The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-08-24
4 ~ Ha Ne ~ ~ "a NJ ~ ~ ~ nal
|. THE HOME GUARD
BY EARL REED sILvERs.



when the Railway Home Guard was
orgallzcd Doris Brown WAS Inclined 10
be critical.
I'll will never do me any good or
'Sou, either" she told Pete Alherts, one
0f the high privates la the rear
ranks. 81 don't see why ia The world
yon wanted TO join
= Didn't want To-, exactly" Pete
FASTENED TO assure her. But / felt
that the city needed protection.
lIunphl A lot Of protection you
could give us. What do you have to
dofi
"My especial duty is to guard the
annroach over the East Milton avenue
bridge" Pete explained with dignity.
AS soon as summons comes / am to
seize my revolver club, budge, fash
light and whistle and beat 1t TO the
bridge. Then am to refuse to let any
.One enter the city until / receive or
ders from police headquarters.
Doris smiled ever so family.
why did they give you the Milton
avenue brldgef' she asked
Because its only five minutes from
my hog7c, And they probably knew
that 4 had an especial grudge against
someone living on the other side"
II suppose you mean Jimfp
"You supposed right Are you going
TO let me come to see you tomorrow
night27
Il can't; someone else is coming"
"Jim, suppose
'You supposed fight Doris smiled
'mockingly.
When Pete went home that evening
Fho smiled happily Something sccmeq
TO tell him that he was going to see
Doris within twenty.four hours. TO
'oe perfectly frank, Pete had received
INSIDE Information that the Home
Guard was to be called out the next
night and plan had entered his mind
which argued III for Jim Stone
The inside information proved to be
correct, for at exactly 7:30 Of The eve
ming in question Pete received a tele-
phone call to report at once ut his
station He seized his gin and other
paraphcrnala and joyfuly departed
upon his mission.
Il was n dark night ana the bridge
lvas hidden In the shadows For 20
lGinutes Pote sat upon the iron rafting
| waiting for someone to approach,
FinaHy his patlence VAS rewarded.
Halt he cried.
The approaching figure halted
"Wha's upl7 he nsked wondcrmGly.
Tin member Of the home guprd
and I've been instructed not to let any
one pass until ! receive further, orders,
You'll have 10 90 back
The light of understanding came
suddenly to the challenged party.
"Oh, hello, Petc,' he said. I'm
Jim Stone"
u don't care II you're President VIII
son. You can't pass, Pete said.
But you know me. I'm not a Ger
man spy or anything
u didn't say you were. But I'm a
police officer now, and orders are or
ders."
You're crazy, Pctc,r he exclaimed.
lrritably. you're not supposed to hold
up people you know"
"That's for me to say Pete took a
step forward. you'll have to so back
home he announced.
But I've got an engagement, / tell
you"
"Where?n
-That doesn't concern you at all.H
Pete wondered for a moment.
1T looks rather suspicious to me-"
he announced finally; you want 70 80
into town but you won't tell me Why.
"lf tell you where want to 20
will you let me pass?' he asked.
Pete shook his head.
Jim thought evil thoughts. Finally
he spoke again.
Are you still going on with this
farccg" he demanded.
"Yep."
81 suppose IN have to 90 back thenl"
Yes ] guess you viii"
Without a word Jim Stone turned
around and retraced his steps home
ward Pete breathed sigh Of relief.
Ife waited anSiously for ten minutes.
and then a figure appeared from the
direction OF the town. 1t was the
squad sergeant.
"All right" he announced. 'You KIN
go back now. Every member of the
squad reportedp
Pete ran all the way home, and when
he had recovered his breath he picked
up the telephone.
"Give me 1861 he said.
Doris answered his call.
"Na" she announced "Jim hasn't
co ia aHd it's niae o'clock. II YOU
hiWfy rght over yop may take his
P,ter hurried right over.
copyright. 1917 by tie Mcclure Newspa-
per sgndjcate)