The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-31
CHAPTER TX Continued

WflllG dzlQ says. IOu IllBllO Stl
drunk first, of course, but then you'c
take the next train for home and
mother. Peace time, man, Albert
He fumbles in his oilcloth pocket
book for a photograph and suddenly
shows it all round. MY old people!
Then he puts it back and Swears:
Damned lousy war"
Its all very well for you to talk,
tell him. You've wife and
children"
True" he mods. and I have to
see to it that they've something to
eat
We laugh. They won't lack for
that, Kat, you'd scrounge it from
somewhere"
Muller is Unsuitable and gives him
self no peace. He wakes Hale WeS-
thus out of his dream. Hale, what
would you do if it was peace timer"
Give you a kick in the pants for
the way you talk say. How will
1t come about exactly?'
How does the manure come on
the roof" retorts Muller laconically,
and turns to Hale Westhus again.
It is too much for Hale. He
shakes his freckled head:
You mean when the wars over?"
Exactly. You've said it,
well, there'd be women of course,
eh?"-Raie ticks his lips.
Sure"
by Jove, yes" says Hale, his face
melting, then I'd grab some good
buxom dame"
Every one is silent. At last Null
Ter pulls himself together and says:
"And then what?"
A pause. Then Hale explains
rather awkwardly: "If I we're non
com. I'd stay with the PrusSians
and serve out my time
Hale, you've got a screw loose,
SURELY" I say.
Have you ever dug peat?' he
retortS good-naturedly. You try
It,"
Then he pulls a spoon out of the
top of his boot and reaches over
into Kropp's mesS-tin.
at can't be worse than digging
trenches I venture.
Hale chews and grins: ut lasts
longer though. And there's no get
ting out of it either"
But, man, surely it's better at
home"
Some ways says he, and with
open mouth sinks into a day dream.
You can see what he is thinking.
There is the mean little hut on the
noorS, the hard work on the heath
from morning till night in the heat,
the miserable pay, the dirty labor
er'S clothes.
In the army in peace time you've
nothing to trouble about" he goes
on, your foods. found every day,
or else YOU kick up a row; you've a
bed, every week clean underwear
like a perfect gent, you do your
noncom's duty, you have a good
suit of clothes; in the evening
you're free man and go off to the
pub"
Hale is extraordinarily set on his
Idea. He's in love with it.
'And when your twelve years are
up you get your pension and be-
come a village bobby. and you can
walk about the whole day."
He's already sweating on it. "And
Just you think how you'd be treated.
Here's a dram. there pint. Every
body wants to be we'll in with a
bobby"
you'll never be a non-com,
though, Hale" interrupts Kat.
Hale looks at him sadly and is
silent. His thoughts still linger over
the clear evenings in autumn, the
Sundays in the heather. the village
bells, the afternoons and evenings
with the servant girls, the fried
bacon and barley, the care-free eve
ming hours in the ale-house-
He can't part with all these
dreams SO abruptly; he merely
growls: what silly questions you
do ask
He pulls his shirt over his head
and buttons up his tunic.
What would you do. Tjaden?"
asks Kropp.
Tjaden thinks only of one thing
See to it that Himmelstoss doesn't
get past me"
Apparently he would like most to
have HMM q cage and sail into
him with a club every morning. To
Kropp he says warmly: IF 1 were
IN your place I'd see to it that I
become a lieutenant Then you
could bring him till he yells."
And you, Darling?" asks Null
Ter like an inquisitor. He's a born
schoolmaster with all his questions.
lettering is Sparing with his
words. But on this subject he
speaks. He looks at the sky and
says only the one sentence; IT would
go straight on with the harvesting. -
Then he gets up and walks of.
He worried. His wife has to
look after the farm. They've al
ready taken away two of his horses
Every day he reads the papers that
come to see whether it is raining in
his little corner of Oldenburg. They
haven't brought the hay in yet.
At this moment Himmelstoss ap-
pears. He comes straight up to ouI
group. Tjaden's face turns red. He
stretches his length on the grass
and shuts his eyes in embarrass-
ment.
HimmelStoSs is a little heSitant
his gait becomes slower. Then he
marches UP to us. No one makes
any motion to stand up. Kropr
looks up at him with interest.
He continues to stand in front OF
us and wait. As no one says any
thing he launches a "Well?"
A couple of seconds go by. Appar-
emily Himme'StoSs doesn't quit know
Uhat 20 do. He would like most to