Evening star., 1918-04-07
THE HOUSE OF T0RCHY HHH IN: =: ;::: Dr.:

He sighs IF we only could" says he
And then-well. there you are-saddled
man being. of keeping him in good health,
of nlolding his character. of planning and
directing his whole career, from boy
hood on,
Some are girls, though" I suggests.
He shudders, $50 much the worse" says
he. Girl babies are such delicate crea-
tures all babies are. in fact Do you
in this country? Just think Of the hum
dreds of thousands who do not survive
the teethfng period! Imagine the anx-
ieties. the sleepless nights. the sad little
tragedies which come to so many homes!
Then the epidemic diseases--measIes,
scarlet fever. meningitis. Let them sur
vive all those, and what has the parent
to face but the battle with other plaques.
mental and moral? Think of the number
of weak-minded children there are in the
world. Of perverts, criminally inclined!
1t is staggering. But If you escape all
that, if your children are well and normal,
as some are, then you must consider this:
Suppose anything should happen to either
or both of the parents? What of the lit
tie boy or girl? You have seen orphan
asylums I suppose. Have you ever stop
ped to-
And then. just as he had me feelin'
like l ought to be led out and shot
at sunrise, the old major comes bustlin'
in. fussy. l could have fallen on his
neck.
you fighting machine, young man.
that is the last word in mechanical
genius"
You can show me anything. major"
says I. so long as it amt morgue
or states prison"
And he sure had some boiler-plated
bus out there champin' at the bit. 1t
looked just as frisky as the Flatiron
buildin', squattin' in the middle Of the
field. this young Fort Slocum. with the
caterpillar wheels. sunk In the mud.
stuck. amt she?" l asked the major.
I'VE shall see," says he. noddin' to
one of his staff, who proceeds to do
semaphore act with his arms
An answerin' snort comes from inside
the thing, purry sort of rumble that
grows bigger and bigger, and next l
knew 1t starts wallowin' right at US.
1t keeps comm and comm. gettin' up
been a four-foot stone wall between
us I'd been lookin' for a tall tree. I
thought it would turn when it came to
the wall. But it don't. 1t gives
over she comes, still pointed our way.
'Hey. major" I calls out above the
roar "Can they see where they're
goin' in there? Hadn't we better give
'em room?"
Don't move. please" says he.
amt strong for bein' rolled into pie
crust"
There's no danger" says he st
merely wish you to see how There!
Look"
And say. within twenty feet of us the
blamed thing rears up on its launches.
its ugly nose high as a house above
us, and, while I'm still holdin' my
breath, it pivots on its tail and lumbers
back. leavin' a path that looks like it
had been paved with Belgian blocks.
Course. that's only part of the per-
formance We watched it wallow into
deep bitches and out, splash through a
brook, and NOV down trees more'n a
foot thick. And all the time the crew
was pokin' out wicked-lookin' guns.
big and little. swung round and hunted
US out like SO many murderous eyes.
'tCute little beast. amt it," says /.
you got 1t trained so it'll almost do
a waltz. If was to pick my position.
though. I think I'd rather be on the
inside lookin' out
VERY WELL" says the major. You
shall have a ride in it."
foolin'. Honest, major, I amt yearn-
in"
Telegram for you." breaks in
Barnes. the secretary.
"Oh" says I, bit gaspy. as I rips
open the envelope.
ITS the one I'd been expectin'. All
1t says is: Come at once. Vee.' But
knew what that meant"
Sorry. major" says I. but I'll have
to pass up the rest of the show. I'm
called back
"Ah. To headquarters" says he.
NO." says I. 'home"
He shakes his head and frowns.
That is a word which no officer is