Baxter Springs news., 1918-11-29
(CoDyright, iSII. By Tho Mcclure Newspaper
byndlcntol

byhaieatoS
II was 1914, and the great world
war was on, and here was In the
United States and neutral. For thir-
teen years / had been soldering but
had never been under fire. In my
imagination I could hear the guns
booming on the western front. ] nd
nit was a trifle afraid; nevertheless
had great desire to get into the mix
up. How could get Overf / planned
out many ways, but none Of them
were practical.
One day while walking down Green
wich street, New York, passed IN
employment agency. Staring me in
the face was q great flaring sign,
"Horses for France" Under this
'Men Wanted" Here was my chance.
Upon returning to my office imme-
dIntely got In touch over the telephone
with two prominent men in New York
whom knew to be distinctly prO-ally.
After outlining my desire, an appoint
ment was made for me to meet a GER
tain gentleman at the Hotel Astor ut
four o'clock that afternoon. met
him. He introduced me to French
man. At that time in my eyes a
Frenchman was q hero, a man to be
looked up to, a man fighting in the
Great Cause. But now Frenchman
to me is more than a hero. After
being introduced / went up into the
Frenchman's room and talked over
the matter of horses for France for
about twenty minutes.
Upon leaving the Frenchman ] was
told to report to him three days later,
at the same time and place. left,
bubbling over with enthusiasm and
anticipation.
During this interval Of three days l
mapped out story of my life to pre-
sent to him upon our second Interview.
The eventful day ut last came, and
once more was clOseted with him. l
started to tell him my story. He
interrupted me by waving his right
hand to the right and left. 1t re-
minded me of the butts on target
range during rifle practice, when the
man marking the target wigwags a
miss to the firing line. My heart sank.
Then he spoke, and / WIS carried
from despOndency to the greatest
height of expectation. His words:
'PardOn me, monsieur, / already
know your llfe," and In an amazingly
short time he told me more than l
knew about myself. / had been care
fully investigated.
My instructions received from him
are confidential, so will not 60 into
them. Anyway, he handed me an en-
velOpe and told me to follow out care
fully all details as contained therein.
Immediately went back to my Of
fee, opened the envelope and on a
typewritten sheet read: "Report at
GoldsmIth's Employment agency. No.
- Greenwich street. Ship as an
ordinary horseman and during voyage
carefully follow the verbal instruc-
tions received by you during our In
tervlew, making careful note OF all de- |
tuIls Immediately after happening. Be
cautious in doing this. Upon landing
in France report to the prefecture OF
police, Bordeaux, and to the letter
obey his instructions. Good luck"
went home and put on my Oldest |
clothes-an old black suit, olive drab
shirt, a pair of heavy army shoes and
a wooden cap. had let my beard grow
and certainly looked rough.
In passing through City Hall park,
New York, one sees many derelicts
Of the human race sitting on the
benches. sat down between two Of
these wrecks of Humanity and en-
gagged them In conversation, trying to
blend into their atmosphere. About
ten minutes later a policeman came |
past and told the three of us to move
on. / slouched away with the other
two. Telling them that ! was going
out "panhandling," took my leave, but
not before one of them made an ap-
pealIng and successful touch for a
nickel. The method used by him In Sc
curing that nickel would have done
circuit 10 Iue BTehlcSl hnuhSiSAS AZ INV
country In putting through a deal In
Volvlng millions.
Going down Greenwich street,
slOuching along, looking at the ground,
/ ran plump into young lady Of my
acquaintance. had feeling of al
fection for this particular young lady.
but It soon died out upon hearing her
remark as I cOlllded with her, IF you
cannot look where you are going.
will have you arrested" OF course
she did not recognize me and i took
no pains to argue the mntter with her.
/ was glad enough to slink by.
When / came to the agency there
was long line of buns. two and three
deep, trying to ship as horsemen for
France.
II would be impossible to get
rougher and more unkempt gathering
Of men. II looked as II some huge
giant had taken a fine comb and care
fully cOmbed the cutters Of New
York.
I fen into this line and waited my