The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-10-05

that ne was swinging at Jack when
he hit the Sergeant. Jack recounted
the same tale when one of his blows
caught the Alphabet instead, and
In his case he was sincere but not
appreciated by the higher authori-
ties. A.~.-e--e--s..s.. ss-v,.. a-,-e.
As they were led off to the Lieu
tenant by Sergeant Czeideskrowski,
Jack called to Mr.. Winkle, please
don't"
II WON'T" promised Mr.. Wrinkle.
He didn't even write home about
the incident when both the warriors
were given terms in the stockade.
Mr.. Wrinkle was ordered to report
to the orderly room. Wondering
what serious breach of military eti-
quette he had committed, he de-
parted to the accompaniment of en-
couraging remarks from his COM
rades.
1T was nice knowing you, Pop"
when you get to England, drop
us a card"
Mr.. Winkle faced the Lieutenant.
He had never objected to the Lieu
tenant, as others had done in whis-
pers, referring to him as a shave
tail and calling his bars diaper pins.
The Lieutenant knew more about
war than he did, and Mr.. Winkle
realized how hard he worked at his
job, rising before the men in the
morning to taste their breakfast and
see that it was good, and rarely
getting to bed at night before one
o'clock.
"At ease" the Lieutenant said.
Mr.. Wrinkle relaxed.
In fact" the Lieutenant went on.
"sit down."
Mr.. Winkle thought that this was
handsome of his superior. He took
the chair indicated and sat very
straight in it to show his continued
respect.
The Lieutenant leaned back in his
chair behind his desk and regarded
him. Getting along all right?" he
asked.
"Yes, sir-that is, hope so, sir. :"
Were satisfied with you in most
respects, if that's what you mean
Like the Army?"
Il like it, sir" Mr.. Winkle knew
this to be the stock answer to the
question.
The Lieutenant seemed to know
it, too, and to want a little more in
formation, for he rephrased the
question. Happy in it?"
Mr.. Winkle hesitated.
Answer just the way you feel"
the Lieutenant instructed.
"Well, I can't say I'm happy, sir.
I'm not exactly a fighter, that Is,
with my fists, so to speak. And be-
ing away from my wife and :"
Your regular work? You miss
that?"
Eyes, sir. But I recognize why
I'm here"
"You know the new regulations
that went into effect the other day.
You're over thirty-eight and can get
a discharge if you go into war in
dustry. Why haven't you applied?"
1t was difficult for Mr. Wrinkle to
give an answer to this. He wasn't
able to explain to himself just why
he hadn't taken advantage of the
new rules. 1t was like going through
the physical examination and at first
not wanting to be accepted and then
yearning to be.
Amy had written that she would
leave it up to him, and that she
would be proud of him no matter
what he decided. AS yet he hadn't
given her a formal answer. Now he
prepared it.
''Pd like to stay in the Army"
he heard himself telling the Lieuten-
ant. IF you want me-"
The Lieutenant glanced at him
once, with approval. I'm going to
ask you one more question, Wrinkle.
Think it over before you answer.
Are you afraid?"
Mr.. Winkle jumped. He was sure
he looked guilty. He didn't stop to
think it over before he murmured,
"I suppose you can say I am"
He waited for the Lieutenant to
look contemptuous.
Don't be ashamed of it," the
Lieutenant advised. He smiled. "f
you'd told me you weren't afraid,
I would have known you weren't
speaking the truth. And I don't
mean you alone, but all the men in
Guiding myself. It's normal thing,
like being nervous before making a
speech. Usually you make better
speech because you're nervous. It's
the same way with fighting. Fear
makes you more aware, keener,
alert-a better fighter. No soldier
has ever gone into battle without
being afraid-if he has, there was
something the matter with him.
Mr.. Wrinkles eyes opened wide.
He realized that the Lieutenant had
observed the thing in him that he
thought he kept hidden. He saw
then that the other men were afraid,
too, but kept it to themselves better
than he did.
Don't connect my lecture" the
Lieutenant went on, with the fact
that I'm recommending you for the
Motor Mechanics School. / simply
feel that's where you belong, by pre-
vious experience, and at your age.
And you may have to fight there, or
be so close to it that it's virtually
the same thing. That's all, and
good luck to you"
1t was a moment before Mr.. VIM
kle could scramble to his feet and
salute. Good luck TO you, sir
that is, thank you, sir. !"
Mr.. Winkle felt that the Army had
something of soul after all. While
he didn't exactly walk on air, which