CHAPTER IV
A FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT
"I want to warn you fellows," said Herb, stepping between the would-becombatants, "that this sort of thing is not what our officers wouldapprove of. You have no reason to scrap, except a mutual dislike. Betteragree to disagree. Shake hands and call it off."
"Shake? Not with that thing!" cried Gaul, and Roy vigorously shook hishead. There was positive joy in the lad's face and voice.
"The only use I'll make o' me hands now is quite different," he laughed.
"Oh, well, then; go at it," said Herb, and in a low voice to Roy: "Gethis wind first; then smash him."
The battle was short, sharp, and at first terrific on the part of Gaul.His style of fighting consisted in rapid rushes, swings and slams, if hecould clinch, in the hope to conquer at once.
Roy, as quick on his feet as a cat, had no difficulty in avoiding hisheavier opponent until the latter was partly winded; then suddenly Gaulgot two awful whacks on the solar plexus that further deprived him ofneeded oxygen so that he staggered. In that instant's failure to comeback Gaul got one big wallop, a right-handed, body-plunging swing fairon the side of his jaw and he was not even aware that the sidewalk flewup and all but embraced him.
Herb, Billy Phillips and the other fellow picked Gaul up and tried tostand him on his feet, Billy jocosely counting ten quite slowly. Gaulpresently opened his eyes and used his legs, then sat down on the bankbordering the open lots. Roy was far aside, using his handkerchief tobind up his skinned knuckles. Then Herb spoke:
"We're not going to report you fellows; we're not squealers. But youknow this boozing isn't a square deal; Billy, you know that, after whathas been said to us. The stuff's no good. What real fun can you see ingetting half soused and having everyone else wise to it? You ought tohave more sense."
"Doggone it, Herb, I have, and I'm going to give it the go-by! Owe it toyou fellows, too. Never again for me! I don't know about Gaul, but Idon't think Williams here----"
He turned, but the said Williams was walking rapidly away and they tookthat for a pretty good sign, or at least shame for his act. Billy added:
"He's a good chap and you've got his goat. Bet he cuts the booze, too.How about you, Gaul?"
The fellow was himself now, but sore mentally and physically, and hemade no reply. Phillips told him to come on, but he sat still, mumblingand thus they left him, Herb tossing the whisky bottle so that itsmashed to pieces at Gaul's feet.
* * * * *
The next morning, after drill and practice, Herbert was much surprisedand not a little bothered in mind to receive word from Corporal Grant ofhis squad that the captain wished to see Private Whitcomb. The boysurmised the reason and he did not wish to bear tales.
His worry was added to when Captain Leighton, saluting gravely, bade himfollow and led the way across the street to headquarters. In a momentthey stood before the commander's desk, and the general looked up withhis customary cold stare, which suddenly changed to surprise.
"This man boozing----?" he began.
"No, no, sir! Quite the reverse. He broke it up. Private Phillips, andWilliams, of Company D, are the ones who confessed that they went totown and got some liquor."
"Yes. Speak-easy. We have notified the authorities and they will arrestthe parties; if not, we shall send a squad and raid all doubtful places.But----"
"This man Whitcomb, General----"
"Yes, I remember him."
"Well, he took their bottle away and smashed it and talked Phillips andWilliams into good behavior. I get it also from Phillips that PrivateFlynn was in some kind of a fight over it, Flynn also being againstbooze, but I can't learn the name of the other fellow; possibly theydon't know him."
"Know him, Whitcomb?" General Harding asked.
"Yes-es, I--do." Herb hesitated. "But I'd rather not name him, sir.Flynn licked him awfully and I have a notion he was pretty well punishedand----"
"We ought to be the best judges of that. But no doubt you are right."The general arose and reached out his hand to Herbert. "You did a goodthing, my boy, and deserve the gratitude of the camp. It was no smallthing to do. If you were not so young I would recommend you to yourcolonel for a non-com appointment, but as it is I have my eye on you inanother capacity. Expert with a gun, are you not?"
"Oh, I don't know, sir. I----, but please remember Flynn also."
"We are going after you fellows later and I'll remember you both. Thanksfor your stand in this booze business."
But Herbert was not greatly elated over this incident; he consideredthat he had only done a simple duty, without playing at heroism, and itwas merely carrying out his convictions to the letter. He regretted thatRoy had not shared with him in being personally honored by thecommander's approval, but Roy declared he had taken no part, except infisticuffs.
However, another circumstance, a few days later, put a feather in thecap of each boy. It was a very different matter, indeed, in which theyfigured.
"Patriotism, to be worth while," their captain had said in one of histalks to the company in barracks, "must be of practical value and notconsist in the mere waving of flags and cheering. The true patriot iswilling at all times to do something for his country, to defend heragainst detractors, to fight her battles.
"There is among our alien inhabitants throughout the land a treacherythat is in league with our foes and this is making itself felt in somany ways, is trying to influence so many people who have to do with ourwar preparations that it is difficult to say where, when, and how it maycrop out. It has even dared, snake-like, to rear its ugly and venomoushead in or near our military camps, and all the watching in the worlddoes not seem to keep it down nor stamp it out entirely. I only mentionthis to caution you against it whenever encountered, just as you shouldbe cautioned against rattlesnakes in the mountains or sharks whenswimming in tropic waters."
There came to the town, occupying hotels, cottages, empty schoolbuildings, halls and specially erected shacks, a Woman's SocialBetterment League from somewhere, fraternizing with an organization ofthe kind in the town and directing its very laudable efforts towardmaking life more enjoyable for the soldiers.
