The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-09-08

1
ly. 81 wouldn't have done q thing.
That would be for others. You
wouldn't get very far"
"You mean with the blonde?"
Freddie inquired, and received his
laugh.
He kept up a horseplay Of saying
that this was as far as he wanted to
60, that he'd had a nice ride, but
would now 60 back home. When
this wore thin, he introduced new
subject. "Still proud to fight, Pop?"
he inquired.
Mr.. Wrinkle kept his temper. I'VE
all ought to be-"
"Well, I'm not" Freddie declared.
"Tm not going because ! want to,
and / don't care who knows it. I
don't want to be any darned sol
der. Lugs, that's all they are.
They're going to make me into q
lug"
Mr.. Wrinkle looked around. No one
except the contingent from Spring
vile seemed to have heard these
remarks. The men listened with
interest. Some of them looked star
tied.
81 don't think you ought to say
such things" Mr.. Wrinkle advised.
'Who says that, Pop? Who says
I can't say what / want?"
"Well :" began Mr.. Wrinkle.
''Isn't this free country, Pop?
Can't a man say what he wants?
Tell me that, Pop"
When Mr.. Wrinkle didn't reply,
Freddie was infuriated, taking out
his resentment on him as if holding
Mr.. Wrinkle personally responsible
for his being drafted. "Tell me that,
you old coot, and don't act like
we're in the Army already"
Before Mr.. Wrinkle could gather
his outraged senses, Jack Pettigrew
pushed through the group of men
and came up to Freddie. His thin
face was white with anger. Don't
talk like that to Mr.. Winkle," he
ordered.
Freddie turned on the revolving
stool to Mr.. Wrinkle, ignoring Jack.
"How about that, Pop? Should I
talk like that to your"
Jack made a lunge at Freddie,
who whirled, placed his hand on
the boys chest, and showed him
back.
Jack, crying imprecations, re-
turned to the fray with clenched
fists.
Freddie jumped up to meet him.
Mr.. Wrinkle was gripped with dis
may. Things were fast getting out
of hand. In fact, they were already
well out of hand. The proprietor Of
the place was yelling, a waitress
shrieked, and customers called out.
Mr.. Wrinkle heard his own voice
crying, snow look here! Look herel
Save that for the Germans! Or the
Japs!"
The men laughed. Jack subsidized,
glazing. Freddie made ironic gri-
| maceS.
An armistice had been declared
in the premature war. Mr.. Wrinkle
breathed with relief. He wasn't GER
tain that he liked the responsible
ties of leadership.
He counted the men carefully as
they got back on the bus, making
sure Freddie was among them. His
glance caught that of Jack, whose
eyes were hot and who said, "Tm
going to get himl I'm going to get
him plenty" ~
"That's all right" Mr.. Wrinkle
Gained him. ST appreciate your
standing up for me, but you've done
enough"
Another hours ride got them to
their destination, and they descend
ed at busy station where they were
transferred to another bus. This was
already half filed with soldiers-elect
like themselves.
Hello, fresh meat" one of these
greeted them.
From the highway, three miles out
of town, the entrance to the camp
was no more than a dirt side road
where two armed guards stood and a
sign declared this to be military
reservation and that no admittance
was allowed.
Having been invited, they were ad-
mitted.
After passing through a quarter of
mile of thick woods, they came to
great cleared space in which stood
hidden city. There were many
wooden buildings, some of them Of
one story, others of two stories. Dust
rose from the passing of their own
and other vehicles, and from march
ing feet.
The bus stopped before building
which had sign on it saying, Elm
duction Checking Station" Standing
up or sitting on the ground before
this were perhaps fifty more selec-
tees. They stared at the newcom-
ers who descended from the bus.
No one spoke in the atmosphere of
patient waiting and weary anxiety.
Mr.. Wrinkle looked about, some
what at a loss. He didn't know
what to do next.
A tall, thickset Sergeant, holding