will tell you about getting a temporary release from A. A. A. to help in this important work. THE COOPER CORPORATION FINDLAY, OHIO MAIN 390 All Applicants Must Comply with WMC Stabilization Program PAGE ors of Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Mich ael. Mrs. Lillie Anderson, Mr. and Mr.-. Wm. Younkman and grand son were Sunday afternoon callers of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Anderson and family at Pandora- Mr. and Mrs. Harold Clark and dau ghter, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Wagner of Lima were Sunday dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. John Clark and Miss Ellen Clark, celebrating the birthday anniversary of John Clark. Mrs. Mary I’laugher of Dayton was a week end visitor of her mother, Mrs. Jane Barber and Frank BaH»er. Mr. and Mrs. Byron Anderson and daughter Karen Sue of Bluffton were Sundax dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Cook and Mrs. Wm. Weick. APPRECIATED Having moved to Lima recently, af ter living in this community for the past 70 years, I wish to take this op portunity to thank my many neighbors and friends for the cooperation and kindnesses shown me during this time. I will be delighted to hear from my many friends in the future. My new address is: 1174 Rice Ave., Lima, O. Mrs. Samuel Kohler. Sell Produce Quickly Most of the produce handled at the farmers’ sections of the regional markets has usually been sold dur ing the first two or three hours of trading. ".....—...... Highest Prices Paid for All Dairy Products