The Ordway new era., 1920-06-18

ht othti
1.-The first II 1t makes so
much difference to you"
BEG pardon? I don't quite get you.
You said -
~ said the first line. meant the
first-line trenches. I've been In it."
Harmon jerked his head upward In
comprehension.
"Oh. see! You mean the war!
And you've been right on the spot
where the fighting is? Pretty lively
up there. Isn't It? Something stirring
most all the time?"
~ imagine So" The other mans
Harmon peered at him. incredulous.
Good Lord. don't you know?"
"Not a great deal. / happened to
get hit the first day l was In the
trenches"
"But you got In It again afterward.
I suppose? I'll bet you did! !"
"No"
"Whnt, You never got back at all?
Just one day. and you're through"
"Yes. After I was discharged from
hospital was discharged from the
toO.
English army?"
"NO-French."
"Well, that's some record,'' said
Harmon apprecIatively. "That GER
tainly Is some record Not to say
tough luck-the toughest kind. Going
back home. I take IT."
Looks that way. doesn't IT,"
Harmon ignored the sarcasm.
Back TO work. eh? What did you
say your line ls?"
'T didn't say. I haven't any Just
now"
Harmon pondered second.
"Ohi Gentleman OF leisure? Sol
dier of fortune. Ell? Well, l wouldn't
worry II I were you. You're disap-
pointed; that's natural but the
world hasn't come to an end yet. OF
course 1t is something of come-down
to leave the army and get Into harness
again. but after all there's plenty Of
excitement right in the United States.
Big work to be done. son! Big money
to make. And It helps the war along.
too. tell you there never was a big
ger opportunity to make money than
there Is right this minute. The hard
job isn't to And the scheme; It's to find
the men to run 1t. Don't you worry
(. yOu'ii land something right off
the bat I"
"Thanks for the complIment!"
"Oh. it's no compliment! Anybody
can make money these days. It's
plain statement of fact Say.
let's go in and have something. Come
In and be sociable. What you wants
a drink. Am I right or am wrong?"
"well-"
"And that's what the doctor or
dered! Come on! It's on me-"
The other man hesitated, and Mt
last succumbed. out of sheer uncon-
cern. to a companionshlp lie realized
in advance would be distasteful.
"AII right" he consented briefly;
and together. arm In arm. they STUN
bled and tackled across the treacnerous
deck. and presently crossed the thresh-
old into the hazy light of the smoking
room. Harmon. smiling broadly. wiped
the brine from his smarting eyes.
"Now. then" he said. "what particu-
lar brand OF poison do YOU" And
broke Off short and stared. fascinated.
at the extraordinary young man In
front of him.
He was anywhere from twenty-five
to forty, this American from the dis
tant trenches. and his age was as hard
to guess as clever woman's; there
was something about him peculiar to
youth. and yet when his face was in
repOse. he might easily have claimed
two score of years and gone undls-
puted. 1t was face which suggested
both the fire of immaturlty and the
drain of experience; there was breath
taking gravity about it, a hint Of the
dignity of marble. of ageless perma-
nence. 1t was slightly thin face.
SCARED by heavy line or two, and
indelibly stamped with the evidence
of intense thought and inward suffer
Ing; but 1t lacked the hOilows which.
at the first glance. should have sup
ported the evidence. 1t was thin and
oval face. with mouth Of large and
sympathetic sweetness. a forehead
white and high. a prominent. delicate
nose, and irises of clear. luminous
gray. 1t wasn't altogether an Anglo
Saxon type OF countenance. nor was
1t definitely European; 1t seemed
rather to have taken all the better
qualities from several races. 1t was
face to Inspire immediate trust and
confidence and respect. and Harmon,
despite his lack of practice In all three
OF these reactions, was evidently at
tracted by 1t.
"vlchy-Celestins for me-" said the
old-young man indifferently.
I'll guess III have vichy
too" said Harmon. relaxing. "If it
wasn't for something I can't Just de-
scribe I'd say well. never
mind. Err what business have
you been In, by the way?"
The yOunvar vuuu's ran1v was In ardv