The Benson signal., 1918-03-23
CHAPTER I.
From Mufti to Khaki.

L was SlCLlng at my OeSK talking TO
q lieutenant Of the Jersey National
Guard. On the wall was a big war
map decorated with variously colored
little flags showing the position Of the
opposing armies on the western front
in France. In front of me on the desk
lay New York paper with big faring
headlines:
LUSlTANIA SUNK! AMERICAN
LIVES LOST!
The windows were open and feel
ing Of spring pervaded the air.
Through the open windows came the
strains Of hurdy-gurdy playing in the
street-I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be
a Soldier"
"Lusitania Sunk! American Lives
Lost !"-T Didn't Raise My Boy to
Be a Soldier" To US these did not
seem to jibe.
The lieutenant in silence opened one
of the lower drawers of his desk and
took from it an American flag which
he solemnly draped over the war map
on the wall. Then, turning to me with
q grim face, said:
''How about it, sergeant? You had
better get out the muster roll Of the
Mounted Scouts, as think they will
be needed in the course of a few days"
We busted ourselves till late in the
evening writing out emergency tele-
grams for the men to report when the
call should come from Washington.
Then we went home.
crossed over to New York, and as
went up Fulton street to take the
subway to Brooklyn, the lights in the
tall buildings Of New York seemed to
be burning brighter than usual, as if
they, too, had read "Lusitania Sunk
American Lives Lost!" They seemed
to be glowing with anger and righteous
Indignation, and their rays wigwagged
the message, Repay"
Months passed, the kilograms lying
handy, but covered with dust. Then,
one momentous morning the lieutenant
with a sigh Of disgust removed the
flag from the war map and returned
to his desk. I Immediately followed
this action by throwing the kilograms
into the wastebasket. Then we looked
at each other in silence. He was
sQuirming in his chair and I felt de-
pressed and uneasy.
The telephone rang and I answered
1t. 1t was a business call for me, re-
questing my services for an out-of-
town assignment. Business was not
very good, so this was very welcome.
After listening to the proposition I
seemed to be swayed by a peculiarly
strong force within me, and answered,
81 am sorry that cannot accept your
offer, but I am leaving for England
next week." and hung up the receiver.
The lieutenant swung around in his
chair, and stared at me in blank aston
ishment. A sinking sensation came
over me, but defantly answered his
look with, "Well, it's so. I'm going"
And went.
The trip across was uneventful. ]
landed at Tilbury, England, then got
into a string of matchbox cars and
proceeded to London, arriving there
about 10 p. m. I took room in hotel
near st. Pancras station for ''fve and
six-fre EXTRA" The room was minus
the fire, but the "extra" seemed to
keep me warm. That night there was
a Zeppelin raid, but didn't see much
of it, because the slit in the curtains
was too small and had no desire to
make it larger. Next morning the tel
ephone bell rang, and someone asked,
"Are you thereW I was, hardly. Any
way, I learned that the Zeps had re-
turned to their fatherland, SO went
out into the street expecting to see
scenes Of awful devastation and cow
ering populace, but everything was
normal. People were calmly proceed,
ing to their work. Crossing the
street, I accosted Bobbie with:
"Can you direct me to the place OF
damage?"
He asked me, "What damage"
In surprise, I answered, "Why, the
damage caused by the Zeps."