Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-17

WILL MEETS IRvN-Wiu Stockdale, in
Quoted at last, waits under guard for the
bus to the Army post while Irwin, who's had
ROTC, warns him he'll have no nonsense
Photo by permission Of the Broadway show
mo Time for Sergeants."
after that, dribbling up in twos and threes
and standing around on the steps smoking
and talking to each other. ! nodded OF the
first few that came up and would have spoke
II they had nodded back, but didn't none Of
them do 1t; they just went over and stood
AMONGST each other. They seemed like right
nice bunch, though-the only thing was.
don't guess It made such q good impression
on theIS because had this guard with me.
And they was mostly town boys and knowed
each other. and they was dressed alike In their
spotted shirts with the tails hanging out and
these slick-looking pants and things, and
still had on my khakis and brogans: so
didn't let it bother NE none. I fingered we
would get along all right once they seen that
fellow warnt much of a guard at all. so I
didn't push 1t none. I set there and smoked
and watched them come UP. some Of them in
cars that their folks drove, waving goodbye
and all like that and then standing around
joking with each other and all. And there
was one Of them watched a good bit because
he seemed kind Of different from the others
and stuck out so to speak. / mean he kind Of
stood away from the others and was real
quiet and had these dark glasses on and held
his back real straight. and he didn't 60 around
punching at everybody like the others did
He would just look at them real serious when
they came over to speak to him. and then he
would kind Of nod his head little bit like he
was thinking Of something else; and then he
might humble something and they would all
stop and listen and wait for him to say some
thing else. But then he usually wouldnt-he
would turn his head away again and take
big drag on his cigarette and blow IL out real
smooth and steady, kind Of twisting his head
around to look at something across the street.
Irwin Had ROTC Bad
So watched him and heered them call
ing him Irwin" and tried to figger him out
! didn't have no luck at 1t. though. until
heered this one fellow say to somebody else
THAT fellows had RoTC." or something like
that. Anyhow. didn't know what it was be-
cause never had heered Of hit before, but
then ! heered this other fellow mention the
same thing and see how impressed they was
by 1t, 80 finally hggered that he must still
have touch Of 1t in him. mean got to
thinking that at one time or another, he must
have almost died from It, So they seemed
like q real nice bunch the way they made on
over him and everything and / kind Of
admired 1t the way he acted too. He didn't
ask anything from nobody but stood there
just as straight as he could like he could take
care OF himself no matter what.
Anyhow, In little Bit Mckinney come
walking up. and was grinning and taking on
real merry with everybody himself, and act
ing real nice about everything He said, well
you boys 60 UP there and show them the
kind Of men we raise down here" and they
all joked back at him: and then he said
lot Of funny things like, Don't take any
wooden nickels." and Don't do nothing that
wouldn't do" and BE good, and II you can't
be good. be careful" and lot Of things like
that Course. he didn't speak to me or moth
ing, but he did seem lot nicer once you seen
him being friendly that way.
And then he done something else
thought was real nice Of him too He went
over and patted Irwin on the back and said,
Irwin, want yor to keep these boys in line
now. I'm leaving you in charge Of them 70
the rest Of the way YOU hear?"
And Irwin nodded his head. just as casual
as he always was, and said, "Okay, McKin-
ney." like 1t didn't mean thing to him. He
kind OF took deep drag on his cigarette and
then held 1t between his fingers and tipped
1t out In the street. like II they wanted to
make him head man. that was up to them.
and he hadn't asked for 1t all.
So thought 1t was pretty decent thing
Ior MCKINNEY 10 40, put ABOUT tnat time
Mckinney kind Of tapped him on the shoulder
and said. Come over here minute. got
few things ! think better tell you before
leave here" kind Of cooking his eye at me
when he said it. And then he got Irwin over
to the side and got right up in his face and
talked and talked, looking over at me every
once in while. And then irwin would kind
Of glance back over his shoulder at me and
then nod his head again, and then Mckinney
would get to going again. And in few min
utes there was three or four of them ganged
around listening with their heads popping
around at me and then back at Mckinney
again: so I seen then he warnt putting no
half-dead man in charge Just to be DECENT.
He was just USING him. Once figgered /
warnt going to stand for 1t no more. but time
made move to get UP. heered the guard
suck in his breath real deep and looked
around at him and he was right white in the
face, so I set down again.