The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-03-16
CHAPTER I.
From Mufti to Khaki.

/ was sitting ut my desk talking to
a lieutenant of the Jersey National
Guard. On the wall was 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 fiaring
headlines:
LuSITANIA SUNK! AMERICAN
LIVES LOST!
The windows We're open and feel
Ing Of spring pervaded the air.
Through the open windows came the
strains of a hurdy-glrdy playing In the
streot-'T Didn't Raise My Boy to Be
n Soldier"
"Lusitania Sunk! American Lives
Lost !"-"T Didn't Raise My Boy to
Re n 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 IL an American flag which
he solemnly draped over the war map
on the wall. Then, turning to me with
a grim face, said:
"How about II. sergeant? You had
better get out the muster roll of the
Mounted Scouts, as I think they will
be needed in the course Of few days"
We busted ourselves till late In the
evening writing out emergency tele-
grams for the men 10 report when the
call should come from Washington.
Then we went home.
l crossed over to New York. and as
went up Fulton street TO take the
Subway~te, Brooklyn. the lights in the
tail buildings OF New York seemed to
be burning brighter than usual, as If
they, too, had read "Lusitania Sunk !!
American Lives Lost" They seemed
&c he 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 n sigh of disgust removed the
flag from tho 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 7 answered
IL. II was business call for me, re-
qucsting my services for an out-of-
town assignment. Business was not
very good, so this was very welcome.
After listening 20 the proposition 1
seemed to be swaycd by n peculiarly
strong force within me, and answered,
81 am sorry that I 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
ishmcnt. A sinking sensation came
over me. but defantly answered his
look with, swell. it's so. I'm going"
And went.
The trip across was uneventful. I
landed at Tilbury, England. then got
Iato string OF matchbox cars and
proceeded to London, arriving there
shout 10 p. m. i took "a room In hotel
rear st. Pancras station for "five and
the fire, Blu, the extra" seemed to
keep me warm. That night there was
q Zeppelin raid, but didn't see much
of it, because the slit in the curtains
was too small and had no desire to
bake 1t larger. Next morning the tel
cphone bell rang, and someone asked.
"Are you thereT was. hardly. Any
way, / learned that the Zeps had re-
TUNED to their fatherland, so l went
ont into the street expecting TO see
scenes Of awful devastation and a cow
.erlng populace, but everything was
normal. People were calmly proceed
ing to their work. Crossing the
street. accosted Bobbic with:
"Can you direct me to the place Of
rdamagcT
He asked me, "what damageT
In surprise, I answered, "Why, the
= damage caused Ivy the Zeps.