| Show Ill MR WINKLE t TO WAR Yo r II THEO THEORE PRATT gRE VV JL I I I Till THE TItUS THUS l' l 1 old year libert who I ho a lr shop In tn tuck blk of ol hi home horn II 11 notified ed by bli dull that t ho he It Is In III IA I-A. Me lie break break- bro till lift bid bad news noss to hit hi domineering wife 11 Ani who wh yh li It quite I perturbed On till I it t camp Mr Ir I Winkle Ii li hen hell lilt hi tI and lId In 11 a his great grett e and nul Is It accept accepted ed d for or the th un arrn lie lip takes tk the ottI o of enlistment sad AliI nd Ht 10 Wil min shots ShOt he h cannot remember r t whIt l they hey th y all alt allare altare allare are for or lie Is k sent oitt to U imp 1 a thousand Irom home hoin herr II he hen ascot neta n eta Mr Ir Tinker a nun III st u of it hIs hh own on are age Mr Ir gets get KP r 1 ami a use Home bayonet practice In tn he silt not do 1111 doso 10 so 0 writ welt mK Once more mOrt Mr Ir Winkle fired the machine gun gull Ily by moving it about he hc managed 1 Red to send scud sev sev- several several eral bullets where they were vere Slip Slip- supposed posed to tn go He lie clung to the trig trie- ger tor desperately hoping to do welt well If only by accident The Thc Sergeant had to yell for him to stop atop Pop the Alphabet told him him fondly If It was anybody ex cx- except you Id I'd know he IS was WItS gold gold- bricking In that case ease Id I'd make him him Into the Ule best gunner on the range But Dut I 1 gut St you nod any kind of a gun cun aint n a In t the thc kind to make nake friends You not got to learn hearts lea rn sonic some more but you'll you II never learn lea rn much a Mc Mca a S a 4 lii ui I lie He clung to tile Ule trigger desperate desperately ly I do e well If ii only by accident All AU right Private Tindall lots lets see what the master mind can con do Freddie sat sut nonchalantly at the gun It was the lie first time he had hud followed an order with any kind of grace lie looked around The Tho Lieu Lieutenant tenant was far down the line You see that target Freddie asked Sergeant flints you Shoot the gun Instead of your mouth Jack advised Freddie glared at him Freddie took his time at the gun Run Finally he fired Delicately he iso han handled died the bouncing death lie sliced the up and ond down marks on the tar get He Ito sliced those running across He lIe cut to ribbons those marked on a lant slant When he was through he asked triumphantly of the Sergeant How flow low do you like yourself now The Alphabet regarded the target with regretful admiration If there was somebody else than a rat fat who did that he observed It would be A One nice and I would send him a gold engraved Invitation to Join the machine gun crew I think the Lieu Lieutenants Lieutenant's Lieutenants Lieutenants tenants tenant's going to let me nie make moke up The first Mr Winkle knew of It was the sound of loud voices coming from the rear of the barracks Run Running ning out with other men he discovered discovered ered that Jack hadn't waited to get Freddie away from camp When Mr Winkle rushed forward to stop it he was caught end held by one of the huge arms of Mr TAnk Tink Tinker er who advised fiercely I alone The battle was progressing on pretty much of an even basis by bythe bythe bythe the time the Alphabet arrived on the scene Icene Afterward Freddie claimed that he was swinging at Jack when he hit the Sergeant Jack recounted the same tale when one of his blows caught the Alphabet instead and andIn andIn andIn In his case he was sincere but not appreciated by the higher ties As they were led oil of to the Lieu Lieu- Lieutenant Lieutenant tenant by Sergeant Jack called calle to Mr Winkle Please dont don't- dontI ontI I wont won't promised Mr Mm Winkle He lIe didn't even write home about the Incident when both the warriors were given terms tennis in the stockade Mr Winkle was ordered to report to the orderly room Wondering what serious breach bresch of military eti etl etiquette oti- oti quette he had committed He be de departed de- de departed parted to the accompaniment of en en- encouraging remarks from his tom corn rades nades It was Vias nice knowing you Pop Pap When you get et to England drop us a card The Lieutenant leaned back in his chair behind his desk and regarded him Gutting Getting along all right he heI asked I Yes Cs sir that Hint is s 1 1 I hope hOp o O. O sir sirVe I We Ve re with van vou In tim most respects ts If tf Huts Hut's what bilt ou Oti u menu meun Like the Army Arm I l like II sir sir Mt Winkle WillI knew Y this isis to lie he 11 the tile stock stack answer to till this question The lise Lieutenant to know Imo It