Evening star., 1930-06-16
Continued From Yesterdays starr

4 III CUllNy SdAu I1ADDS1Jt dIlu kLtIl
went back to his point, TITS no good,
I've tried damned hard. but can't
stick 1t any longer. l must go doWn." +"
GO down? Where?"
go sick Go down the line I must
get into hospital and get some sort of
treatment. l think 1 had better go
right along now" He turned back
toward his own dugout
You are going to stay here" said
Stanhope quietly.
I'm going down to see the doctor. -
Hilbert insisted in his dreamy way.
Hell send me to hospital when he
understands"
You are going to stay here" STAN
hope said. I've seen the doctor, and
had a talk with him this morning He
won't send you to hospital. He'll send
would so you can save yourself walk"
What the hell" HILBERT began,
but Stanhope interrupted him.
stop that" he ordered.
"Ive a perfect right to go sick II
want to-" HILBERT protested. THE men
can. why can't an oficer?"
mo mans sent down unless he's very
I'll. There's nothing wrong with you,
HILBERT. The German attacks almost
certain for Thursday. I suppose you've
heard. You are going to stay here and
see it through with the rest of U.S."
II tell you can't" protested Hilbert
Historically. THE pains nearly sending
me mad. I'm going I've got all my
stuff packed, and I'm going now. You
can't stop me-" He hurried excitedly
into his own dugout while Stanhope
walked slowly toward the steps, turned,
and undid the flap of his revolver
holster. He took out his revolver and
was examining it casually when HILBERT
returned, with his pack slung on his
shoulder and his walking stick in his
hand. He tried to edge between STAN
hope and the wall in order to reach
the dugout steps. but there was not
quite room. Lets go by, Stanhope,"
"You are going to stay here and do
your job
Haven't told you I can't? Don't
you understand Let me get by"
Stanhope looked up as though he had
reached a sudden decision. Now, look
here. HILBERT" he said. I've got lot
of work to do and no time to waste.
Once and for all, you are going to stay
here and see it through with the rest
of u.s."
ST shall die of this pain if don't CO."
Better die of the pain than be shot
for deserting."
what do you meanP" asked the other
In low voice.
You know what mean.
"If you only knew how awful feel"
pleaded HILBERT. PLEASE do let me
90 by" But since Stanhope did noe
move he tried once again to edge past
him.
Stanhope slipped his revolver into the
holster and thrust the other back
roughly. In a second HILBERT raised
his stick and struck blindly at this man
who would not let him pass. Stanhope
Just had time to ward OF the blow.
He snatched the stick out of Hibbert's
hand. smashed it across his knee and
threw the pieces to the ground.
MY God!-You little swine" he
cried "You know what that means,
don't you, striking superior ofhcer2"
HILBERT stared at the other as though
he did not understand what he was
saying He began to stammer some
thing, and then broke down altogether.
''Stanhope, I've tried like hell. I
swear I have!" he sobbed. Ever since
I came out here I've hated and loathed
it. Every sound up there makes me all
cold and sick. I'm different to the
others. They-you-don't understand.
It's got worse and worse, and now I
can't bear it any longer. I'll never go
up those steps again into the line, with
the men looking at me, and knowing.
I'd rather die here. I'd rather you shot
me for trying to desert. -"
Stanhope poured some whisky into
mug.
"Try a drop of this" he said in
friendly voice.
mo, thanks"
Go on. Drink it. know what you
feel" he went on when HILBERT had
swallowed the spirit. I've known all
along. -"
How can you know?" HILBERT in
terrupted.
Because I feel the same-exactly the
same! Every little noise up there makes
me feel just as you feel. Why didn't
you tell me instead of talking about
neuralgia? We all feel like you do
sometimes, If you only knew. I hate
and loathe it all. Sometimes feel I
could just lie down on this bed and
pretend I was paralyzed CT some
thing, and couldn't move, and just lie
there till died-or was dragged away"
II can't bear to go up into those
awful trenches again." HILBERT per-
sisted.
when are you due to so on?"
"Quite soon. At four"
shall we 90 on together? We know
how we both feel now. Shall we sSe II
we can stick it together?"
'1 can't. -"
"supposing said I can't-supposing
pen them"
"I don't care. What's it matter? It's
oil so beastly. Nothing matters"
"Supposing the worst happened"
Etanhope went on soothingly. "Suppos-
ing we were knocked right out. Think
of all the chaps who've gone already.
It can't be very lonely there, with all
those fellows. Sometimes 1 think it's
Ionelier here"
HILBERT was sitting quietly now. his
eyes rowing vacantly in front of him.
Just go and have bit of a rest.
Then we'n go out together"
do please let me go, Stanhope."
IF you went, and left Osborne and
Trotter and Raleigh and all those men
up there to do your work, could you
ever look a man straight in the face
again-in all your life? You may be
wounded. Then you can go home and
feel proud. And if you are killed you-
you won't have to stand this hell any
more. You've a straight, fighting
chance of coming through. Take the
chance, old chap. Don't you think it's
worth standing in with men like
Osborne and Trotter and Raleigh when
they all feel like you do-in their hearts
and just go on sticking TO it because
they know it's the only thing a decent
man can do. What about it?" he con-
cluded after pause.
"Ill-Iql try"
Good man"
"You-you won't say anything, STAN
hope, about this?"
IF you promise not to tell any one
what blasted funk am"
NO agreed HILBERT, with a little,
nervous laugh.
"Splendid!" said Stanhope Now go
and have 10 minutes rest and a smoke
Then We'll go up together and hold each
others hands, and Jump every time a