The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-04

geant." who's met" Brown.
want'er speak to yer"
Como in, then;" and as the intruder
entered the Dunk" its owner glanced
up from his work and said, What's
the matter with you, now-eh? Are
you prisoner again?"
Private Brown laughed hoarsely and
answered.:
"No-not this time, sergeant. only
want yer to write letter home Tor
me-"
You're a NUISANCE, Brown! I've got
tomorrow's parade slate to make out
before arst post. Can't you get some
one in the bungalow to do 1t for you?
I'm too busy now"
you know | wouldn't let any OF the
chaps do it." Brown answered, some
what sullenly. They'd only grin at
me cos can't write. But 1t don't
matter. I'll go on the booze again and
spend the money, and then you'll have
70 put me in the 'clink for drunk.
Sergeant Hollis noted the defiant
tone, and said sharply:
Come, none OF that nonsense with
me, Brown, or I'll confine you now!
What money are you talking about?"
1--WE been on the steady for month.
Didn't you know?"
II noticed that you haven't been
prisoner for about a fortnight. How
much have you saved?"
"Well, you see, l had a hand at cards
yesterday, and won about so chips. and
I want ter send 1t home to sister of
mine. It'll do her more good than 1t
will me-"
"Oh! So you've got into that gam
bling set, have you? Mind don't catch
you at it, for If l do, into the guard
room you'll go!"
Il don't often play, sergeant" said
Brown, deprecatingly; and, thinking
the opportunity a good one, he re-
newed his request. viii you write
my letter for me, sergeant"
II suppose must to get rid OF your.
Fire ahead with the address"
miss Alice Brown-lady's-m
Taunton Court, Norfolk" Absorbed
in admiration of the sergeant's cali
graphy, Brown, standing by the table,
did not notice the slight start made
by the writer as the words Taunton
Court" fell upon his ears. In unaf-
fected surprise Brown muttered. Hang
me-can't you writer"
The sergeant smiled and said inter-
negatively:
"You come from that part?"
mo; I'm a towney of yourn. Didn't
yer know that?" Brown answered with
q disgusted look.
What! You a Scotchman? You go
and tell that to the next draft"
Brown felt insulted by this reference
to the draft" and said with dignity:
ITS fact, sergeant. l was born in
Aberdeen; but we came to London
when was a kid"
"a very small Kid too, imagine.
Why, man alive, you're Cockney all
over! But what about the letter?
What shall say?"
But Browns insulted dignity would
not allow the assertion about the
Cockney origin to pass unchallenged.
Honor bright, sergeant, l amt no
Cockney. But look ere. My sister and
me is the only two left, and she's la
dys maid there, and I'm a-goin' to send
her one hundred chips-rupees, you
knew-so as she'll have some thing put
by agin the time when she leaves"
Though he had only a moment be-
fore protested that he had no time to
spare, the sergeant now showed a
etrapooIy ipoopefctant dacira m chat
ter.
so she's going to leave-eh?" he
said.
"Ya-as, I s'pose she will when her
missus gets married"
1t was clear that the matrimonial in
tentions of the mistress of Private
Browns sister ought not to have been
of any interest to Sergeant Hills OF
her majestys Green Horse" espe-
cially when there was an unfinished
parade slate" lying in front of him;
but it seemed that the suDJect did in
terest him, for he said:
what makes you think her mistress
In going to marry?"
why, she's got any amount OF
brass" Brown answered. "and my Sis
ter says she's very pretty. so she's
sure to marry"
A quiet smile passed over the SER
geant's face, and he glanced at a pho
tograph that stood ON the table in
front Of him. Then he scribbled away
at the letter for minute, inquired how
the money was to be sent, once more
resumed his writing. and finally laid
down his pen and said:
Look here, Brown-why don't you
go to the regimenral school and learn
how to read and write? I'll give you
all the help can, and it will keep you
away from the canteen."
"Will you help me. sergeant--really?
Then, by Jimine, start tomorrow,
Wouldn't Ally be surprised to get a
letter from me all in my own ?"-
and Brown smiled at the thought.
''Say, sergeant" he added as an after
thought-"what'll l do If any of the
chaps get laughing at me?"
do? Why, punch the first ones
head for him-only don't let me hear
Dbnat a. Nauar faor--thau xunp u