I t too a ad to t a want va nt n II little lIt I he more In- In for hi n rephrased the ques Happy I Ia In III I ii It it Mr l Winkle he hesitated teti Answer Just list tho II way WilY you feel the Lieutenant Instructed ins I rue ted Im I'm sir sit sirIm sirIm Well Veli I 1 cant can't say ay happy Im I'm not exactly a II tighter I that la it with my lIlY lists so to tn speak Anti And be tw being lug ing In away n from frum my Illy IU wife You miss niss Your regular vork that Yes Ves Y s sir sit lint Hut I recognize why Im I'm hero here You know the new regulations that went Into effect till the other tiny day Youre You're over thirty eight can get gt geta a discharge rite If it you go tutu Into a war wa I In Why haven't you applied IIpp Any Amy had written that she also would leave heave It up UIs to him and that hut she would bo lIe b proud of him hint no iso matter i what a I ho Ill decided Lied As A s yet y et lie ht Is e hadn't given her n a formal answer Yr Now he prepared It Id like to stay In the Hie Army he hoard lieu rd himself h I telling to I I lug tin tin- tI a Lieuten If U lint ant you want me nie The at nt him him once Oiled with willi approval Im going tit ta taa ask a sk you one olle more mo question iou Winkle V I rude Think It over before you answer Art Are you afraId I Dont he lie ashamed of It the I Lieutenant advised lIe He smiled lied If It you'd told me nil you weren't wrent afraid I would have known you weren't speaking the truth And I dont don't mean meun you atomic alone ala lie but all 1111 the tIle men lIeu In iii- Including eluding myself Its It's a normal tiling like being nervous before making malting a II speech Usually you make a II better speech because youre you're nervous Its It's the same way with wilh fighting Fear makes you more mon aware keener alert alert u n better fighter lighter No soldier has ever Iver gone olle into battle without being if afraid If ho hue has hus there lucre was something the Uie matter with him Dont connect my lily lecture the hue filet fact Lieutenant went on with the Ule that hunt Im I'm recommending you for me time Motor Mechanics School I simply feel eel that's where you belong by pre pre- previous experience and at lit your age nee And you may have to fight there or orbe orbe orbe be so close to It that Its It's virtually tho the same sume timing thing flints That's all and good luck to you It was n it moment before Mr Win Win- Windo do kle could scramble to his feet flet and amid salute sl Good luck to you sir sir- that Is thank you sir Mr Me Winkle felt fel that the Army kind had something of a soul alter after nil all While he didn't exactly walk wull on air which was Impossible anyway being un on Army mechanic was work he would like better than tilOn marching or shoot shoot- Ing At least It found a round hole for him to fit In more comfortably Ulan than the one he now occupied Mr Mn Tinker on the other hand luand when the notices were posted on tile the bulletin board und and his Ills name nil me was listed with that hunt of Mr Winkle was not pleased I aint Mel Mo Me I I he complained In the Army to be any uny nursemaid ld to toa a jeep It aint right It aint right for a u You better write to the Secretary of War about It It advised one of his squad who was remaining an Infantryman tryman You Just write to him and hell he'll fix It up for tor you The Winkle and Tinker moved In new circles They changed chanced to barracks at nt one of the far fur ends of Camp Squibb so many miles away that It might have been a different world Their asso asso- associates were all mechanically inclined Individuals These spoke their Ian lan language guage better belter than had their previous companions and ond over them all was wasa a slightly technical aura lIura Their office during business hours was a large lorge like hangar building i Two Iwo lines linen of engines mounted on high wooden frames were placed down its length On these they worked In select groups of four tour with a n Technical Corporal over each quartet and a supervising Captain miraculously clad in coverall like their own Mr Winkle who could repair anything any thing here really learned about Army regulations which presumed that he knew nothing about a com com- combustion bustion engine They also alto held that there was only one way to do a specified Job the Army way and that anything else might as well not exist We will will- now lectured his Cor Cur Corporal Instructor locate the th trouble in this engine which wont won't run To illustrate te he turned on the Ignition I and pressed the starter with his hand The motor turned t over but refused to start stort