Evening star., 1927-04-24

/ work. If one stopped to notice the
eccentriciticities of every half-witted
Legionnaire, one might spend ones
| life at it.
X x 4
EX-NO. 32867 stroled slowly along to
- the railway station, showed his
| papers to the sergeant of the guard
| on duty there. sat him down. and
went to sleep. Five minutes later he
/ arose. approached the ticket office,
/ tried hard for a minute to penetrate
/ the half-opaque veil that hung between
| him and the rest of the world, and
| then sat down and went to sleep.
The station master was doing his
| best to make il clear that he hated
| filth dust, dead leaves, stray pariah
dogs and discharged Legionnaries to
remain unswept from the clean floor
Of station.
The awakened man peered through
the half-opaque veil that hung be-
tween him and the great man, made
a mighty effort of concentration, and
then said quite distinctly:
Il want a third single to Oran. I
am starting on my Quest, after wait
ing five years"
Then wait another five hours, 4"
said the functionary, and come again
at 9:20 for your third single to Oran-
if YOU are not too drunk"
He was an unsympathetic person
but then he was held responsible
when unconsidered trifles of govern
ment property were stolen from the
station precincts. And it is well
known that a Legionary will steal the
wallpaper from your wall while your
back is turned. cut 1t up small, and
try to sell it back to you as postage
stamps as soon as darkness sets in.
Ex-No. 32867 got to his feet once
more, marched mechanically to the
barracks, was somewhat roughly
handled by the guard at the order of
Sergt Legros, and made his way
TO the Cafe de la Legion. Entering,
he bowed TO Carmelita with a digni-
fed flourish of his pulpy beret, fell
at full length on the floor and went
TO sleep.
Queer, how differently drink takes
different people," unused Carmelita,
as she again applied the cushion to
supporting the battered head-and yet
she had hitherto known this Gull
laume Iyone or Dhyoni Tor William
Jones) as a soldier Of the soberest and
quietest. Doubtless he had been wet
ting his discharge papers" Ap-
parently he had done it to the point
If drowning them.
The cafe began to fill. and, for a
ime, the sleeper was undisturbed. by
Carmelita's customers. Then
"'Ullo, Cockyi" remarked le Le-
gionnair 'Erbiggin cErb'0 entering
With his compatriots, Rupert and
John Bull. followed by the Grass
hopper and the Bucking Bronco.
Corn 10 Yer more ed AS if? Come
1up-an' ave s'more," and he sought
10 rouse the sleeper.
Strike me strange eff it 'ent that
,ompatriot O yourn, John" said the
Sucking Bronco. Willie the Jones.
Guess he's got a hard cider jag.
Didn't know he ever fell off the water
cart any"
William Jones" sat up.
Really beg your pardon, he said.
II thought 7" and then peered
through the heavy blanketing veil
that was daily thickening between him
and his fellow men.
Hes no more drunk than I am. :"
said John Bull. II suppose he's just
discharged. / thought he was in
hospital. Looks as though he ought
70 be, anyhow"
Il have rested. and I must begin
my Quest" said William Jones, =
Ex- No. 32S67. Il have a glorious
Quest to undertake. and have little
lime. 7"
"Yus. 1ngkquest's abaht your
mark. Cocl1y," observed 'Erb. Grown
ar's ingkquest,"
Help me up" added the sick man.
I must begin my Quest"
Are you going to England?" asked