The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-09-21
MR. NZkKZE
1.seSs.s G0ES W NzR
PRRIT I wN.uReLEAsE
w. u. RELEASE

There were SO many members of
this that track of them could be
kept only by numbers. He was
number $685. ,912. This humiliating
figure was marked on two identical
metal tags hung around his neck on
white cord. One was two inches
below the other. He understood
these were called "dog tags" He
also understood that in case of the
dogs death the lower tag was cut
off to keep the records, while the
other remained on the body. Sud-
denly he became aware that some
one was taking it much harder than
he. From the next cot, from Jack,
there came faint, suppressed sniff
fies.
Mr.. Wrinkle understood at once.
The boy was homesick. Quickly, he
leaned out of his bed. They had
promised to look after each other.
and the boy had already looked aft
er him in trying to fight Freddie.
IF the others hear" Mr.. Winkle
advised in a whisper, especially
Freddie, it will be worse than the
way you feel now. You'll be all
right tomorrow. You'll get to like
it."
Jack didn't answer. But the sniff
fies stopped. From far away a bu-
gle sounded in the night, which be-
gan to grow quiet. War, which had
conc close, withdrew, receding in
the strange darkness.
Mr.. Winkle fell in line with the
other men on the company street.
1t was barely light. It was cold.
All about were the dim outlines of
buildings. A vast rustic of men and
their movements and voices spread
in all directions, ghostly and weird.
Shivering, Mr.. Winkle wondered
If this could be only a bad dream.
Surely he would soon awaken in his
own warm bed with Amy beside
him, telling him it was time to get
up after a good nights rest instead
of the fifteen minutes nap he felt
he had.
Instead, he heard Sergeant Geld
eskrowski calling his name in the
roll.
"H-here," Mr.. Wrinkle quavered.
''Tindalll"
81 guess I'm here" Freddie an
swered. I'm not sure"
Answer here only" the Alpha
bet ordered. Wen try again. Tin
DALI"
Here" Freddie replied In low
mutter he added, whats left of
me-"
The Alphabet strobe over to stand
in front of Freddie. He took out
little black notebook from his pock-
ct, wrote in it, and said:
Private Tindall, because it's you,
and you amt had the Articles of
War read to you yet, especially Ar
ticle Sixty-five providing punishment
for INSTRUMENTATION to a noncommis-
stoned which is me-we' Ii
just set a record for the camp.
You're getting K P duty on your
second day. You will become IA
NOUS for this
Mr.. Winkle was almost glad to
see how wrong Freddie was in his
attitude, and how painful this was
going to make it for him. Then he
felt guilty at having such an un-
worthy sentiment.
"Pettigrewl"
Teeth chattered. Between clicks,
Jack called that he was present.
Mr.. Winkle had a sense of float
ing through the rest of that day.
He remained in a daze from the
shock of entering the Army. He
supposed it was the same with the
other men, but he didn't notice them
very much.
At the dispensary Mr.. Winkle was
inoculated for so many things that
he couldn't keep track of them all.
The faintness induced by being
pricked on one arm was counter
acted by being pricked on the other
arm Immediately afterward He en-
joyed only one of the examinations.
That was the Mechanical Aptitude
Test. He was happy to wade right
through this, answering nearly ev-
cry question with ease and certain
ty, while others scratched their
| heads.
In the afternoon, when they were
given individual interviews, he
hoped to learn what might be done
with him. The interviewer drew
| him out about the work he had
done in civil life. He showed a
mild interest in Mr.. Wrinkles his
tory as an accountant, but mostly
he asked Mr. Winkle to talk about
himself as a repairer of anything
and the fact that he had his own
shop.
81 think we'll have a place for
you," he said, quite as if Mr.. Wrinkle
only now had been accepted for the
position, and hired.
"Can you tell me how III be
used?" Mr. Wrinkle asked with anx-
iety. 81 don't think I'd make such
a good foot soldier"
You want to fight, don't your"
''If I can"
m sure you can.
He had to content himself with
these unsatisfactory remarks.
The late afternoon was given to