Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-02
6IX6J0URNEY,S END
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LIE Havre. Jimmy knew enough OF the
army to realize this. His father had
often talked about him during Jimmy's
last leave, and had suggested that
posted to Dennis regiment.
II couldn't do that" Jimmy objected
Influence"
why notp It wouldn't hurt any
one else"
But while Jimmy had always dropped
the subject as an altogether undesirable
way of pulling strings, he had long
resolved that if he passed through LIE
Havre he would move heaven and earth
to see his uncle and implore him to
post him to Dennis regiment.
And now the time had come-fate
had brought him to LIE Havre. He
glanced round the crowded mess, with
its glaring electric lights and its tightly
drawn curtains, and rose from the
precarious wicker chair he had secured
after dinner An orderly passed across
the passage as he pulled on his coat
and hat.
Can you tell me-" inquired Jimmy,
where can find Gen. Raleigh"
Gen. Raleigh, sir?"
The corporal went away and came
back charged with information. Jimmy
was told to turn to the right, go to the
end of the road, and take a blackboard
walk to the left. Gen. Raleigh's Office
was then the third hut on the right.
A steady. pitiless rain was falling
softly in the MINDLESS night Endless
black huts in dead straight lines stretch
ed away between the dark sandy roads
as far as the eye could see. Dim figures
moved here and there with hurricane
lanterns. Jimmy hesitated little way
down the road. After all, was it worth
it? To tackle his uncle at this time
of night would quite probably lead to
a hearty choking-off. His tent was
near by, and there was something very
alluring about crawling into a sleeping
sack and blowing out the candle. It
was very late. Jimmy thought of his
uncle, comfortably playing BRIDGET
bridge existed in this bleak hutment
town-it would irritate him to be dis
turbed. Then came the thought Of the
strange uncertainties ahead-a long,
dark battle line with one man in it
who knew and understood him. He
decided to go on.
The friendly mess-orderly's instruc-
tons had been clear enough, but in
the dark, in the rain, there seemed no
end to this straight road between the
huts. A solitary soldier came by, muf-
fed in a great coat.
Can you tell me the way to Gen.
Raleigh's hut?"
Gen. Raleigh?"-rain was dripping
of the peak of the soldiers hat. Would
e be the commandant, sir?"
"Well-he details officers to regi-
ments." Was his uncle commandment?
oh" the soldier thought. THE
commandments 'uts that way, sir-the
way you've come"
81 was told it was this way"
'Well then, Gen. Raleigh can't be the
commandant, sir"
Raleigh thanked the soldier, who
went his way. 1t was silly to have
asked at all. when he had been so
clearly told to reach the end of the
road. He plodded on.
The end came abruptly at last,
against a wire fence. Taking the left
track down a slippery blackboard, he
There was hut just like the rest
Surely his uncle would have bigger
hut?
He tapped on the door. Hobnailed
boots scraped across the floor inside.
The door opened. A corporal with
pince-nez looked out.
"Yes?" The corporal was abrupt,
almost snappy.
SIS Gen Raleigh hereP"
The corporal eyed the boy curiously.
"He is here-sir" (the "sir" a trife
reluctantly, but it's long past hours.
What was it you wanted?"
Il thought this was where Gen.
Raleigh lived" &
This is his office"
ooh"
Here was an unexpected development.
He had hoped to trace his uncle to some
comfortable quarters, contentedly read
ing after dinner. with a cigar, possibly
slippers, and a glass of port. Apparently
Uncle Vincent lad been working late
an overwhelming picture rose before
him OF facing his uncle across a bleak
orderly-room table, tired, undined,
irritable uncle.
cts no good me telling him, sir-he
can't see anybody now" The corporal
began to close the door as politely "a
he could in the face Of an oficer, It
was now or never.
Hes my uncle" ventured Jimmy,
will you tell him that it's his nephew
wants to see him for Just a moment?"
The words were out before he could
restrain them, and now he stood blush
ing to the roots of his hair at the
foolishness of pouring out family de-
tails to a strange corporal with pince-
nez. But the words had visible effect
the corporal reopened the door, looked
curiously at Jimmy, and spoke with
Difference
Well, III tell i'm, sir-but I don't
knoW-- His words trailed away as
ne disappeared through a door In the
farther end of the hut.
He appeared again after O moment
and beckoned Jimmy forward as If
fearful OF being observed. With an odd
sinking in the stomach Jimmy passed
through the door into the presence of
the once insignificant, croquet- playing
Uncle Vincent.
HIS uncle was shorter than his father
thinner and older. He was standing
IN 'front.' OF stove. He relieved Jimmy
OF the well-nigh impossible task of
startlng the conversation by beginning
Well" he said, "time flies"
Yes Yes sir" agreed Jimmy, and then
g gO3pe on on: Il hope you don't mind me
That's all right" put in the general.
He relighted his pipe, and added the
match to the burnt pile in the lid OF a
cigarette tin. Father well?"
Yes, quite, SIR
When did you get hereP"
Yesterday morning, SIR
Good croSsing?"
Quite, sir"
Il ought to have gone home TODAY
Due for leave this past month. All
leave Cancelled, you know"
oh, sir?" Leave at the moment
hardly concerned Raleigh. "Er-what
l came about was-I wonder If you'd
mind me asking, sir-I know lists
not"
Choke it up"
We'll. sir, a great friend of mines
out mere. I wondered If it would be
possible Tor me to be posted to his
battalion"
Who is 1t? Anybody I know"
Il don't think you've met him. Oh.
yes, you have" It suddenly came to
Raleigh. Quite a long time ago in
the Summer holidays when YOU came