Show Service Flag By EDWARD GRASS GRASSFIELD FIELD McClure New Newspaper SyndIcate Features pOLICE P OLICE Lieutenant Moore tried to assume a stern expression as he looked down at the little old lady standing before him You say you are an impostor and that you want to give yourself up he asked kindly Now just who was it you imposed on Mrs Murray On my country Your Honor she replied In spite of her deter deter- determined determined mined air she could not keep her voice from trembling ling I didn't mean any harm You see sir Im I'm Ima a widow without any children and it all started when I began to walk in inthe inthe the park evenings to get a little air The uThe boys in service are such fine looking young men When I heard them laughing and talking I used to pretend that one of them was mine especially when he would say something about writing home to Mom Her voice broke a little and she blinked rapidly before beginning anew The UThe next thing I did was to start noticing the mailman Ev- Ev Every ery day he brings a letter from overseas to some house on the block I know because I watch him from behind the curtain uI I envied everyone who has has' hasa a little lit lit- littIe tIe tle service flag in the window until I couldn't bear it any longer I one and hung it in my own win window ow even though I had no right to I sit down every night and write a letter to my boy abroad Of course I never post it b because cause I haven't anyone to send it to but it makes me feel as if I have 1 This precinct was mentioned that's why I tame here She took a little trimmed lace handkerchief from her pocketbook and dabbed at her eyes Here now The policeman came from behind the desk and put his arm around her uI I guess we aU all make believe once in a while Not wrong She stared at him incredulously Why I saw in the paper that its it's wrong to pretend when it concerns your country This precinct was mentioned that's why I came here She dug down into her bag and banded him a newspaper clipping BOY IMPOSTOR JAILED Last night police arrested George Marlin of 32 Chester street The IS- IS year old youth an orphan is charged with illegally wearing an army uniform and will be ar- ar arraigned arraigned tomorrow morning at the 2nd precinct The policeman laughed different Mrs Murray and even that worked out all right At first the boy was turned down for some minor defect and he was self con because he couldn't get in inthe inthe the army The judge suspended sentence sen- sen sentence tence when he found out the boys boy's motive and the army was willing to accept him for limited service He looked at the clipping again and whistled Wait a minute Theres There's something here I didn't see before He turned to the at- at Mike bring that boy out again I want to speak to him Mrs Murray looked up fright fright- ened Officer I hope I haven't made trouble for him by coming here The lieutenant didn't answer but buthe buthe he smiled as the boy approached George this is Mrs Murray he began by way of introduction She is an impostor too and in a sense an orphan like yourself The youth seemed puzzled look look- lookin lookIn In in from one to the other You are hereby ordered to write to her twice a week and to adopt her as your service mother Do you agree Gosh George blurted out Ill say I that agree is if Mrs Mur- Mur Murray Murray ray reali wants me to Gee Ill I'll be getting like the rest of the just fellows as if I had folks Mrs Murray threw her arms around his neck Write to o me quickly George Write as as' soon as you find out wb where rc you will be sta- sta stationed Then she hurried out the door The lieutenant noticed Georges George's bewilderment at her quick depart depart- ure in a hurry George he said She has a mighty important flag to hang up The lad still didn't understand but buthe buthe he was happy That morning he had acquired an Uncle Sam and now he had a mother One thing he dId know hed he'd never let either one of them down |