The Irish standard., 1916-09-16

and most Of them We're hailed by name
by the crowd and chcercd as they slip
ped by the soldier and into the build
ing.
Jim stepped in and stripped. The
surgeon looked him over, tapped him
and listened perfunctorily at his heart
and passed him on. "All right! Next"
Jim advanced to the table ut the end
Of the room and signed the paper pre-
scntcd to him. Charlie Linton, an Of
ticcr, arose after Jim had signed and
drew him aside.
''Onc of the secret service men phon-
ell me awhile ago. Ashby." Linton said
He told me something about what you
were doing last night. Good work it
was, rafting good work! He told me
| could trust you: of course knew
that anyway. I've detailed some Of
our regular boys to watch for spies
among the rccruits-and among our
selves. want you to watch too. You
are to get evidence so you can give
the firing squad chance if there's
time. If there isn't time Or it's in
convenient TO bring charges, shoot the
man You catch, no matter who he is,
and shoot quick and straight IL you
don't want him to get you first"
Jim nodded. Then I'm to stay about
herc?'
mo ones to stay about here. We're
wanted iii the cast as quick rs we can
get there. They're yelling for us from
Savannah to Portland, Nc. Leave Il
telephone number where We can get
you within an hour, and II you haven't
made arrangements for an Indefinite
absence make EN-"
Jim shook hands with others of The
men about and then went down to the
noise and cxubernnce of the street.
The crowd chccrell him by name as
lie came out, and amid the crush about
him lie felt some one Juggling Mt his
coat to attract personal attention. 10
turned about and faced Agnes. Her
face was chalk white, and her lips were
trembling, and the hand which tuggcl
Mt his coat was shaking violently, and
as Jim faced her he was white also.
She knew he had broken his pledge to
her, ana she had not yet come to un-
dcrstand why.
War had come, she knew, but to her
1t existed yet only In words. 1t was
tall, black type Of unpleasant print
upon great sheets Of white paper past
ed to board before newspaper Of
flee; It was wild, reckless boasts and
taunts on the tongues of boys and men
about IT. War was horrible madness
made of bcstial passion. Womcn-if
men failcd-must forbid 1t, the slaugl.
ter and suffering Of nation.
Historically Agnes cried this to Jim,
needless Of the crowd about them.
"And you've Joined them! Don't-dont
ever speak to me! Don't look Mt me
again! Only-only," she pleaded with
him now. beside herself with horror,
"has Mart been up there too? Where's
Mart. Jim? Have you seen him?"
mo, Agnes. l looked for his name,
and asked about him. Tie hasn't en-.
listed here"
'"Then he's gone somewhere else to
join the army. He went out Of the
house before the rest Of US got up this
morning, and from the things he took
with him know he's gone to enlist"
Jim got her out of the crowd and
started to go farther with her. but she
would not have him. Hc turned away
from her and went through the tumult
Of the street toward his fathers fac
tory. The noise and cheering were as
loud as before. louder IL anything, and
band was parading somewhere
blaring the "star spangled Banner"
But now to Jim there was a hollow.
ness in that noise-a hollowness of
nation at war and unready.
The smoke was streaming from the
chimney Of the Ashby factory. and
Jim could see as he neared the shops
that work was going on. hut % he en-.
tered the door he heard his fathers
voice rearing in violent yituperat1on.
Two men in plain clothes. but display.