The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-16


from the shock OF his wound.
burned as with consuming fire.
He realized what many an Ameri-
can has realized since-that we are
soldiers only when there is work to
be done in a good cause. Then no
undertaking is too stupendous, no
obstacle insuperable. But when
the work is done we are poor hands
at the soldering.
Oddly enough his very success
and the praise he was receiving
brought to Anthony an accession OF
bitter self-reproach for wasted
years and lost opportunities. He
had lost Adela. the one human be-
ing who could lift him to a higher
level OF life, and at the end OF
nearly thirty years OF existence he
told himself. he amounted TO moth
ing. The continued pain and stiff-
ness OF his shoulder was an exacer-
batting disability against which he
chafed like a FESTIVE horse. When
the exchange Of notes began by way
OF the Swiss Foreign Office be-
tween the Germans and President
Wilson. he bluntly asked Colonel
Cole whether he could demand his
discharge when the armistice was
signed.
II was early in November. The
damp raw air OF Berne was aggra.
waiting the pain In his wounded
shoulder, and there was literally
nothing to do but TO read the news.
paper and wait for extra bulletins
OF the Bund and other Bernese
news sheets for the next develop
ment in the German peace manoeu-
vres. He had grown to hate the
dull, half-medieval little city even
more than the others OF Its en-
forced inhabitants hated II.
"You do need a change-thats
sure" Colonel Cole agreed. You'll
take some time getting over this.
But look here, my boy. ! don't ike
to lose you. The Huns ought to- be
wiped OUTPUT they will get their
armistice-I am sure Of it-princi-
pally because our Allies are just as
weary OF fighting as the Huns. We
could go on for quite a space yet
but the French and the British are
tired"
Tell you what I'll do, West. I'll
give you a letter to G. II. q. rec
ommending your discharge. You
go there, by way of Paris-and that
will give you little change, any
way. They may not give you your
discharge immediately-but 1t VIII
be a furlough-and a change
So at last, on the tenth Of No
vember, Anthony said good-by to
his friends, to Ray and Clarkson
and Sidney and the others. Colonel
Cole insisted upon motoring him
down to Geneva. and as he looked
back through the rear window OF
the car at the s,olid city that had
for so long-for incredible aeons or
time-been his home, he observed
that the city was beautiful
81 have never seen Berne look SO
we'll" he murmured guilelessly.
when you've got your back
turned to it," laughed the colonel.
We'll, well. my boy. don't be too
hard on 1t. It's brought you glory
and promotion"
Anthony made no reply. The
colonel would have felt panied had
he known for how little both Of
those assets counted with him at
that moment.
He arrived in Paris the following
morning after a tortured night OF
chill and discomfort in the neg
lected wartime French train from
Bellegarde, and no sooner had he
washed the stains of travel from
him in the Hotel st. James ct
d'Albany and swallowed some COT
fee. than Bedlam broke forth in the
Rue de Rivoli below him and on the
neighboring Place ConcOrde. He
looked out Of his window into the
streets, and amid mad tumult OF
sirens. whistles, horns and bells he
saw the crowds surging, swaying
and swirling hither and thither like
q mass Of ants on an ant heap. The
door burst open behind him.
"They have signed" cried the
portly chambermaid, a plain woman
of some fifty Summers, with her
white cap awry.
"They have signed" repeated the
valet, a dark. greasy little man with
blue denim apron, rocking beside
her. A thrill, a tingling, like a
shock of electricity shot up his
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