Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-17

Some of the poor simps who didn't
know any better. occasionally offered
the suggestion that Branchwater would
manage to struggle along in a sort of
fashion if Jim blew the burg, and even
had the triple plated gall TO mention
that he didn't have the nerve to leave
the old three squares at home. AS
for McJ., he passed these remarks by
with the scorn they deserved.
And then one day he got the long
looked for opportunity to leave the old
town. 1t was quite a flattering offer
he received He was TO get his fare
and expenses paid to a new place in the
South, and they also agreed to furnish
his clothes. Ard doubts he had about
leaving were dispelled with q wild
dtspeI, when he read the signature OF
the firm making him the offer 1t was
the well known government Of the L.
s, A., and his notice said that his con-
tingcnt Of draftees would hit the rail
to camp on the 26th.
Wen, you know the next chapter.
Af.er ride Of some 80 hours they got
into camp ard Jim got initiated into
tfe biggest American lodge in exist
ence az the present time, getting the
degree Of Buck Private. He got a
nice new sui. of clothes, and two pairs
OF the hest saoes he ever had, and for
bed room ne had seven other chaps
sleeping In The same tent. 1t was at
meal time though that he really saw
5ometniuy new. Back home he used to
hide about three sections Of mince pie
and a qusrt Of pickles and called It a
meal In camp be got q healthy sec
ton Of roast COW and man sized sec
ton OF mashed potatoes and a few side
dishes for meal, but when it came 70
the dyspepsia producing stuff he was
out Of luck.
After supper evenings he used to sit
around and wonder If the home town
still got locked up at night without his
assistance. After he had been gone
from home about six weeks he began
TO wonder If his opinion about the town
wasn't slightly to the fritz after all
According to his old time opinion the
females Of the town were in the last
row when looks we're passed out but
ne began to move them up a row or so
after he hadn't seen them for a few
weeks, and then just about the time he
decided that the town was pining for
him, the c. o slipped ghim a ten-day
furlough. Oh, Boy You know that
feeling when you get them, the birds
seem TO be keyed up to Tetrazzinni
pitch and the sky never was SO blue
before. You slip the r. r, man a few
Mac did all this and one morning
about 1915 the bral5ey on the Branch
water local slipped him the glad tidings
that he had arroVe and with a stride
that would knock professional walker
out Of the running. he did the village
Broadway 10 about nothing flat and in
a few minutes he was telling the folks
haw he was saving the nation.
What he did to that old pie reserve
a Hu. =. 49,
of the city said to him gave him the
idea that outside of Wilson and Me-
Adoo and few other guys in the
country. Jim MeJnnkin was first.
Funny thing about how Macs idea
Of things changed. After looking them
all over, he came to the conclusion that
Branchwater had the finest collection
Of feminnity in the country, and as for
the town itself. he decided that after
that little job of cleaning up the Ber
lin Butcher was over. he would come
back and get married and anybody that
ever caught him outside Of the village
limits won a cigar. He never knew
that Il isn't the size OF a town that
makes the feeling after he lived away
from II for q while Some wise dark
once broke into the famous class With
the remark that distance lends en-
chantment and MeJuukin decided that
It not only lent enchantmont but It
charged about 81 per cent for the loan.
Moral: You never miss the water till
pipes freeze