South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-12
The Grand Stand PLou
BY OLIVE r.. BARTON.

he was little but game as a wood
chuck was Student Puff OF the Of
ncers' training camp Strange 70
~ ne attached himself i-nmedI-
aiely TO Harlan, past mag.ef m mill
tary affairs, who wished 10 reeutsr
ne service and was doing so by this
route. 10 was understood from the
'"gtuning that Harlan was 10 get
BIS majority-at least nothing less
haI. a captaincy. depending on o.
ceEs from the war department, as
10 the grade Of commissions issued.
There vas nothing in il for Puff
he was lot trying 20 get pointers
trcm his experienced friend. 30 was
cal attraction, the profound ad-
Hlirat.On the diminutive always has
Tor the Zig. for Harlan was biz.
and which after all is most essen
tial TO success.
The first week in camp Puff had
told his story. " was something
Ike this. necessarily brief because
tnere was never five minutes at any
time TO talk OF anything but WORK.
. ne sergeants whistle was ever
lastingly blowing for something. and
even s-'idy period was punctuated
by signals for this. that and the
o-her thing that would drive a
civilian crazy
4 was never meant fO- a soldier
be began, slamming shut his Man
ual OF Arms, and leaning his head
dCjectedly on his hands. II am
rot patriotic enough TO give up my
profession at my age-Tm 3O-and
&C. try 20 learn how 20 stick knives
into people. But you see / did il
for her"
Harlan listened attentively with
out speaking. He was also past
master Ut condolences and knew
that a reply would only check the
flow; and judging from Pun's re-
cent detection, he needed TO get it
Of his mind.
she's a dear girl. the dearest
thing in the world, and I'd die for
Ter" went on Puff. but that would
DE a cinch beside all this. She got
all worked up about the war, goes
about organizing Red Cross units.
ard ali that, aad made up her mind
that she would marry an army Off
Ger and an officer only. If / hap
Fen TO be that officer. all we'll and
good. if I don't, goodnight to my
chances.
Wen. ! got in here by the skin
o. my teeth and thought everything
vas all right with me now. for she's
been nicer than she's ever been be-
fore. but she's got il into her head
lately that I've got TO be a captain,
- -
next if she keeps on. Now how in
thunder can I ever be a captain
with all YOU beauties around ready
10 pick the plUms! No matter what
wear I can't look the part. Why
] buy 81 shirts and Knox hats and
puttees better'n the captains own.
and that trench coat Of mine cost
more'n double all the rest OF them.
But any one Of you can put your
clothes on wrong side out and look
better than I do. This is a H
or place for me. this is"
And Puff pulled distractedly at
his tiny well-trained mustache as
thereby TO add inches to his
height.
"Oh. cheer up. Puffy" said Har-
Ian. comfortingly You're a peach
Of a soldier. and don't think all of
the high monkey monks in the
American army are Goliaths. Why.
Ghere is Gordon and Smith and Mil
liIer. not one OF whom would come
~ 20 your shoulder" lied Harlan.
"and they range from brigadier gen
etal up"
Pun looked a bit happier. We'll.
OF course that may be true. But
V hat if 1 only go home a lieutenant
oI a second lieutenant: great guns.
she wouldn't let me I'm her back
door,"
Then wei have TO see that you
set a captai1cy. Pun That's all
there il 20 it, There's two months
yet. and something's sure to turn
up work hard and study That's
IT, your line, a lawyer ought to be
able To read up on the book stuff
Ike a kid eats candy. Keep a stiff
upper lip. and pretend YOU think
you are seven feet high. YouH come
cut all right. I'm likely 10 be top
sergeant for a while now. and tn
break yOu in all I can and give you
things TO do SO YOU can show the
others what you're worth"
Time went on but Puff didn't-He
was a good enough soldier, but also
lacked that quality that men in
st'nctively obey. Harlan knew that
his record card was up on mos:
things. but on personal Qualifca-
tons" that lndescribable something
which counted most of all. he was
tar short.
Harlan worried. He thought II
the Sunday morning he had detail
ca Puff TO get the men up for 8