The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-12-27

"Yes, it's a freight yard in any language" smiled the nurse. And Le Mans is not 'dinky little town either, soldier. It's a fair sized city. You just have not seen much of it."
 I've not seen anything except these side tracks," the Sergeant agreed, indicating the long lines of rails laden with tiny French freight cars. There's nothing to see here except these luggage vans-or whatever the frogs call them!"
 "Then, why do you stay there?" asked the nurse. Why don't you city?"
 "Gosh, ma'am, I'd like to. But you see we're penned up inside this fence, and it's too high to climbv"
 "Penned up?" Her voice regis
 My outfit," explained the Sergeant. Were on 8 troop move ment. There are three cars of us. We came tackled on the back end of a frog passenger train, and they switched out here into the freight yards to wait for another train that's going to take us the rest of the way. We've got to lay off three hours, the Captains says
 The girl peered through the bars and glanced up and down the line of tracks.
 "I don't see any other soldiers" she observed.
 They're locked up inside the cars" answered the Sergeant. We've got sentinel with bayonets on every step, and the men aren't allowed to leave. If they got scattered out in this freight yard, we'd never get them together again! Anyhow, that's what the Captain says. He told me to mount guards over every car and keep the men in: You ought to hear them cussi"
 "But what are you doing out here?" she asked.
 F II just took walk to stretch my legs," he replied. You see I'm the top Sergent of the out fit, so I have right to go around and inspect the cars. The Captain ought to do it, but he's in first class compartment, D l a y n s pinochle with lieutenant"
 "Oh, sec" responded the girl. T thought it odd that you were waiting there by yourself!"
 That explains me-" answered the Sergent. But how about your self? What are you doing here"
 T was just taking a walk too," answered the girl" and l happened to stroll down this way. You see, it's my afternoon off. I belong in small field hospital which hap pens to be stationed on the clear ing house for the wounded coming back from the front"
 We're on our way to the front" announced the Sergeant importantly.
 The girl eyed him sympathetically but her pity was misplaced so far as he was concerned.
 II hope we get a crack at the Germans soon," he observed non- chantly; "and if it's my luck to stop bullet, I hope they'll ship me back to Le Mans. didn't know they had any angels in the nurse corps!" he added daringly.
 The girl laughed. You're a nice boy" she said sweetly. "and hope see you again someday-not as a patient, however,"
 
 the Sergeant earnestly. T would like to get acquainted with you, miss. Nice American girls are kind- CT rare in our experience. Would you take a walk with me if it were not for this fence?"
 Well, the authorities sort of frown upon our mingling socially with the enlisted men," she replied. She glanced at the fence specula- lively. It's height and strength re- assured her. ''But I wouldn't mind" she went on daringly. T would be glad to walk with you if it were not for the fence." 70. K, ma'am," said the Ser geant laughingly.
 With a single gesture he shook off his heavy khaki overcoat, and turned to chamber up the freight car which stood nearest the bar rier.
 'sWhat are you doing?" the girl asked anxiously.
 "Coming over the fence," laugh ed the soldier already half way up the car.
 But you can't" she protested.
 Cant isn't in the vocabulary of the American Army!" observed the Sergeant, poising himself carefully on top the freight car. Just watch mel" The girls scream died in her throat as he launched himself through space. It was fully eight l feet from the top of the car to the