The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1931-10-21
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ulously. care you mad? After
they've trampled all over your
arm!"
Ludwig is ready to go. ZACH,
let him go"
For q moment Willy Contin-
ues staring at Ludwig; then,
with a shake Of his head, he
releases the sailor. Right you
are then. Now, run!" But he
cannot resist letting fly at the
AaSt moment and giving the
fellow q kick that sends him
through q double SomerSault.
We 60 on our way. Willy
curSeS-he must talk when he
is angry. But Ludwig is silent,
Prepare to Fire!
Suddenly we see the gang Of
runaways coming back around
the corner Of Beer Street. They
have gathered requirements.
Willy unslings his rifle. LOAD
and prepare to fire!" says he,
' his eyes narrowing. Ludwig
draws out his revolver and
also put my gun in readiness.
Until now it has merely been
a free fight; but this time is
going to be earnest. We do not
mean to be attacked a second
time.
We deploy across the street
at intervals Of three PAGES, so
not to form one single com.
pact target; then we advance.
The dog understands at once
what is afoot. He sinks along,
growing, in the gutter beside
us. He too has learned at the
front to advance under cover.
"At 20 yards we fire!" threat
ems Willy.
The crowd facing us moves
anxiouSly. We advance farther.
Rifles are pointed at us. With
a click, Willy slips his safety
catch and from his belt takes
the hand grenade he still car
ries as an iron ration. II
count up to three -"
An older man, wearing an
N. c. O.'S tunic from which
the badges of rank have been
removed, no wSteps out from
the gang. He advances q few
PAGES. "Are you comrades or
not?" he calls.
WHY'S gaSpS: he is outraged.
"Well! That's what we're ask
ing you, y0u white-livered calf"
he retortS Indignantly. t'Who
was it started attacking wound
ed menu"
The Demand
The other stops short. did
you do that?" he asks Of the
fellows behind him.
"FIe wouldn't take down his
shoulder straps answers one
Of the group.
The man makes an impatient
gesture and turns toward us
again. "They shouldn't have
done that, comrades. But you
don't seem to understand what
the matter iS-where have you
come from, anyway"
Prom the front, Of course;
where else do you think?" SnortS
Willy.
"And where are you going?"
where you've been all the
war-back home"
"Comrade," says the man,
showing an empty sleeve, II
didn't lose that at home"
:"That doesn't make it any
better" says Willy, unmoved.
I'm that case, you ought to be
ashamed to be seen with that
push Of mushroom soldiers"
The sergeant comes nearer.
cts revolution" he says quiet
~, "and who isn't for us is
against us"
Willy laughs. zine revolution,
no mistake! With your society
for the Removal Of Shoulder
Straps! II that's all you
want" He spitS contempt
uouSly.
mot SO fast, mate" says the
one-armed man, now walking
swiftly toward him. I'VE do
want a lot more! We want an
end Of war, an end Of all this
hatred! An end Of murder!
That's what we're after. We
want to be men again, not
war machineS!"
A Fine Start
Willy lowers his hand gre
made. "A fine beginning that
was, I must say he says,
pointing to LudWig's trampled
bandage. Then with a few
bounds he makes for the mob.
Eyes, you cut along home to
your mothers, you Snotty-noSed
bratS," he roarS, as they give
back before him. want to be
men, do you? why, you aren't
even decent soldiers yet! To
see the way you hold your
rifles, it makes. a man scared
you'll be breaking your fingers
nextw
The gang starts to run.
Willy turns round and stands
towering before the sergeant.
"And now I have something to
say to you! We've had as
much q bellyfuI Of this bust
ness as you; and there's going
to be an< end Of it too, that's
certain. But not your way.
What we do, we do Of our
selves. it is a. long time NOW