The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-03-26

mud ct . certain place along the
waterfront, although there was a
better place nearby; and while We
rested he asked peculiar questions,
and the Turk boasted to him, ex-
planning many things.
We were exhausted when It fell
dark and We climbed up the hill to
barracks. Yet - We entered the
barrack gate heard Ranjoor Singh
tell q German onlcer in English
that We had all greatly enjoyed our
view Of the city and the exercise.
| repeated what ! had head while
the men were 1t supper, and they
began to wonder greatly.
"Such q lie!" said they.
THAT surely was lie!" I ask
ed, and they answered that the
man who truly had enjoyed such
tramping to and fro was no soldier
but q mud-fish.
Then, II he lies to them" said,
perhaps he tells US the truth after
all"
They howled at me, calling me
man without understanding. Yet
when I went away / left them
thinking, each man for himself, and
that was good. l went to change
the guard, for some OF our men
were put on sentry-go that night
outside the officers quarters. In
spite Of our utter WEAKNESS. We
were smarter than the Kurds, and
German officers like smartness.
Weary though Ranjoor Singh
must have been, he sat late with
the German officers, for the most
part keeping silence while they
talked. I made excuse to 60 ana
speak with him half dozen times,
and the last time l could hardly
find him among the wreaths OF
cigaret smoke.
"Sahib, must we really stay a
week in this hole?' / asked.
so say the Germans" said he.
Are we to be paraded through
the streets each day." I asked.
Il understand that to be the
PLAN" he answered.
Then the men will mutiny!"
said l.
Nay" said he, "let them seek
better cause than that"
Shall l tell them so?" said I.
and he looked into my eyes through
| the smoke as if he could read down
into my very heart.
"Aye!" said he at last. you
may tell them SOL"
So / went and shook some Of the
men awake and told them. and
when they had done being angry
they laughed at me. Then those
awoke the others, and soon they
all had the message. On the whole.
it bewildered them. even as it did
me, so that few dared offer an
opinion and each began thinking
for himself again. BY morning they
were in a mood to await develop
ments. They were even willing to
tramp the. streets; but Ranjoor
Singh procured US days rest. He
himself spent most Of the day with
the German officers, porting over
maps and talking. ! went to speak
with him as often as / could in
vent excuse, and / became familiar
with the word Wassmuss that they
used very frequently. l heard the
word so many times that l could
not forget it if / tried.
The next day Ranjoor Singh had
a surprise for US. At 10 in the
morning we were all lined up in
the rain and given a full months
pay. 1t was almost midday when
the last man had received his mon
ey, and when We we're dismissed
and the men filed in to dinner Ran
joor Singh babe me 60 among them
and ask whether they did not wish
opportunity to spend their money.
So l went and asked the ques-
ton. Only few said yes. Many
preferred to keep their money
against contingencies, and some
thought the question was a trick
and refused to answer it at all.
returned to Ranjoor Singh and told
him what they answered.
Go and ask them again." said
he.
So I went among them again as
they lay on the cots after dinner,
and most Of them jeered at me for
my pains. I went and found Ran