Evening star., 1915-10-17
BY HERBERT COREY.
Copyright, 1911.l

badges of the military policemen look
ing for deserters. Sometimes Tommy
Atkins sells his trench birthright for
a mess of Paris pottage
e wasn't rightly a runaway" said
the British military policeman. Not
rightly e wasn't. sir. e just wanted
a hit of sport"
1t is difficulty to get upon terms with
military policeman. He divides male
humanity into two classes-those who
oelong TO the army and those who do
not To the first he shows an unnues-
tioning reSnert or disnla~s an iron au-
fh"ritv. To the other he is courteous
and distant. 1t is irconceivable to him
thaf any civilian can have a righteous
purnoSe in desiring to know what the
mon of the army do when they are not
killing or being killed. His ewes show
White at the least mistake in handling
Stlll-thern IS nlwa~s beer
Story Of Egmond.
The military Doliceman knew nothing
of Egmond-that name is admittedly
incredible. but the military policeman
adhered to it-until the little man ap-
peared in his battalion. Egmond. it
seems, was just the sort of n man to
wear sar6v whiskers ard knitted
muf'er Ha had q way of rubbing his
hands together that puzzled the mill
tarv policeman. 1t recalled something
to his memory. hut dimlv He couldn't
quite make ont what that gesture made
hir', think of. The others ragged the
little man unmarcifullv until thew got
into tight quarters near Ypres There
Eemond developed wonderful turn.
for bomb throwing. His explanation
was modest
'T always would ave some chickens
about me-" said Esmond. me being as
you might say with taste like for
outdoor life. And the cats used to
chivy 'em about. So I 'ad to lob bot
ties at EN-"
One dav the military policeman
watched Egmond wash his hands over
and over in ronexistent water. until he
noted that his half memory of the
gesture was accom- panied by a half
recognition of an odor that should ac-
companv it. At last he slapped his
thf"h with an oath:
Tea" he shouted. Tea and am
The little perisher!"
Egmond's father had kept a little
shop in a little Hampshire village
When his father died Egmond's n,othe-
took over the shop. The military
policeman got the idea that Eemond's
mother is masterfu1 lady. Egmond's
only memories are of opening up that
shoD and sweeping 1t out and putting
up the shutters on it at night. and be-
tween times dealing out penn'orths of
ham and cheese and tea. It was Egg
monds mother who masterfully mar
ried him to Louisa.
''She said Louisa would keen me
straiRht"-said Eemond to the military
policeman after 'hev reached the point
OF confidence-"Strike me blind"
When EgmOnd was twenty-seven
years old he was repeatedly father
and had unauestionably been kept
STRAIGHT: When not diverted by the re-
snonsibilities Of motherhood Louisa
used to help in the shop. The military
policeman inferred that II was only in
the intervals that the little man had
any authority in the premises. He used
to stay In the shop nights with the
door locked and the shutters down in
order to read novels. He told Louisa
h" was at work on the books
Fancy that" said the military police
nah.
world" said the little man.
Paris. now. I've sat up so late read
fne hooks about Paris that Louisa sa id
If ] didn't get them books stra ightened
out she'd take and at II 'erself.",
His Family Was Safe.
Then the war came. For a time Egg
mond really did work on his books at
night. The study convinced him that
mother and Louisa and the young ones
would be quite safe. Mother and
Louisa really ran the business. any
how. AS for the little ones, he hardly
felt proprietary right in them. They
were such strong. black browed, mas
terful little things. He had never
been even let play with them.
Mother and Louisa never held with
pampering." he said to the military
policeman.
So he volunteered for the war The
day after this became known at home
he reported himself at camp rather red
eyed from sleeplessness but quite
happy. He took romantic interest in
the mos; prosaic drill movements and
his eyes shone in meek exhilaration
during the bayonet practice. He did
not walk OUT with any girl of the
Village near which the training camp
was located. but he took an almost
breathless interest IN the affairs of the
other men who did. \ tea trained
stomach was unequal 10 Burton's No l
and he went TO sleep IN the corner OF
the pub after three pints one night.
You near broke up the place" said
the military policeman. untruthfully
NO" said the little man. glistening
with pride. Tell me-was I violent?'
In time they came to the trenches
and the little man distinguished him
self at Ypres. He went through the
spring months of abornina BILE SUFFERING
with positive rapture He said il was
seeing life. Then the dull routine OF
summer came. in which he was alter.
mated between a trench in which flies
buZzed and village in which file.
buzzed. II distinctly ralicd on him.
soon this blushing war will be over
ne SoIiipidi.ed 70 fHe military police
man. and I'll 20 back ONE
And what does Frarce look like
ETnlond" mother will ask me
SO far as ] saw France II looks like
ole IN the ground. I'll ave to say"
How He Learned to Swear,
He tried TO get leave in order +,
visit Paris. and his company office,
arranged that he should have leave tt
go home instead. Eamond's languag,
was so emphatically subversive Of
discipline that the leave was can.
celed. and he drew punishment dut,
instead. He was irdeccntIy proud OF
this fact. He said that n year ago h.
= couldn't have talked that way. not &
he had studied the words Wherea,
OIL this occasion they just bubbIed ou
of him. If he had had few moment,
for reflection he might have earned 81,
months hard.
The little blighter!" said the mill