Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-04-27

uously absent. Only once. during the
moor mess, did Clark see him, and then
he was coming from the direction of
Company A.. He was carrying a small OBJ
iect wrapped in a French newspaper.
1t was not until the company had been
dismissed in the afternoon, however, that
q regimental orderly stamped into the
company orderly room and informed
Clark that Col. Nelson desired his pres
ence.
What's up?" Clark asked.
You oughtta know" the orderly re-
piled. This here new lieutenant is up
there with tn old man. Didn'tcha now
he preferred charges against yuh?r
81 amt sure" The orderly hesitated.
One o. the guys at headquarters said
something about Robin the French
Come on, they're waitin'."
Clark swung out ahead of the orderly,
and when he presented himself in the
big room of the chateau that served as
the c%olonel's office his worst premonition
seemed realized. The colonel was look
ing out of the window, his M behind
him; Lieut.. Suskinde was standing at at
tention regarding the colonel's back. He
looked round as ClarkIs heels clicked.
First Sergt. Byde Clark, headquarters
company, reports to the colonel"
4ut COlOlel luTIleQ COlu, BIay eyes Oh
the sergeant.
'Sergt. Clark" he said, Lieut.. Sus-
kinde has brought charges Of stealing
against you. The lieutenant sets forth
that after we left you in the kitchen
last night you, and perhaps some one
else. robbed the Frenchman who claimed
that chicken, of another"
Clark's eyes opened in~nocently.
"Oh, no, sir" he stated emphatically
Il didn't steal no chicken, sir. TIL lieu
tenant has made a mistake, sir. Did some
one rob that Frenchman?"
The colonel rubbed his hin thought
fully.
Apparently" he said. And the lieu
tenant has found a chicken head over
somewhere near the kitchen of Company
A. You are sure you now nothing OF
it?"
"Oh. no, sir" Clark replied. I'll help
the lieutenant try to find out who stole
it. though. sir. Might be we I'd"
Perhaps that would be a good idea,
the colonel pondered.
Merry Sunshine glowered at Clark. but
Clark only looked injured and wondered
why the cap was not produced.
Sir" said the lieutenant. don't you
think the circumstances are strangely
Significant"
I'm what way?"
well, sir, they had tina chicken anc
the colonel made them give it back, anc
then a chicken is stolen right afterward
Then, sir, the Frenchman told me a Graz,
story about talking to some one-ht
said
Yes, yes, lieutenant" the colonel in
terrupted benignly. THE Frenchman tolC
you "a crazy story That's the point"
He ran his eye over the lieutenant anc
Clark.
mo-" he said, Tn not inclined t.
believe all these tales. You have NJ
way of connecting any one with tina
chicken head. OF course, you may pusl
your charge, if you wish, but I think, /
I were you, l should drop it. AS I say
you may go ahead
But what about the cap2 Clark won
dered.
"Oh, no, sir" Merry Sunshine protest
ed dutifully. I'm follow the colonel's ad
vice, of course. I think the colonel /
quite right, sir. Yes, sir. I'll Withdraw
the charge. sir"
Very well, then" the colonel smiled
slightly. You may Just take these pa
pers and we'll dismiss the matter"
When they had saluted and were leav
ing. Merry Sunshine shot a venomou
glance at Clark, and Clark stepped asid
to permit the officer to precede him.
"Sergt. Clark" the colonel called, +"
want to see you"
Clark returned.
Eyes, sir"
CLOSE that door"
Clark did so and faced about. The
were alone now and the sergeant stool
with the easy erectness of long service
confident in his acquittal Of a momen
before. But the ~colonel's eyes were un
comfortably steady. For q brief spac
Clark returned the gaze. Then he locke
at the top button of the colonel's tuni
and finally, without turning his head o
altering his posture, his eyes drifted owe
to a dark corner and came to rest. Blu
he knew the colonel had not remove,
that chilled steel stare.
When Col. Nelson spoke his low, evel
, voice seemed to rip the silence, and witt
a heroic effort Clark brought his eyes t
the eagle on Col. Nelson's left shoulder
II want you to understand, sirrah, tina
the chicken stealing that has taken plac
Is at an end" aid the colonel. "Yo'
heard what the divisional inspector sal
last night about the discipline of TIL
I command degenerating. / want you t
? know, sirrah, that this war is a seriou
4 business, and instead of betraying Oh
' gallant allies confidence we should pre-
tect their property. There will be u
more OF this stealing. Do you under
stand?"
Yes. SIR" Clark replied. II was Jus
goin' to read tn company a lecture o
retreat, sir, about that"
"Oh, you we're 0 are a man c
extremely complicated views, aren't you
sergeantl So you were going to read tn
company q lecture on chicken stealing.
g Eyes, sir That is, sir Well, ST
yuh see, them guys amt got much tai
] ent for chicken stealin', AM was goir
Q to tell them
! The colone nodded his head sagely.