Evening journal., 1919-11-18

pennies already counted out on the Deer
wet canteen table between them.
GO onW he said scornfully. Add
yours TO H. an shut up talkin' rotl
But Murdoch was temptation PROOF.
but only just suggestive-of disgust:
What's come over your demanded
Smiley with an air Of a man whose best
friend has gone back on him. 'Another
'alf gallon won't do no 'arm!'
Murdock banged his FIST upon the table,
making the empty beer jug ana the
tumblers rattle.
.his ere canteen. nor In the ole perishin'
world neither. / wouldn't touch III ne
answered. Mines a packet o. cigarettes
simpson ordered a fresh half gallon.
with the afr of a man whose last hnser-
ing belief In mans humanity had az
length been shattered. Il wouldn't ma
believed 1t O. you. George Christopher
he said YEARLY.
That's just it, SAID MurdoCh.
bloomin' spot at the very first bloomin
'"Sowd you mean?" Simpson poured
himself a glassful from the fresh-hlled
Jug and smacked his lips cNasperaunsly
In Joyous anticipation.
"George Christopher" said Murdoch.
that's the deadly secret. Thems the
clue to this ere 'eroic depri-depriva-
toni What's my initials, what my god
father an godmother save me In my pap
usm? Amt they e. o = Al, A. An An ,Safi Mh9s
Good conduc' medal" ans wered Smi-
ley, on whom enlightenment was slowly
dawning. But strike me perishin., you
amt goin' TO ave try for that. are
George Christopher Murdock-G. c. N.
good conduc' medal! sounds ike
pretty fair 'unch to me-" said Murdoch.
Smiley dropped his Jaw and stared at
"An' d. you mean to tell me-" he de-
manded, that. you're going 70 do your
Just because your bloomin' initials are.
You! Why. you perishin' hypocrite.
s'elp me two men an boy. II 'aven.t
seen you reelin'. rollin', staggeTin' drunk
more times than / can count"'
Maybe you ave" said Murdock. IAN
maybe you 'aven'tl Point Is. / 'aven't
never been up on charges"
That's just your perishin' dorg's lucki'
retorted Smiley, who had no altruistic
desire that his bosom friend should bear
a sanity reputation.
There you 90 again. said Murdock.
That's where the 'unch comes In. O, g.
M.-gOOd cOnduc' medal-George Chris
topher Murdoch You calls It luck. /
calls II the bloomin act O Providence
an, be'aves accordin'"
'Ow much service ave you got?" de-
manded Simpson. still incredulOus.
Thirteen year an seven months come
week mex Tuesday"
An you're goln' 20 stay sober for
moIe'n five months just a-cause your
gerishin initials 'appens 10 be G. c. NJ
maid! / don't believe it!''
she IS a nursemaid!" answered Muir
dock shecpishly..
"Ah-h-h! SO 'elp me- I knowed there
was woman somewhere. 'idin' behind
this ere blOOmin' 'unchi Come on. you
old blighterl Come of that there lgh
'orse %, y9drn an cough up the details.
out with 'em."
lie pushed the beer Jug to one side.
placed his elbow on the table. rammed
his thumb down into his pipe and
rossed his legs TO listen. Here was a
real story coming, Murdock OF all peo-
pie George Christopher Murdoch. the
cantcen clubman, in love with a nurse
maid and OF his beer!
Go on" he ordered "Out with it!'
Murdock glanced cautiously around
him 10 make sure that he was not over
heard. But at that time Of day the can
teen was almost empty.
she's got a pa!' he said darkly.
Course 'er pa"' said Smiley, without
d suspicion Of reverence. ELI US about
but 'er pas the pointr
Shove i'm in the ole where e be-
.ongs. then, Let's ear about 'eri'
,i well ts 4Sed ,,4 ,9q said i,,a Mgrdo9E
en'-bcef shop 'aifway down Ugh street
Richmond"
IAN right Pa runs 'am-an'-beef
-g about the gall"
'-she's a little bit Of all right"' con-
dol Aurdock. "Nursemaid Up at Mrs.
di-i-F little Kids 10 look after all two
Of 'cm In one rram-an' 'er pushin' H.
a.f me w0lsin alongside. same as n the
l-l's was hers an mine! Can't you see
You bet I can-noti You're a hne-look-
- soldier to take a nursemaid out walk
W ] DON'T Think 'OW do the kids like
t2 Pore little heggars ! pities 'cm"'
Them two kids thinks I'm Gawd
A'-rirhty"' said Murdock. with an air
Go on.' said Simpson. Tell US some
$50 $50 does She" said Murdoek dreamily. !
Pore foolr' said Simpson. GO on!
s.Fr pas the point," said Murdock |
d" 'E's the bloomin' 'am-an'-beef expert I
what wants 70 upset the ole bag or
everythin' cuss that's tryin' 20 stand In /
between me an my gall
''Wait for a dark night an interduce |
i'm 10 the buckle end Of belt"
Murdock reflected on that advice for a i
minute. and then shook his head. !
"fE called me n dissolute private o /
the line 'Ow's that for a blighter? ]
a bIoke called me something O. that /
kind once" said Smiley Simpson. 1T !
cost i'm three-seventeen-six for set OF /
IAN very wen an goodl' said Murdock. 1
But that bloke weren't your gals pa /
I can't punch Is face cause she thinks J
the world Of hlm-pity heri She'd sing /
punch I'm once an cover up! Besides, /
'e's the bloated capitalist what I'm count
in on 'Er pas gettin' on IN years
an EN- want some one bv an by TO
run the 'am-an'-beef shop for I'm. an
my times pretty near UP. 'Ow about me
runnin' n, oh? Me an Susie Blakelv? |
Me cuttin' up the am an beer an 'er
rlngin up the cash register on settin'
The place 70 rights7 Don't that sound
'Deoends on susie-Biakeiv. did you
say er name was? u all denends on
,er! wouldn't let no perishin woman
ave charge O. no cash reglster"
mo. 'er old man wouldn't let me ave
charge OF Il neither" said Murdoch. with /
an air OF absolute certainty. "'Er old /
mans the point. as ] said before, 'E's [
q 'oly terror. e IS! 7 tells i'm. fair an /
square. as ] wants 20 marry Susie An
= says. right OF the reel. mind yer as :.
'ow soldiers dissolute. an IS daughter
amt goin to marry no one what's dis 4
7 roes an gets a COPY o. the Regulations. /
an brings II TO i'm. an shows i'm where y
10 SAYS about the good conduc' medal, n
an 'ow the man as gets Il as TO put in
fourteen year o. service without a single I
charge Of anv kind against himi"
WHAT GOOD did that do?' asked
Simpson.
lis opinion o. the bloomin' army, seem II
'ow careful they was In the Regilations :,
about the mems character. But don't q
YOU believe Il! 'E. says 20 me, GO an
get a good conduc' medal e says. AN
then III know for sure you amt dis
solute" So I'm down to 'alf a gallon
a day for the next five months" Il
well. strike me pinkH' commented (
IF Il amt the limit what I,
man n do for a woman when the fancy
takes I'M"
Can't you see me on parade" said
Murdoch, standing out I'm front OF all
the rest. an old Grav-Mare's Husband
who was his venerable colonel by O. 4