The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1922-11-09

q
could understand his native tongue was
not dispatched to his table Immediately.
While we were dining, we were joined by
a party comprised of half-a-dozen dough-
boys just back from the lines. They were
leaving for the west camp at lie Mars
the same night as their finances were at
tunate transaction with them; in return
for their passes which were good for forty
eight hours we supplied them with enough
francs to enable them to provide entertain
ment until time for departure.
Those passes proved to be a jinx, in
the end, though we managed to keep out
of durance vile for day and a night. Just
little after midnight the following night
Badly wearied of waiting for trouble to
find him. and he grabbed it by the fore
lock in the form of an NJ. P. who de-
manded to see our passes. Badly produced
his and hourished it under the nasal APP
paratus of the cub-wielder, inviting him
to read it if he was able. Unfortunately
he was. The pass bore of the name of
Private --, Infantry, while we
had neglected to remove our A. T. collar
ornaments, which the M. P. noticed at
once. Naturally, we had no wish to ac-
company the leatherneck to headquarters,
for the name itself inspires no thought of
open-armed hospitality. There was a
shrill blast of a police whistle, and what
seemed like all the NJ. P.'s in Paris poured
into the place. 1t was case where dis
Cretion was the better part of valor, which
even the aggressive Badly realized, so we
went along docilely.
We expected long sojourn with our
old friend Hard Boiled as host, but the
Provost Marshal was either in good hu-
NOR or there was no room for more dodgers
at the Hotel de Hoosgow, for we were told
to be on the first Bordeaux-bound train,
and two huskies were detailed to see that
we didn't miss it. They did.
We were lucky throughout, for while
A. w. o. L. is minor offense it usually
means summary court-martial. We were
hailed before his honor, while the two
boozem friends were still in prime condi-
ton, and we got off with two weeks K. P.
and two-thirds of three months pay as
fine. The Sarge wasn't even reduced
In 11v hat ~
on the same charge for three of the party.
I can recall the two weeks that spent
securing black pans and making little ones
out of big ones,very wildly. 1t sure was
tough! You will recall that Sarge was
the mess-sergeant and Carl the cook. Buck
was detailed to run form of contraband
that gurgles when it goes down through
the guard-line, while 1 made the nearby
farmhouses for fresh eggs. Each evening
when our work was done we would sit
around the open fire in the cook shack,
reminiscing and planning our next trip,
while in each good right hand reposed
cup of steaming fragrant, foamy liquid.
The rest of the company were huddled
around the one small stove in the barn
like barracks, cussing sunny France (?)
the lateness of the mails, and sending up
doleful renditions of songs of the land
we all were longing for. The liquid?
Brother, the best Tom and ferries that
were ever concocted, with French rhum,
fresh eggs, cinnamon for ingredients. Carl,
by the way, oficiated behind the mahogany
at the old Stars and Stripes. Need name
the city?
The irrepressible Badly confined to
Major C. the court-marital Judge, that
he only had one kick about the sentence,
and that was about the briefness of the K.
p. Oh, she's great life, and he who
laughs last laughs best.