The Dolores star., 1920-07-30
CHAPT Err I.


In the beginning OF things, he was
merely a number; but even that was
credltable because his Number was
low enough to signify that he had re-
sponded pretty promptly to the rally
Ing call After that, and with the
ataclysmlc suddenness which marked
oil changes Of military status on the
western front. he became. one frosty
morning, Case. and got himself
roughly classified tand tenderly han
dled) as Stretcher Case, q Grand
Blesse, and. In consequence, a proper
temporary Inmate OF a field hospital
ou the Belgian plains.
There, he was unofiicially known as
Joyeaux. or Joyous One: not because
be displayed very buoyant dIspOsi-
tlon-far from lt!-but because he be-
longed to the Foreign legion; and in
the course Of another day or two he
was rout!ne-ticketed as an Evacue.
and provided with a lukewarm hot.
water bottle and couple Of evil
smelling cigarettes to console him on
the road to the base hospital at Neu-
lily.
At NeuIlly he became, for the first
ume since his enlistment. an Individ-
ual, and at the very outset he was dis
ungu'shed by certain qualities which
mao passed unnoticed In the frying pan
and hre of the trenches. For one
.nihG' he was obviously Immune to
kindness; and for another. he was ap-
parently Immune to hope. He was a
man OF inveterate silence; not the
snm silence OF fortitude In suffering
(which Is altogether too common q vir.
'oo In base hospitals to earn any es-
pec'al meriD, but rather the dOgged
.eucence OF black moods and chronic
pi'terness. To be sure. speech was
physically difficult to him, but other
men with similar misfortunes spoke
olessinss with their eyes. and gave
eaek gratitude In voiceless murmurs.
No' 20 the Joyous One. From the day
MS arrival he demanded nothing.
ueSlted nothing. but to brood sullenly.
.ioot and SO, when he became an In
u'V'ouai, he also became a mystery to
.ne nursing stafr. 1t was rumored that
Ao was an lmplacabie woman hater,
.ha there seemed to be something In
regardless Of the care of the Amer
san nurses (all hoveringly attentive
~ one OF their own nation who had
'sn' ior France). his spirit remained
.,D Ussmal and clouded In gloom. Only
"te' IN the initial month Of his con.
uaetnent, did he betray the weakness
w.. ~ ordinary emotion; on each occa-
s",u. va eold-laced general had come to
=, III the name Of the republic, one
a., e individuals nelghb0rs, and to
sn'er DIT Of bronze which dangisd
w ribbon striped red and green.
haas as SAID (and doubted BY those who
n,S. n seen lo that at these cersmo-
,.s he individual had grown fever
rh.a anu 'et tears come to his eyes, but
.,% .,%'equently he had reiapsed into
W.. M greater depths of stoicism than
ron, MS own bed-jacket was inno-
ron VI cross or medal. and his .deprss-
nn... was apparent. and acute. The
M, ".. arguing that perhaps his pride
ors.. s wounded MS seriously as his issh,
,sl,s' quick condolences and got them.
dIvtdu.n ,.ouned with shrugs Of the In
sons.,s uaars shoulders. and inarticulats
~nnu us which had all the earmarks Of
~. oSsed profanity. He didn't evan
tsr,,.a.e nnen Pierre Dutout. hard-hit
4 d,,." IN the next bed. sQuandeesd
snA supply Of energy to lean acrsss
sOld m.s sper sympathetically 10 him:
- IT,. l knsw Aov Il = I.
's'eht got any frisnds slshse.