Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-08
A Few Shifts by Homer.
Continued from First Page.)

up after I got, through, but one of
the captains insists on my goin
over to the officers club with him.
It's quite classy joint for a camp
big, sunny parlors. lot of. easy
chairs, nice rugs on the floor. Then
court with shower baths, and off in
one wing a regular cafe where they
serve firstclass meal. The captain
was all for orderin' up the whole
program for me, from oysters to
chicken la king, but l had to beg
off
Thanks just as much" says I. "but
a glass of buttermilk for mine, if
you've got it."
why. certainly" says he. "Any
KIND of drink you can name. We've
Just installed new soda fountain,
you know. Found an expert mixer
Let's step in and I'll show you"
And clear across the room
thought l could see something famil-
lar about the hang of that white
jacket on them narrow shoulders.
gh-huh! Homer. He didn't see me.
couple of lieutenants who was show
in the new addition to the cafe to
some of their young lady friends
And they was having the same diff
Guilty decidin what to take as if
they'd been up against a regular soda
bar.
Say. Madge. what you going to
have" asks one. whats an armis-
tice sundae. anyhow? Would you risk
it, or stick to marshmallow float?
Yes. / guess I WILL
1 notice. too. that Homer don't make
any impatient moves or snap out any
crisp comments about not being
mind reader. Nothing like that. He's
about the tamest soda jerker you
could ask to see operate. After
they're all through debatin' and
chattin' he asks polite for the third
time what it will be.
Accommodating young gent. amt
he?" says to the captain. ''Where'd
you get him."
why. from the kitchen police
squad says the captain. HE held
the record there for being the worst
dishwasher. the most consistent
shirker and grouchiest grumbler of
the lot. His top sergeant reported
that he wasn't any good at other
things, wanted him sent to the guard
house for week. So l had him
before you joined@ I asked him.
Tending soda counter says he.
Good says l. That's what you'll do
here. Permanent DETAIL Bit of luck
for us. CHI? And I've just learned that
the fellow has a wife somewhere and
has been holding out her allotment.
called hin, in a little while ago and
made him sign off her share But
rather think he understands now that
1T goes until he's mustered out. All!
Our turn now. Buttermilk, did you
say?"
And you should have seen the look
on Homer's face as he finds me lined
up across the counter from him. With
his captain standin' by, though, he
don't even bat an eye. If my friend
hadn't been called away just as we'd
had chance to get Homer's views on
his new job at all. AS it is we're left
all alone for several minutes.
Funny how things work out, amt
it, Homer" says I.
II don't get you" says he.
"Why," says I, you got sore on soda
clerkin'. you didn't want to be a SOL
der, and you tried to duck bein' a
married man. Now you're all three,
amt you?" And l couldn't help
wndin' up with a grin.
Say" says Homer, glancin' around
cautious to see if it was safe. "if you
can see anything funny in that you
ought to go tell Edith. Maybe one of
you would laugh yourself to death
over it,
And the last I saw Of Homer he was
scowlin' at himself in the glass
"But then" as I remarks to Swiftly
Joe later on, "he may outlast his ink.
A few years from now he's liable to
be classed as one of the heroes of the
great war, along with the boys who
turned the trick at that Chateau
Thierry place. and most likely dra win
down pension. Then it's be Homer 5
turn to grin"