Evening journal., 1922-04-08
"Eh? Into what ?"

the plunge. Il see in the papers that
civilians are being given commits
sions by recommendation. Can you
get me commission ?"
Colonel Rattray showed surprise
We'll. I don't know. I might. I've
no doubt 1 could, II you're eligible.
How oil dare you. Sabre?"
"Thirty-six."
Colonel Rattray said doubtfully.
Come on up to the Mess in the
morning and I'll get our doctor to
have look at you. Then Wen see
what can be done. All right, Ell ?"
III
He said nothing 10 Mabel OF his
Intention. II was just precisely the
sort OF thing he could not possibly
discuss with Mabel. Mabel would
say. 'Whyever should you?" and OF
all imaginable ordeals the idea OF
exposing before Mabel his feeling
about England he would tell
her when 1t was done. II II came of.
And his thought was, when a few
hours later he was walking slowly
away from his interview with Major
Earnshaw, the doctor at the bar
racks. Thank God. I never said any
thing to Mabel about IT,"
Major Earnshaw had very pleas
antly had 90 at this heart OF
yours" Withdrawn his stethoscope
and shaken his head. II was mo
go; absolutely none, Sabre"
We'll, but that's for a commission.
I'll go into the ranks"
You can't possibly go in as you
are-now. The standards will prob
ably be reduced. but they'll have to
be reduced a goodish long way be-
fore you'll get In. 1 don't mind tell
ing you"
".
Then came another OF the fright
ful undoings Of his emotions
The occasion was that OF his
meeting with Harkness outside the
County Times office. Hardness
was a captain OF the battalion that
had gone out who had been ieft be-
hind owing 20 some illness. The
British Expeditionary Force had
been in action.
Sabre said. 'TNews2 Anything
about the Pinks2"
Harkness nodded. He seemed 10
be swallowing. Then he said, eyes
the regiment. Pretty bad"
Sabre said, ANY one-?" and
also stopped.
HarShess looked. not at Sabre. but
straight across the top Of his head
and began an appalling, and as fl
seemed to Sabre. an endless recita-
tive. "The Coloners killed. Bruce IS
killed. otway's killed"
"Otway q"
"Cottar's killed. Bullen's killed
Endlessl The names struck Sabre
like successive blows. Were they
never going to end?
"Carmichaeps killed. My young
brother's-" his voice cracked
KILLED. Skies is killed"
"sikes killed And your
brother 90"
Harkness said in a very thin
squeaking voice, yes, the regi'
ment's pretty well-The regimenr'
--" He looked full at Sabre and SAID
in a very loud, defiant voice, 81 be-
they were magnificent. BY God,
bet you they were magnificent. oh
my God. why the hell wasn't
there?" He turned abruptly an'
went away, walking rather funnily
This was the moment at whici
there descended upon Sabre. neve
TO leave him while he remained no
'In IT," the appalling sense OF op
preston that the war exercised upoi
him. on his brain like a weight
on his heart like a pressing hand.
And still events; still, and always
now disturbing things.
While he stood there he was sud
denly aware OF Young Rod. Pole o
Perch, rather breathlessly come M
ct say. Sabre. have you heard thi
frightful news about the Pinks; ?
want you to talk TO my mother
shtll listen to you. I'm going q
enlist.
Sabre said. Good Lord. are you
Perch? Must you? Your mother
why. what on earth will she do with
out you? she'll"
Young Perch WINGED painfully. 90
know. II pretty well kills me {
think OF Il and I'm having the mos
frlghtful scenes with her. But l'v
thought Il all out. Sabre. and I kno'
I'm doing the right thing This ii
we'll, this Is a chaps country an
I've figured Il out It's got 10 com
before my mother. It's got TO. Sh
says Il will kin her II ] go. be
lieve It will. Sabre"
He rubbed a hand across his eye
and broke off Never mind abou
that; I know what I've got to do
You know lots OF people. Well.
want to get hold Of some nice girl
live with my mother and take car
OF her in my place while I'm awal
sort OF companion. aren't the
called? I want someone who m
mother will Indignantly call a ch
OF child"-he gave rather a broke
little laugh-"can't hear her sayin
iti say. Sabre. do for Gods SAX
help me. DO you know anyone -
This frightful warl Was Il goin
TO attack even that pathetic lit
old woman al Puncher's Farm wit
her fumbling hands and her fra
II existence centered solely in her son
He said. I'm awfully sorry. Percl
Frghtfully sorry for your moths
and for you. I'll help you all
Y can. It's a funny coincidence bi
I believe I do know just the ver
u haf l..