The Th Corporal looked about at his four men peering at their nameplates Winkle you take It- It It Mr Winkle who had been regard regard- regarding ing the engine idly had already no no- noticed noticed the trouble Why he said the carburetors carburetor's out of adjust adjust- ment He lie swiped briefly but expertly at atthe atthe atthe the carburetor with his screw driver er snapped on the ignition pressed the be starter and the motor roared The Tho Corporal looking apoplectic gestured wildly for him to shut it off oft Mr Winkle obeyed Indignantly the Corporal put the carburetor out of adjustment again and then addressed Mr Winkle se se- se i verely a n Rood good deal teal put out that thaI this little ruse had IK-CM IK discovered so easily Look he said here wo work up lip It to be bc Thomas A. A Edison r slow slow- like hike Starting from the lie ground 1 I think you heard the Captain men mention lion linn something about procedure sin sheets You Von got Rot yours yours' yours Mr MI iti Winkle i. i lucid held It up tip liP Wh ls It say liay flY you do o 11 0 Mt Mi Winkle read crank C ruu engine m by hy sin rte r If It en engine engino cine gine tires but motor wont won't run pout 11 gas In the Carburetor Now you got mt the lie Idea the Cor Corporal I ordered Mr I Winkle cranked the engine which fired but didn't run He lie took up all n a can und and poured gasoline In the carburetor and tried again liRa In The en engine pine gine ran for a n moment and then spluttered to a stop stoll Mr Winkle glanced longingly at al althe atthe the tilt carburetor adjustment and then lien consulted his procedure sheet once more re relie lie He learned he hut now how knew that hunt the seat t of o time tho trouble was the fuel system lIe He checked the gas IlS sup sup- supply ply till the lines lilies and the hue connections con Finally he hue carne came according to pro Pro- procedure to the hue carburetor lie Ill swiped with his hula screw driver again and nd this LImit tune time when he hue pushed pu hue tho start er Ir Army procedure was triumphant When he shut stunt oft olT the he engine he stood back buck with n a puzzled expression on oil hula his face Can I ask n II question Corporal Something you dont don't under I stand S In mud Well Vell proposed Mr l Winkle supposing Im I'm out In a stalled truck with the enemy after lifter me nuo Do I go through the time procedure and amid got get cap enl captured tired or do I adjust the carburetor ca and escape lie knew by now It wits was heresy to tomake make such inquiries but the hue answer to this on one worried him genuinely The Corporal regarded him him with with- Maybe your skin will tell you that If you think Its It's worth sav ing S C Mr Winkle and his hl friend Mr Tinker were In town to celebrate their completing the thue Motor Mechanics ics lea course nod having received their certificates of or graduation They stood outside the bar Mr Tinker patronized Mr l Winkle was Will about to be on his way down the street alone us as usual leaving Mr Tinker linker to the attractIons within Mr I l i w L. I 1 LT Getting along alan all right he be asked Tinker had been wishing that he would join him this time How about It he Inquired No Mr Winkle replied Judiciously Judi I 1 dont don't think so I know youre you're married and all but that aint any reason you yau cant can't enjoy yourself Mr Winkle shook his head I aint trying to get you to do anything you dont don't want to do ar an- argued gued Mr Tinker While they stood discussing It with Mr Tinker making most of the com corn comments ments they saw two soldiers com corn coming ing tug along the street One was Jack but they couldn't believe their eyes at first when they recognized the tho other They hadn't seen Jack or Freddie since the fight Incredible rumors which they refused to accept had reached them that Freddie had final final- finally finally ly been boen broken Into small pieces and was being put together again in an another another other form Now the soldier on Jacks Jack's arm stood straight lie He was confident but not arrogant And no mustache blackened his upper lip which was shaven clean Mr Tinker was the first to 10 speak to Freddie That aint you Tin Tin- dall dali Mr Winkle stared perplexed from one to the other of ot the young men It cant can't be he said Jack laughed Sure it Is Ja Hes He's HelIIn on an Army lug now He nudged Fred Fred- die Go on on speak your piece Freddie had been standing with his face slightly flushed making no mak g o comment Now he looked for or an Instant before he said IBid I Iguess Iguess Iguess guess I owe you an apology Mr Winkle TO DE DR CONTINUED |
