The Ordway new era., 1920-06-18
CHAPTER I.

In the beginning of things, he was
merely a number; hut even that was
creditnble 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
cataclysmic suddenness which marked
all changes of military status on the
western front, he became. one frosty
pornlng. Case. and got himself
roughly classified (and tenderiy han
dIed) us Stretcher Case, Grand
Biesse. mud. I'm consequence. proper
temporary inmate of field hospital
on the Belgian plains.
There. he was unofficially known as
Joyeaux. or Joyous One; not because
he displayed very buoyant disposi-
tiOn-far from 1t but because he be-
ionged to the Foreign legion; and in
the course of another day or two he
was routine ticketed as an Evacue,
and provided with a lukewarm hot
water bottle and a 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
time since his enlistment. an Individ-
uai. and at the very outset he was dis
tInguished by certain qualities which
had passed unnoticed In the frying pan
and fire of the trenches. For one
thing. he was obviously immune to
kindness; and for another, he was ap-
pnrently immune to hope. He was IA
man Of inveterate silence; not the
grim silence of fortitude In suffering
(Which is altogether too common vir-
tue In base hospitals to earn any es-
pecial merlt), but rather the dogged
reticence OF black moods and chronic
bitterness. To he sure. speech was
physically difficult to him. but other
men with similar misfortunes spoke
blessings with their eyes, and gave
hack gratitude in voiceless murmurs.
Not so the Joyous One. From the day
of his arrival he demanded nothing.
desired nothing. but to brood sullenly
aioOf; and so. when he became an In
dlvidual. he also became mystery to
the nursing stan. 1t was ruinored that
i,e was an lmplacable woman hater.
and there seemed to be something In
1t.
Regardless of the care OF the Amer
dean nurses Gall hoverlngly attentive
TO one of their own nation who had
fought for France). his spirit remained
ahysmal and ciouded In gloom. Only
twice. In the initial month OF his con-
Husment. did he betrsy the weakness
of an ordinary emotion; on each occa-
sion a goid-laced general had come to
salute. In the name Of the republic. one
of the Individuals neighbors. and to
deliver a bit OF bronze which dangled
from ribbon striped red and green.
II was said (nnd doubted by those who
hadn't seen IT. that at these ceremo-
aies the indivldun, had grown fever
ast. and let tears come to his eyes, but
subsequently he had relapsed into
stIll greater depths of stOlcism than
before; his own bed-jacket was lnno-
cent of cross or medal, and his depres-
sion was apparent. and acute. The
aurses. arguing that perhaps his pride
was wounded as seriously as his flesh.
offered quick coincidence and got them
selves rebufred with shrugs OF the In
dividual's shoulders. and Inartculate
sounds which hnd all the earmarks of
suppressed profanity. He didn't even
soften when Pierre Dutout, a hard-hit
territorial in the next bed, squandered
days supply of energy to lean across
and whisper sympatheticaliy to him
"Old man :. yieuI espece de choux-
croute know how II II
and I haven't got any friends either