The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-03-22
CHAPTER /.
From Muftl TO Khaki.

1 AANfN WtAEAt 70 fANHhia
u was In an Office In Jersey City
l was sitting al my desk talking Il
lieutenant OF the Jersey National
Guard. ON the wall was big war
map decorated with yarlously colored
little nags showing the position OF the
| opposing armies on the western front
IN France. In front Of me on the desk
lay a New York paper with big flaring
headlines:
LuslTANiA suNKI AMERICAN
LIVES LosTl
inc windows were open and a feel
Ing or spring pervaded the air.
Through the open windows came the
strains 81 hurdy-gurdy playing Ia the
street, Didn't Raise My Boy TO BE
a Soldier"
Lusltanln Sunk American Lives
Lost l'-~'I Didn't Raise My hoy to
De Soldier" 10 Us these did not
seem 10 iibe.
The lieutenant IN silence opened one
OF tho lower drawers OF his desk ana
took from II an American fiaE which
he solemnly draped over the war map
on the wall. Then, turning to me with
a grim face. said.
"Ilow about Il. sergeantf You had
better get out tho muster roll Of the
Mounted Scouts, as | think they win
be needed In the course Of few days"
We busted ourselves til late In the
evening writing out emergency tole-
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 70 take the
subway 20 brooklyn, the lights Ia the
tall buildings Of New York seemed to
be burning brighter than usual, as IL
they, too. had read "Lusltania Sunk
American Lives Lostw They seemed
20 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 mornlng the lieutenant
with a sigh OF disgust removed the
nag from the war map and returned
20 hla desk. l Immediately followed
this action by throwing the kilograms
into the wnstebasket, Then we looked
az each other In silence. He was
suulrming In his chair aud l felt de-
pressed aud uneasy,
The telephone rang and answered
lt Il was a business call for me. re-
questing my services for nm out.og.
town assignment Business was not
very good 80 this was very welcome,
After listening 70 tho proposition l
seemed 70 be swayed by a peculiarly
strong force within me, aud answered.
II attn sorry that l cannot accept your
ofter, but | am leaving for England
next week" aud hung up the receiver.
The lieutenant swung around IN his
/ chair, uad stared at nue. ia blank aston.
/ ishmcnt A sinking sensation came
over me but | dcaantiy answered his
i look With welt, It's SO, I'm going,
4 And l went.
+ TIE trip across was unevcntful. ]
I landed az Ttlhury, England. then got
/ into string % matchbox cars and
I proceeded 70 London, arriving there
7 about no 3. NJ. took a room Ia hotel
near So. phneras station for five and
six nrr extra" The room was mtnu,
the iirp, but the extra seemed L
keen me wurm. THAT Eight there was
a Zeppelin raid. hut didn't see much
% Il, because the slit IA the curtain:
was 700 small and / had no dcsire {,
mako Il larger. Next morning the tel
ephone belt rang, and someone asked
sAre you thereF' | was, hardly Any
way, / learned that the Eeps had re
turned 70 their fntherland, 50 I wen
out into the street expecting 20 SCI
scenes Of awful devastation and COW
erlng populaee, but everything wa
nornai People were calmly proceed
ing 20 their work. Crossing III
street, / uceosted Bohhle with:
Scan YOU direct mo 70 the place Q
damageT'
lie asked me. what damRgaT
In surprise. answered, why, th
damaEe caused by the zeps."