Show Skullduggery Skull be beBy fly Ily J. J D D. RYAN McClure Syndicate Features AS J S DILL BILL SMITH hiked along the tho theA A I macadam road toward Sum- Sum Summerfield the draft board center he had ample opportunity to calculate calculates his chances of being drafted It was now six months after Pearl Harbor he was two twenty strong and arid physically sound lie 1113 recalled how eager he had been to te sign on when his boss sent for him Now Dill Bill he lie began I want you to get any of these wild Ideas in your head about enrolling So far as war contribution Is concerned you'd be doing far more for your your- country by remaining here hete Youre You're a pretty valuable man Dill Bill cleared his throat noisily all aU right for you jou ou to say Mr Me Jones but Im I'm wondering what people will think about an able- able bodied man in a factory when he should be shouldering a rifle The executive pursed his lips Yes theres there's something to that Bill Dill He gazed reflectively out the theoffice theoffice theoffice office window Tell you what Bill Dm you forget this volunteer business In Irs time If youre you're needed you'll be called That way Ill I'll have a chance to 10 break bleak in a new man Hows How's that strike you Bill considered this proposition carefully OK boss he decided Ill help you here until my number comes up swell Mr Jones shook hands with him to end the Interview Bill carried out his par part of the bargain Night after night he be stayed overtime to expedite production He was earning big money but dissatisfaction faction gnawed within him Wont be long now before Ill I'll receive my selective service papers They'll be singing Youre in the Army Now Nov When the questionnaire came Din Bin filled it out scrupulously fearing to tomake tomake tomake make an error which might delay his classification Ills His job io seemed drudgery now Each day da at mall mail delivery time he telephoned his landlady to t Inquire about letters Then when he had resigned himself to disappointment a s penny postal arrived with the curt statement Your statement Your classification is Necessary to defense A wave of bitterness swept over nim olm Who were they to decide on his case without a physical ex ex- examination examination lIe He had expressly noted that he preferred the rating lA And this was their answer How did they come to settle on that Then with stunning clarity he knew Mr Jones He must have written asking for deferment If the boss said Bill was necessary to his business that would end it No won won- wonder wondel del der ncr they had placed him In 1 What What am am I going to do about it Bill DIU asked himself There must be some way way to beat the old man at athis athis athis his own game At the plant he noticed how the chief avoided him Just as well for his peace of mind Bill DIU thought his blue eyes flashing dangerously A few weeks later Bill BUI was called for toe a physical examination for re re- classification The rho boss was wear- wear wearIng wearIng wearing Ing a cat that swallowed the ca canary canary ca- ca canary nary expression Youre In this time old aid boy he prophesied I told you not to worry but I suppose you couldn't help it Young fellows are always impatient Bill Dm had traveled about a mile half when a car overtook him Lift Buddy the driver Invited Bill Dm looked at the out of state plates and shook his head hend Thanks all the same Just a short distance to go The driver meshed his gears and was soon saon out of sight Then another car stopped Bill Dill smilingly re re- refused refused refused fused the otTer offer of a second lift When the third car stopped Dill Bill accepted Going far the driver Inquired To Ta T Just where Im I'm going swell said Bill Dm I have havet to t take a physical at the draft board Think you'll make it Bill tongued his cheek Heck so far as that's concerned Im I'm all right They wont won't take me and that's all allright allright allright right too The jh driver flicked his gaze from the road to stare at Bill BUI How do you yau figure that Bill smiled sardonically A guys guy's a sucker to get in the army for fifty bucks a month when he can make snake that in less than a week in a ma ma- machine machine machine chine shop They praise you too and tell you yau how patriotic you are He lie nudged the man to press his point Why my Why my boss just writes the board tells them Im I'm Indispensable Indispensable indispensable sable and presto and presto Im I'm deferred Its It's a racket I tell you The driver edged away from him At the out out- outskirts outskirts skirts kirts of town Bill said Ill get out here and thanked him Be seeing you he waved Youie Youre right you will the other promised grimly Bill grinned Ill have to seem awfully surprised when n I see that guy on the board Let Jones try to ta get me in now He lie headed toward the local office humming Youre in the Army Now Mow |