The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-21

blackened my cheeks and chin. and
that would be a tolerable disguise
if you happen to know me indiffer-
entity we'll 1 remembered a little too
late that he was one of those men
who do not like to be touched famil-
iarly.
you don't remember me-" 1 said,
rather abashed. My name is Gordon
Craig"
Or Craig? Why. yes-stupid of
me. We met in Agra" His face
frightened. 81 have often thought of
you"
He smiled at the bit of red in my
buttonhole. and 1 smiled back at the
silken bars on his ceat-the highest
military honors England, France and
Belgium had to give. Evidently he
had been in the thick of it, and L
voiced this opinion.
-'Ratheri And what about you?
ooh, I've been in the thick of it
too. Just got back from Bordeaux on
a three days hunt for missing hos
pital stores, and L came in on
freight train Don't 1 look it, Yes,
I've been in the thick Of it-and if
you want the truth, harder job
than yours. No lust of battle where
iirtAo aitNA maths OiOOh
and bones and splinters of steel. I'm
tagged. Was just on my way to my
hotel when l saw you. Bath, shave
and clean toys. l ought to drop in at
the hospital, but 1 can't in this con-
dition."
His gray eyes bored into mine. He
nodded, either in approval of my
condition or in Acknowledgement of
some action he had that moment
decided upon.
"A bit different from peaceful old
Agra and the Tai Mahal What? I
wonder, is that war;" He gestured
toward the pit. 81 can't dovetail this
with the monumental bravery of
their infantrymen. And SO 1 find you
here in Paris?'
"Aand you?"
'Loos. I'm in on a 24-hCur leave.
They've been rather easy with me
since that Zeebrugge raid. 1 had a
particularly strenuous day of it yes
terday. We had ripping fight with
two OF those new fast Fokkers. We
disabled one. What a glorious
day it was up there, There wasn't
rag of a rog or mist anywhere"
Good Lordr' / exclaimed.
"What?''
'why. it's you! You're the Captain
Arthur Carmichael, and L never put
the two names together"
ooh, I went in for aviation in the
fall of 1913. When the war broke
out, I was transferred to the Royal
Flying; and I've been on the British
Belgian front ever since we dug in.
Come along to my apartments;
they're not far-thAt is, il you have
nothing else to do"
I'D rather clean up first. My hotel
is just around the corner. AT least it
was three days ago. I'll tell you
what; give me your address; I'll clean
up and drop in ON you about five"
Il doa't want to lose you, Doctor.
I'll go to your hotel and wait until
you've tubbed and shaved; then Wen
go to rly quarters. While I'm getting
cut of these, you can very Well
snooze on the lounge"
'Done" For did not want to lose
him, either. Captain Arthur Car
michael, V. c.:
"rll never get used to the smell
of petrol. Two or three times I've
had to come down on account of sea-
Sickness
NO worse than iodoform."
Can you dine with me-"
Glad to-
Carmichael had the furnished en-
tresol over a shop in the Rue de
Clichy. i had not been in Carmichaels
quarters more than five minutes
when I found myself wondering what
it was the rooms lacked.
For the life of me / couldn't touch
the oddly 1 sensed. Finally l gave
up, stretched out on the lounge and
slept soundly until 5, when ne
reused me for tea.
Compliments of the concierge" he
announced 81 never keep edibles
here. Well leave about quarter tc
six.
There's a little restaurant not far
from where the old Moulin Rouge
used to be. We air chaps generally
congregate there when we are on
leave. But we're rather dull lot.
We eat, smoke, talk a little and
then go home, if We happen to
have one"
"Oh, you'll hear laughter Of a sort,
but it's the kind you hear from men
who save signed their death-war-
rants. Have you ever flown"
mo; nor do / desire to-"
you miss lot. There's a freedom
up here. Men who walk will never
know what it is"
by the way. how do you come in?"
by motor. if there's no attack
going on. I generally pick a lu1l.
The roads are comparatively free
then. But let the Germans start up
a racket. and Paris is well nigh i'm
possible"
You don't go to England, then
on any of your 1eaves?"