The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1922-11-30

cult, anu Is ITOIu OUT uOllC WWll. NNC
aren't sure we'll make it."
The Lieutenant grinned knowingly.
"No passes?"
weller" Jakey began.
That's all right Get down on the
floor and cover up with those sacks. And,
by the way, where are you from, boys?"
"Omaha!" came in unison.
Omaha! Why so am l! And I'll bet
you're going in to see Dorothy H."
1t has been said so many times that it
will hardly bear epitition-small old
world and all that-and this was but one
more instance. If it had been daylight
mutual recognition would have resulted
at the chance meeting for all of the party
knew Benny well. 1t seems bit queer,
but he, the officer, was former soda-dis-
college men, but it merely demonstrates
the democracy of the American army
and that has often been questioned Of
course there were martinets, but there are
individuals in every walk of life who cam
not wear any honors with due modesty.
The natural born leaders of men, you
know, and all of that ha-Aa, and they are
worth about one hundred simoleons per
month in civil life. Benny was no excep
ton; served on the Mexican border in
'16 and II under a shavetail who read
gas meters before enlisting.
But Benny deserved his commission,
while the three ex-rah! rah! boys were
rounding gamboeers to whom official in
signals, duties, ETC., would be confirming,
and unwelcome. Cramp their style for it
would be most incorgrous to find an officer
on his knees pleading earnestly for
Fighter from Dakater" or "Please, Little
Joe, papa's got date with woman what
absorbs champagne" Our skipper tried
to separate us from our hard-earned "shin-
plasuers," once upon time, as they say in
the classics Yes, just once He couldn't
talk fast enough, or else he wasn't versed
in the gentle art of the blanket roll.
With Benny's assistance everything was
as lovely as California sunset. The
truck stopped at the bridge only long
enough for the M. P. to see that the
drivers companion was an officer. Once
in Bordeaux we were comparatively safe
until nine o'clock at least, for the guards
were confident of being able to net all
stragglers at the bridge, 80 they did not
bother them on the streets
After leaving the truck we proceeded to
Dorothy's hotel, which was near the bridge.
There we were informed by the English
speaking clerk that she was not in but that
she could be found at cabaret, located
in the next block.
Just a word about the French cabaret.
Our American resorts of that type are
really copies of the French, only more
elaborated. The French place has no
large staff of entertainers, with the ex-
ception of the more pretentious ones in
Paris, in fact one or two constitute the
caste, so to speak. But they are versatile.
There is the usual space for dancing
this was a concession to the American
patrons, the customary hanking tables, and
in some, private booths.
Dorothy and her brother, who was her
partner in the act, were entertaining the
frogs with few intricate steps, when we
entered. The dance terminated at that
juncture and greetings were in order, not
to mention the yin sisters who were
present. In case you have ever CHANGED
to find yourself alone in some foreign city,
you can understand the feeling How
welcome is American slang after you have
listened to the voluble chattering of the
mademoiselles, and Dorothy possessed
mean line of chatter, which was piquant,
scintillating, and quaint in turn.
Then the fact that she and her brother
had volunteered to make the long trip to
81 <bos~ L. IL, e -.