Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1918-03-01
CHAPTER I.
From Musti to Khaki.

1t was In an Office In Jersey City.
I was sitting at my desk talking to
n lieutenant Of the Jersey National
Guard. On the wall was a big war
map decorated with v~ariously colored
little flags 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 SUNK AMERICAN
LIVES LosTI
The windows were open and a feel
ing Of spring pervaded the air.
Through the open windows came the
strains Of a hurdy-gurdy playing in the
street, Didn't Raise Ny Boy to Be
a Soldier"
"Lusitania Sunk American Lives
Lost l"-I Didn't Raise My Boy to
BE n Soldier" To us these did not
seem to jlbe.
The lieutenant In silence opened one
Of the lower drawers Of his desk and
took from 1t 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 1t, sergeant7 You had
better get out the muster roll of the
Mounted Scouts, as 1 think they will
be needed In the course of a few days.
We busted ourselves till late in the
evening writing out emergency tele-
grams for the men to report when the
call should come from Washington,
Then we went home.
/ crossed e to New York, and as
I went up Fulton street to take the
subway to Brooklyn, the lights in the
tall buildings of New York seemed to
be burning brighter than usual, as II
they, too, had read "Lusltania Sunk
American Lives LOST" They seemed
to 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,
M mOmentous morning the lieutenant
with a sigh of disgust removed the
flag from the war map and returned
to his desk. / Immediately followed
this action by throwing the kilograms
into the wastebasket. Then we looked
at each other in silence. He wa'
squlrmlng In his chair and l felt de
pressed and uneasy.
The telephone rang and 1 answered
1t. II vas a business call for me, re
questing my services for an out-of
town assignment. Business was no
very good, so this was very welcome
After listening to the proposition
seemed to be swayed by a peculiarly
strong force within me, and answered
~ am sorry that l cannot accept you
offer, but 1 am leaving for England
next week." and hung up the receiver
The lieutenant swung around in hi
chair, and stared at me In blank aston
ishment. A sinking sensation cam,
over me, but l denantly answered hii
look with, "Well it's so. I'm going
And l went.
The trip across was uneventful.
landed at Tilbury, England, then 20
into a string OF matchbox cars ant
proceeded to London, arriving Their,
about 10 p. m. l took a room In a hOte
near st. Pancras station for ave an,
six-hre extra" The room was minu.
the fire, but the extra" seemed I,
keep me warm. That night there wa.
a Zeppelin raid, but l didn't see mucl
of II, because the slit In the curtains
was too small and / had no desire L
make II larger. Next morning the tel
ephOne bell rang, and someone asked
"Are you theref" / was, hardly. Any
way, / learned that the Zeps had re
turned 10 their %fatherland, so / wen
out into the street expecting to Sc
scenes OF awful devastation and a COW
ering pOpulace, but everything wa
normal. People were calmly proceed
ing TO their work. Crossing tn
street, I accosted a Bobbie with;
"Can you direct me to the place 0
damageT
He asked me, "What damagef"
In surprise, l answered, why, th
- A. U..a