Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-14
CONTINUED TOMORROW
Private fuckers Mistake

It was an insignificant looking little
man who was brought before me al
company Office, charged with creating
q disturbance in camp. His appearance
was most detected, and while the evi-
dence as to his evil conduct was being
recited by Sergeant Smith, his hands
twitched nervously. 1t appeared that
his name was Jenkinson, and that he
had attacked and struck n certain
private of the name of Tucker.
I knew Tucker we'll by sight as one
of the biggest and burliest men in the
company. But this weedy little man
who was charged with attacking him /
did not remember ever having noticed
before.
When I asked him what he had to
say in his defense, he became so nerv-
GUS that he could hardly speak.
1T was this way, SIR he managed
to say Mt length. 81 was just going to
drink my tea when Private Tucker, sir,
e comes up and snatches it out of my
and"
go on" said I. "What happened
them"
II asks him to give it me back, and
he calls me something unpleasant, and
begins to drink it."
go on" said l.
'Then l asks i'm again to give it me
back, and e gifts annoyed and e filings
the rest Of my tea in my face. Then
l it i'm
The poor little man looked so woeful
that I became rather interested. 1T
certainly seems" said I, that you have
had some provocation. There was n
fight, was there?''
'No. sir. There wasn't no fight.
only it i'm just the once
"Only once?' l asked. II guess you
did your best to hit hard"
mo, sir. I only it i'm just ordin-
ary like. And only just the once, sir. :"
"Did he hit back?"
mo, sir, e didn't it back. 1t was
only just the once it 'cm. And l 'ope
you'll overlook it, sir. I've got clean
sheet up to now."
My sympathy was aroused. Tucker
was evidently bully. He had appar-
emily specially selected this little man
as a suitable object tor his bullying.
have no patience with bullies. 1t was
plucky of the little man to stand up to
one twice his size.
I turned to the sergeant major for
further information. But his sphinx
like face, as usual, expressed nothing
at all.
"There's not much in this" I said
Sergeant major, you had better send
for Private Tucker. I'll speak to him.
He seems to have been the real cause
of the trouble"
beg pardon, SIR" said the sergeant
major. but I should have brought
up Private Tucker this morning as well
as Private Jenkinson, but he can't be
brought today"
"Why not?' said I.
"Well, sir" returned the sergeant
major, "as a matter of fact he hasn't
come to yet"
Hasn't come to-" I gasped.
Beg pardon, sir,' continued the
sergeant major, imperturbably. and in
his best orderly room manner, "but I
thought perhaps you knew that Private
Jenkinson here is the celebrated Kid
Jenkinson who only just missed being
champion lightweight boxer of the world
just before he Joined up"
gasped.
looked at the little man with pro-
found respect. I am a great admirer
of the noble art of self defense.
Good heavens ~ said I, 81 had no
idea we had such an expert in the COM
pany."
The sergeant major allowed his fea
lures to relax into the nearest approach
to smile I have ever known him guilty
of inside the company Office.
"No, sir" said he, dryly, private
Tucker had no idea, either. Charles
H. Stewart in London ODiniop