The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-03-03
NlE|EsYELLOW STUB

who had come silently into the living
room.
This is Francis. Francis is four
teen. An this is Timothy. Tins
eleven"
Francis. shy and silent, admitted
to Jimmy during dinner that he was
in high school, and Timothy volun-
, tcercd the information that he was in
the sixth grade.
"Tim," supplemented their father,
about Francis. He lhasn't the Rift of
CAB like his brother. Maybe q docs
tor, or an engineer"
"What are you going to be, Mr..
Rand? ?" asked Timothy.
O'Day. Hell be worryin' the life
Rand" she explained to Jimmy.
swell, l don't know, Tim," Jimmy
smiled, answering his youthful ques-
toner. "You see. the war came along
and interrupted my college career
! was just taking q general course in
arts and scienccs-and since leaving
the army I've been selling automo-
biics."
Sec! We're you in the army?"
Rand laughed at Tins cagcrncss.
"Surc."
"pidjs go over to Francc''
Francis. the silent one. asked:
what branch were you in--thc in
fantry?"
mo. Francis, was in the air
service"
Rapt admiration held the boys
speechless and spel.bound for a mo-
ment. Tim broke the silence, and
there was downright ave in his next
question.
"Didja shoot any Germans?"
Jimmy looked apologetically at Mrs.
O'Day and her husband. smiling.
Go on. answer the boys question:
urged ODay. To his wife he said,
with nod toward Jimmy: "A brave
lad. and he won't talk about himself
unless Tim makes him."
"Wcll," began Jimmy, reddening
and turning to ODay's sons, II did
happen to be with squadron that
saw some action, and was Eutiy
enough to bring down couple Of
planes. But they got even. They
brought me down, too, and | was in
q German prison camp for four
months"
"Gcc!" from Timothy. "Im study
ing the history of the World War in
school," And he continued with his
barragc of questions.
Under them Jimmy had to 60 into
all the details Of his adventures with
that picturesque band that made up
the air service during the late war.
Tins eyes popped as he heard about
the machine gun bullet that had
punctured the gasoline tank on JIM
my's plane. He wanted even to sec
the scar left by the one that had
plowed through Jimmy's shoulder.
Jimmy had to explain for the more
technicaf>minded Francis how the
fixed gun that operated from the
pilots seat was synchronized with
the motor, SO the bullets could pass
between the revolving propeller
blades. instead of going through them
and splintcring them.
ut was timed with the motors cam
shaft" he explained to the attentive
Francis. ''In the two-seater planes.
the observer in the rear operated a
movable gun that he could swing all
the way around
"Pye always thought" remarked
Lieutenant O'Day, shat it took a
lot Of nerve to. fly one Of them planes.
Now know it. | know what SOL
dicr's life is like. saw bit Of ac-
ton in Cuba. But excuse me from
flynn. III keep my feet on good o:d
Mother Earth"
"Not at ALL" laughed Jimmy.
you've got the wrong slant entirely.
You take the infantry for example.
Now, during the war, when those fell
lows were ordered to go over the
top, they had to do it. In the air
service it was cinch. If We went
up and saw an enemy airplanc and
didn't feel like fighting we could
come down and blame it on engine
trouble. There was no engine trou-
bic in the infantry"
O'Day laughed boistcrously. "You
boys" he said, turning to Francis
and Tim, "had better pack off to
your room. There's lot Of studyin'
II got the sack today" said Jimmy.
He and ODay were still at the table,
smoking. while Mrs. O'Day cleared
off the dishes. He told O'Day how
he had been fired for the second time
for no apparent reason.
y don't know whether it's hard
luck or whether somebody's bounding
me. | got the same reason in both
places DO you suppose there's some
kind of conspiracy against meg"
O'Day shook his head. "Darncd if
| can make it out. lad" He leaned
back. putting At his cigar, and eyed
Rand with q peculiar look.
"Thcre's something on my mind,
Rand. Your fathers name was Henry
Rand, wasn't it,"
"Ycs."
O,Day studied his cigar. ibid he
come from a place named Durbin, in
New York state :"
"Why, yes, he did" Jimmy leaned
forward eagerly. that's where he
was raised as boy"
"Was his father named Thaddeus
RANDI"
"Thaddeus Rand was my grand
father. l never saw him. though.
Say, what do you know about my
father"
Ito Be Continued)
ENGLISH VS.. SON