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Show PACKACE FROM HOME FRANK NICKERSON ir ; WELL' weU' see what Wilbur's got,", growled Pvt. George Mahon, better known as Butch. He sat upright with interest. Pvt. Red Carson, his buddy, who had been lounging with him In the warm sun behind the barracks, rolled over on his stomach and studied stud-ied Wilbur's approaching figure. "Looks like a package," said Red. "So what?" Butch grinned. "Yeah. But it's not an ordinary one. It's from home. Maybe it has some cookies in it." His mouth watered at the mere thought. Red rolled over on his back, uninterested. un-interested. "I still say so what? He's got it. We haven't. And after the way we've razzed him. I can't picture him dividing with us of his own free will." He sat up and looked at Butch. "But . . ." he said. "Why, we might kind of persuade Wilbur." Butch looked speculatively speculative-ly at his fists. "I'm sure he'll understand." under-stand." "Nope, not for me," said Red, shaking his head. "Have you forgotten for-gotten what. Sergeant Herriott promised prom-ised us the next time we stepped out of line? And the old man, well " Red stopped at the very thought of what Captain Bellows might do. "How are they going to know, unless un-less Wilbur tells them? Don't worry," wor-ry," Butch advised, "I'll put such a scare in him he won't dare say a word." He glanced at the rapidly approaching Wilbur. "Well, are you in or not?" "O.K.,", said Red, standing up and dusting himself off, "but I hope we won't regret it." Butch sniffed scornfully. "We'll slip around on the other side of the barracks and grab him as he passes." He pushed Red before him. "He's almost here," announced Red as he stole a quick look from their ambush. Red nodded his agreement, two socks in his hands. Butch stood poised with an open bag as Wilbur swept past. With the speed of two Rangers, Red and Butch were upon Wilbur, silencing his "Fellows! Wait! Let me" The socks in his mouth cut him short. Butch retrieved re-trieved the dropped bundle and tore Butch and Red greedily consumed cookies. the wrappings off as he seated himself on Wilbur's thrashing body. A few minutes later, Butch sighed contentedly. "O.K., let him up now." He stood up contentedly munching the last of the cookies. Wilbur gulped and looked at the lone cake, the mutilated box and crumpled papers on the ground. "I forgot," Butch went on sarcastically. sarcas-tically. "Red, give Wilbur the box and wrappings, too. He ought to have everything that belongs to him." Red presented the broken box to Wilbur and carefully folded the torn coverings. "Here, Wilbur," he said with a deep mock bow, "here's the " he stopped, with bulging eyes. "Butch," he gasped. "Butch!" But he couldn't say another word. Wilbur nodded his head sorrowfully. sorrowful-ly. "That's what I tried to tell you. j Gosh, fellows, what'll you do now?" he wailed. "What's this all about?" Butch demanded. de-manded. "Red, what's the matter?" mat-ter?" Silently Red held the label so that Butch could see it. Butch's heart sank to his shoes as he carefully spelled out, "Captain John Bellows." And below, "Christmas Package." Dimly Butch and Red heard Wilbur's Wil-bur's voice. "I tried to tell you, but you didn't give me a chance. Sergeant Ser-geant Herriott just gave me this to deliver to the captain. It wasn't mine at all." |