Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1927-05-26

knife and fork, II don't know that ]
am exactly worthy, but l will be frank.
Uncle Claude can't begin to have the
admiration for me that have for him.
Why, he saved my pocketbook, pos
sibly my life, the other night. I was
in the park just off Riverside drive,
weary Of everything. I'd stretched my
self along the bench to look at the
stars and think out what 1 should do
with my life, when along came Claude
Dabbs and sat down on me-"
Aunt Lyddy giggled in a peculiarly
young and girlish way.
''Of course that went long way to-
ward making us friendly. While we
were sauntering along talking we were
ordered to put up our hands. If army
experience has taught me anything 1t
is to be leery of pistols in unknown
hands. Mine went up at once. But
G. M. stumbled accidentally, thought,
which brought him few steps in
front of me, and nearer the other fell
low. OF course, G.. MS hands went
up as he recovered his balance. What
l didn't notice, nor did the other fell
low until it was too late, was that one
of his feet went up, too. First thing
knew the other man was down and
Claude was sitting on him!"
"And by Peter and Paul, I'll wager
Claude never called policeman J"
broke in Aunt Lyddy.
Ned shook his head. "We just took
his pistol and blackjack and left him.
He was knocked out-stunned by the
fall"
They surveyed each other, smiling.
II suppose you'd like to know lit
tie more about me-" Ned said tenta-
lively.
81 kin wait till you tell Claude"
Claude knows something, and you'll
be miserable until you know as much,
won't your
Again Aunt Lyddy gave her peculiar
giggle, and settled back in her chair.
"Get it off'n your chest, son, and
don't smooth over nothing for me-"
81 drove an ambulance for six
months before this country got into
the fight" Ned began. 81 was hurt
little and had to come home. Tried
for a commission in our army when !
got we'll. Had to throw over every
thing to do it, Family and-girl. My
girl was in with professional pacifist
bunch. Da-confound them all, they
acted as though the rest of us liked
war, and had arranged it for our own
amusement.
'Well, after 1 got my commission !
was ordered down South to one Of our
camps went, thinking 1 was on my
way to France. When I got there,
they told me my resignation had been
accepted. I swore by everything holy
and unholy that had never resigned.
They listened, bored but patient, and
repeated that my resignation had been
accepted. I'd better see Washington,
was told.
81 went to Washington. They told
me there my resignation had been &C
cepted. told them I'd never resigned.
They listened and said maybe not
but the Warsdepartment was too busy
to bother about my case, just then, or
to correct any mistake, If there was a
mistake. They advised me tender1y to
go home like good boy, and, maybe
some time later, they'd look me up.
went swearing. had no home to go
to. So l enlisted in New York regi-
ment and was discharged some two or
three weeks ago."
"Satans trumpets p Aunt Lyddy ex-
claimed. "The armistic signed in No
vember and they KEEP you in all this
time. Well, you certainly got the
rough end Of the stick. AS for that
girl, wisht I had her within arms
reach. I'd shake a little sense into
her."
ooh, she's all right" Ned said
little awkwardly. "Don't make the
mistake of treating me like returned
hero, because l never got over l. was
railroaded to an O. T. c., and kept
there. never got over.
You can understand, can't you, why
the very name of Peace Valley drew
me like charm, and you'll forgive
nay coming here in this way?"
Suffering Saints! You're more'n
welcome to stay, and as far as I'm
concerned" Aunt Lyddy broke off
suddenly, and trod heavily kitchen.
ward, for Claude Dabs had entered
from the Office.
Morning. 1t does me good to see
you sitting there as though you were
home"
81 feel at home" Ned assured him.
slope you really do" Claude's
scrutiny vas wistful but understand
ing. whats the program? Want
one of the cars?"
"The cars! Why. c. NJ. for SIM
pie country grocer, aren't you rather
laying 1t on'?"
Claude blushed. "Old Man Wolf