Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-02

men. Afterward-but. OF course.
most of them were concerned. Take
nv own case. / enlisted In the
ranks, and toward the latter end or
the war / obtained my commission
IL became q T. G.. And as such
enjoyed the privileges OF this club.
II was eventually, however, one of
| the fortunate ones. At the close of
the war the club took me on its
permanent strength and. ergo. be-
came sa-Permanent Gentleman.
Democracy! Private Francis New
combe-Captain Francis Newcombe
I-Francis Newcombe, Esquire.
! "A rather thin case" smiled the
baronet, What was about to say
| when you interrupted me was that.
so far as l can see, all that the
world has been made safe for By the
war Is the active, expression OF the
predatory instinct in man. ! refer
to the big interests. the t1llsts, to
the radical outcroppings of certain
labor elements; to-yes!"-he tap
ped the newspaper that lay on the
table beside hin-"the simon-pure
/ criminal such as this mysterious
fgang of desperadoes that has Lon
don at its wits ends, and those of
state of constant apopiexy."
Captain Francis Newcombe shook
his head. . IS 50
Il Know the Man Who Is Guilty"
Il think you're wrong, sir" he
said judiciaily. 1T isn't. the after
math of the war. or the result of the
war. 1t is the war, Of which the re-
cent struggle was only phase It's
been going on since the days of the
Cavefian. You've only to reduce the
| nation to the terms Of the indi-
viduai. and you have it. A nation
lusts after some thing which does
1t by force. II it fails 1t is punished.
That is war. The criminal usts
after something. He filings down his
challenge. If he is caught he is
punished. That is war. What is
the difference?"
The baronet supped at his Scotch
and soda.
HIN. Which brings u.s." he
! suggested.
| Nowhere" said Captain Francis
| Newcomb promptly. IT'S been CO.
ing on for ages; it'll go en- for all
time. Always the individual
predatory; inevitably in cycles, the
cumulative individual running amuck
| "hs Sou, SOufSOiI,
| a little while ago when somebody
here in the room made q remark to
the effect that he believed this
| particular series of crimes was
| directly attributable to the war be-
cause 1t would seem that some one
OF ourselves, some one who has the
entree everywhere, who, through
being contaminated by the filth out
there, had lost poise and was prob
ably the guilty one, meaning, l take
1t, that the chap, finding himself in
a hole, wasn't SO nice or particular
in his choice of the way out of it as
ne would have been but for the
! war-you, Sir Harris, denied this
quite emphatically. It-er-wouldn't
you say, rather hsar me out"
The old baronet smiled grimIy.
quite possibly" he said. But I
| must confess that my conclusion
was based ON a very different
| premise from yours. In fact, for the
| moment, ! was denying the theory
that the criminal in question was
| one of ourselves, quite apart from
any bearing the war might have had
upon the matter" ~
It's been a hobby. of course pure
~ a hobby; but in an amateurish
| sort OF way as criminologist
"a - o0S 009A VI lliuo ana
money in--" ~
by .Jove. Really" exclaimed
Captain Newcombe. Il didn't know.
Sir Harris, that you----" He. paused
suddenly in cenfusion. That's ANY,
thing but compliment to your
reputation, though I'm afraid. isn't
T? a bit raw of me. L--gm, sorry,
Mot at ALL" said the old baronet
pleasantly; and then, with a wry
smile. You do not to- need feel
bad. In certain quarters much
more intimate with the subject than
you could be supposed to be, I am
equally unrecognized."
It's very good of you to let me
down so easily" said the ex-captain
or territorials contritely. will YOU
go on, sir? You were saying that
you did not believe these crimes
were being perpetrated by one in
the same sphere Of life as those who
were being victimized. Why is that.
sir? The theory seemed rather
BECAUSE" said the old baronet
quietly, Il believe l know the man
who is guilty."