Evening star., 1917-10-07
BY GERALD BRANDON.

JUSTIN could only have kept his
mouth shut during his periodical
fits of the sulks he would have been
model soldier, for he was as hard
as nails physically. absolutely fearless
and possessed of unusual initiative.
However, he was highly temperamental.
like all Parisians. and was always get
ting in hot water for saying things he
dfd not mean.
Justin was one of the very few men
Whe had been with the Zouaves since
the very beginning of the war. who had
not a medal or a corporals stripe to
show for his three years service. Sew
eral times he had been recommended
Tor promotion or the war cross after
some daring feat or efficient behavior
under fire, but he had the reputation
of being insubordinate. and it would
never do to encourage a man of the
type he was supposed to belong to.
After his last leave of absence, dur
ing which his unmedaled breast brought
forth many comments from all his old
cronies. he applied for and obtained
transfer to our regiment. where his
record was unknown. and he returned
TO the front with the firm resolve to
win the cross or die in the attempt.
...
We had a hard week of it that time.
Our trench was for the moment the
objective Of the crown princes most
determined endeavors and attack fol-
lowed attack, counter attack succeeded
assault, while the German lombard
ment continued without let-up.
We were mighty glad when another
A1t ND n
back to Cressy, some thirty kilometers
In the rear. sustained by the prospect
ofsa weeks rest. chance to wash.
respite from danger and. above all,
seven nights of uninterrupted sleep.
But. as Bobbie Burns SO aptly put it,
"the best-laid plans of mice and men
oft-gang agley." After supper that
night. when We were about to hit the
hay. or the "plumard." as the French
say our sergeants passed the word
around that We should make ready for
an equipment inspection which would
be held at s o'clock by Lieut.. Grandjean.
-Justin went up in the air. An equip
meut inspection at s o'clock in the
evening! Who ever heard of such a
thing! Where did that little lieutenant
gef-h license to keep soldiers. who
were fighting when he was in swad-
ding clothes. from their hard-earned
ree5? He. Justin, would give him an
easful next time he saw him.
And Justin continued in this strain
while he diligently brushed his uni
foraa. counted his cartridges, cleaned
HIS rife and performed the hundred
ana one chores entailed by an inspec-
tion.
As luck would have it, Lieut. Grand
1eap happened by and got an earful of
what was never intended for him. I'm
taersother circumstances, he might have
pretended not to hear. for he liked JUS
tin. having remarked about his befa-
vior under fire: but there were too many
persons present and he could not afford
to overlook such insolence. He must
assert his authority or lose his pres
tige forever.
.Justin," he said. severely. 'you are
incorrigibly insubordinate will
spaak of you to the colonel, and you
know what that means"
And he turned away with as menac-
ing an air as he could muster. although,
in his heart. he felt sorry for the poor
fellow and had no intention of men,
tfoning anything to the colonel.
Had Justin but known it. the inspec-
tion was as unwelcome to the lieuten-