Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-10
MXEJOURNEYS END
MIN &C. She1lF0zd Vernon Bartlett
MT 1859 sv sstOts,cS = srO~ss eo~SA~v

movements. AT school his ability 10
understand the other mans point of
view-even the boys point Of view-had
enabled him to keep his form in better
order than any of his colleagues, al
though he had punished much less
often. II wonder If he really is bad"
he reflected He looks rotten"
But Stanhope was not in a mood to
be tolerant.
ITS pure bloody funk, that's all" he
declared. He could eat if he wanted
to; he's starving himself purposely.
splendid idea. No proof, as far as I
can see"
You can't help feeling sorry for him.
He's tried hard"
How longs he been out here? Three
months, l suppose. Now he's decided
he's done his bit. He's decided to go
home and spend the rest of the war in
comfortable nerve hospitals. Well, he's
mistaken. l let Warren get away like
that, but no more"
Osborne pulled away at his pipe. IT
don't see how you can prevent fellow
going sick" he remarked at length.
III have a quiet word with the
doctor before he does. He thinks he's
going to wriggle off just before the at
tack. But he won't. No man of mines
going sick before the attack. They're
going to take an equal chance-to-
gether"
He held up the whisky bottle to the
light, and noted, with slightly raised
eyebrows, how rapidly the level of the
liquid was sinking. Then he offered
drink to Osborne, who refused it, poured
one out for himself, and drank it at
gulp. THE bloddy little funk" he
mumbled.
The older man gave it up, and chang
ed the subject. Raleigh looks a nice
chap"
The remark had an extraordinary
effect on Stanhope-it was almost as
though bucket of cold water had been
poured over him. He aSsented CURLY.
Good looking youngster, too. At
school with you, wasn't hep"
Stanhope scowled. Has he been
talking already?"
My dear fellow" laughed Osborne,
what q state you're in tonight. Talk
ing? No, he's not been talking. He
just mentioned 1t. 1t vas a natural
thing to tell me when he knew you
were In command. He's awfully pleased
to get into your company"
Stanhope stretched across the table
and picked UP a magazine. He glanced
through 1t without saying a word, and
then began to draw meaningless geo.
"a
stump OF pencil.
He seems to think a lot of YOU"
went on Osborne.
The other laughed grimly. yes, I'm
his hero"
Osborne thought rather of Stanhope
than of Raleigh. so much the better"
he said. Besides, it's natural Small
boys at school generally have their
heroes"
yes, small boys at SCHOOL,"
often 1t goes on as long as"
Stanhope interrupted him. las long
as the hero'S a hero.
1T often goes on as long as life does"
Osborne finished quietly.
The stump of a pencil continued its
complicated pattern of straight lines;
the older man leant back against one
OF the props of the dugout roof, and
watched his tobacco smoke rise slowly
until it reached the ceiling of corrugat-
ed iron. and then spread out softly into
nothingneSS.
How many battalions are there in
France?" asked Stanhope suddenly.
Heaven knowsl Why?"
Wen say so divisions. That's $50
brigades-450 battalions." He did a
little sum on the back of his magazine.
That's 1900 companies. There are
1900 companies in France, Uncle.
Raleigh might have been sent to any
one OF them, and, my Godl he comes
to mel"
you ought to be jolly glad. He's a
good-looktng youngster. like him"
II knew you'd like him. Personality.
isn't it?" Stanhope hesitated for q
moment or two, his fingers playing with
the button of his tunic pocket. Then
he took out a worn leather case and
found a small photograph, which he
passed across to Osborne. I've never
shown you that, have II"
Osborne studied the snapshot care
fully.
mo. Ralephs sister, isn't itP"
How did you know?"
There's strong likeness. She's an
awfully nice-looking girl"
"A photo doesn't show much" Stan
hope pointed out alphabetically. Just
"Wen. she looks awfully nice"
Osborne insisted. You're lucky chap"
Stanhope carefully replaced the
photograph amongst some letters in his
pocket case.
Il don't know why I keep it, really"
he said, as though he were reluctant to
let the subject drop.
Why? Isn't she-I thought"
what did you think?"
Well, I thought tha perhaps she
was waiting for you"
Yea" said 6tanhope bitterly. "ehe
y waiting for me, and she doesn't know.
She thinks I'm 9 wonderful chap
commanding . company. She doesn't
know my nerves gone; that, II I went
mp those steps into the front line with
out being doped with whisky, I'd 20
mad with fright"
Don't talk rot" protested Osborne.
Then he leant forward across the table.
pointing with the mouthpiece of his
pipe TO emphasize what he was going
to say. Look here, old man." he be-
gan . little hesitatingly. 1--WE meant
to speak about 1t for a long time, but
1t sounds damned tmpudence. You've
done longer out here than any man in
the battalion, and you've refused every
soft job that's been offered you. It's
time you went away for a rest. It's
due to you"
you suggest that go sick, like that
little worm In there-neuralgia in the
eyer" Stanhope laughed bitterly, and
poured himself out another drink.
mo. Not that. The colonel would
have sent you down long ago, only he
won't suggest 1t himself because he
can't spare you"
"Oh, rot!"
Hes told me So"
HE thinks I'm In such q state want
rest. is that it?"
Continued in Tnynnrrnuy'E CforN