, 1919-07-17
Silver
Against Gold
r.
By R. RAY BAKER
pyriEht. 1918. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)

The war Wait, this is not a war
story. There are no bursting shells
or crawling tanks or trench dugouts
or spies in this tale, which concerns
an event that happened in a little
backwoods town in Illinois six months
after the armistice was signed.
The war is dragged in because 1t
explains the advantage acquired by
Herbert Drew over Gilbert Post in the
battle for the love of Marguerite Ho-
bart.
When the truce, moved the lever
hat changed the current of troops
crossing the Atlantic westward in
stead of eastward, Herbert doomed up
in his home town one sunny. bird
chirping spring day wearing an over
seas cap on one side of his head AMI
brown b~andages" On his legs, with a
gold chevron on his sleeve; while Gil
bert put in his appearance on a driz-
ely. dreary day a short time later
with just a hat and leggings covering
respectively his toussled yellow hair
and his neither limbs, n a splash Of
silver on his arm to denote he had
been in service "over there"
They were drafted IN the same con-
tingent and they went to Camp Grant
together. At that time Gilbert had the
inside track with Marguerite, and
their engagement was generally o N
sidered n certainty for the near fu-
ture. Gilbert was moi SO attractive
us Herbert, who was a pronounced
brunette, but Marguerite felt a much
deeper affection for him, because She
thought she fathomed finer qualities
of character in him, and because
well, Just because.
So 1t was a losing fight for Private
Drew before he went to camp, but
shortly after he began his military
training his luck changed. Naturally,
Marguerite could not decline to an
swer his letters, for she had to "do
her Bit for the soldiers, and he con-
tinued his wooing by mail.
In this there vas some advantage
for him, because he was a good CORE
spondent, while Gilbert was more or
less of a failure along those ines.
The big change in his fortune, how
ever, was when he was ordered over
StdSy WIllt NllDtll was ItlCSulCu ~
the depot brigade.
So Herbert Drew came back home 4
hero, while Gilbert Post was just q
soldier, with no more glamour about
him than that afforded by his uni
form, and that did not last long, for
he shed his khaki for "civies'' as soon
as he could procure store clothes.
Herbert on the other hand, con-
tinued to wear his uniform, n 1t
certainly did add to his prestige.
Tales of his bravery in action wera
published in the local weekly and
that drew a more brilliant glare about
him.
Marguerite, being a human girl,
could not resist these things, N al
most before she herself could realize
1t she was considering Herbert her
accepted sutton and Gilbert in the
has-been class.
Gilbert plugged along at his work
in the flour mill, where he had a job
that paid well for a own of that
size. He knew he was losing out
with Marguerite, for he realized what
the chances were with a gold chevron
against q silver one.
Both the young men continued to
call on Marguerite, but Gilbert had
been cut down to once a week, while
he was aware that Herbert was at the
Hobart HON at least every other
night. Then, her of treating
him was different. She was still very
friendly and tried to entertain him
l. - ,,,t1,, bat ha I-n.u w tho old cnirft
of c~omradeship that had once existed
was lacking, while the still deeper
feeling that had made itself evident
on some occasions before that fateful
CONSUMPTION act went into effect was
decidedly conspicuous by not being
there any more at all.
Gilbert made tile good fight, but
gradually 1t became manifest to him
that it was a losing fight. Finally
things came to a climax n night.
because he felt that he could not keep
silent any longer but just had to know
where he stood, on sand or rock.
How is 1t, Marguerite?" he asked,
as he was preparing to leave, after
his weekly call. Are you just toler-
ating me? Is that the way things
stand?"
She looked down at the toe of her
shoe and wiggled it a few times.
watching 1t intently, as If it were
something she never before knew she
possessed and was very curious con-
corning its functions.
swell, no." she said, after a few
seconds thought. ~ can't say it's just
that way. l like you very much, Gil
bert but 1 have realized for some
time that things are not just the way
they used to be-"
"It's-it's Herbert Drew, of course
Gilbert ventured, looking out the win
dow and bordering how dark 1t was
moi just that part of the world within
his view, but the whole universe.
Many a time he had looked through