There were those who said it was made up largely of faddists, well-to-dowomen and their followers who were looking for something new andamusing, but this was not entirely the truth. Others said that the campshad too much of the "betterment business," but the Woman's Leagueworkers did not preach; they exerted only an insistent, healthyinfluence.
Most of the inhabitants of Camp Wheeler, even largely the officers, fellfor this sort of treatment when on leave; and among them, in time, wereHerb Whitcomb and Roy Flynn.
The League gave several dinners and most properly conducted dances, theinvitations being nicely managed so as to include everyone in turn. OneSaturday afternoon the two Brighton boys were booked for a tennistournament against several couples picked from other companies.
Herb never did find out how they were chosen to represent their company,nor would Roy admit that it had been his doings. The latter could play afine game himself, but he very justly lauded his chum.
Herb's service was superb, his returns were nearly all well placedsmashes, his net play was a revelation to most of the onlookers. CompanyH took the first prize easily and a young and blushing girl, standing bythe general, tendered it to Herb and Roy, the latter looking right ather with a wide but most respectful grin. Herb did not know even whatshe looked like; he knew she was a girl only by the toe of her boot andall he heard was the final comment of the general.
"Fine work, my boy! I used to be pretty good at tennis myself. Had thehonor of playing with Colonel Roosevelt once when he was in the WhiteHouse. Remember, lad, I have my eye on you. If you can shoot half asgood as you can get a ball over the net----"
"Much better, sir; much better!" struck in Roy, and the commander smiledand waved his hand, the crowd cheered and an orchestra struck up somepopular selections.
Following this Herb and Ro
y found themselves invited to a private affairon a Sunday afternoon, along with four other rookies. On the Saturdaypreceding the event the six were ordered to report to regimentalheadquarters.
They filed in, saluting Colonel Walling, who looked them over closely,then began asking questions as to their families, bringing up, schoollife and teachings and present ideas, though not one of them knew whatit was all about. It proved to be a rather solemn occasion until thequestions came to Roy Flynn. That lad needed no prompting, having caughtthe drift from the previous questions.
"If me name is Flynn, sir, I'm neither Dutch, French nor Italian, andthough me folks is Hibernian and so emerald green that a shamrock lookslike a blue daisy alongside, don't believe nothin' else but what I'm sohigh-pressure American that the sky above has nothin' on me for trueblue. I want most of all in this world to get to the happyhunting-ground in the next, but close second to that is the wish to seethe Germans get it in the windpipe, proper and right. Do ye get me,sir?"
Colonel Walling had to laugh; being part and proudly Irish himself, hemust have appreciated the lad's manner and remarks. Then he asked somequestions of one other man, a young corporal in Company A, and runninghis eye over the bunch was about to indicate to Lieutenant Spaulding totake this man aside when in came Brigadier-General Harding.
There was a moment's conference between the two officers. Thecommander's cold eyes scanned the crowd, but warmed a little when hecaught sight of Whitcomb. Then, after a short consultation, CaptainLeighton was called forward. Herb also was asked to advance and he heardthe colonel say:
"Give them a broad hint; make them understand the possible situation.They must only keep their eyes open and keep mum."
The general added quickly.
"Better confine this to Whitcomb only; he'll know how far to includeFlynn. We can trust them both, I think, but depend most wisely onWhitcomb. Eh, my boy?"
"Why, I hope so, whatever it is," Herb replied, turning very red.
They were all dismissed, Herbert being asked to accompany CaptainLeighton. In a quiet corner of the barracks, which was his office, hegave the boy these brief orders:
"We suspect there is something wrong at Mrs. Thompson's, where you areinvited to dinner. She was, we find, before her marriage, a Miss Heinigand we believe she was not born in this country. You might guess where,though we do not actually know. However, we want you to keep your earsopen and use your wits and we trust you; the general, you may haveobserved, picked you out from the others for this duty. Flynn is goingalong; you may put him partly wise, if you like, but we think notaltogether at first. Just give him some hints to stand in with you whencalled on, if you need him at all. Now, there may be some sharp brainwork necessary, also the necessity of fully keeping your head undertrying conditions. Are you at all fond of the girls?"
"No," replied Herb. "Don't know anything about them. They're niceenough, I dare say; fine, in fact, to be sure, but you see I've alwaysbeen an out-of-doors kid and something of a student and I'm only a boyyet. I respect girls, of course, because my mother was one once and Ilike to remember her as quite angelic. I think she must be an angel now.She's dead."
The captain leaned over and put his hand on the boy's shoulder and for amoment the two were not superior officer and private; they were man toman in genuine sympathy.
"My own case, too, my boy. I know just how you feel." He paused. "Butto come back to the matter in hand. We can believe, with good reason,that most women are fine. There are some, however, that are treacherous,scheming, dishonest; outward show and charming manners do not alwayshide this fully. You will be up against something of this to-morrow,perhaps. Now, if anything transpires that is not all right in yourestimation and you can fully handle it yourself, simply call yourcompanions together--they merely have orders to act as a squad if calledon and to take orders from you. But if you are at all doubtful abouttaking action just call me up; I believe the cottage has a 'phone."
"But what will there be----?" began Herb. The captain shook his head.
"We think it best not to tell you all; it may cause you to act hastilyand you may find out nothing. Only just be on the lookout, with yourears mostly."
The Brighton Boys in the Trenches Page 4