Adventure Magazine Cover, November 10, 1924 — page 7: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Casual’s Return 5 perhaps to protect the other men from an accidental discharge of the shotgun he carried over his shoulder. The sergeant entered the farther door and joined the line that stood against the wall of the building. There were only a few men in line and they moved along rapidly. At the head of the line was a desk at which a slight, calm-faced soldier sat. ‘‘What’s your outfit?” he asked the man at the head of the line. “Thirtieth Infantry.” The man at the desk consulted a list. “They gone overseas,” he said. The man in line shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Uhhuh,” said he. ‘Where was you when they went?” asked the calm man at the desk. “T was on—ahem—pass,”’ said the man in line. “It’s funny they’d go and leave me, ain’t it?” Apparently it was not, for no one smiled. “Have you got your pass wit’ you?” in- quired the calm man at the desk. “Well, no. You see the first sergeant was gonna give me one, but I had to catch a quick train, an’ so I come off——’”’ A wave of the calm man’s pen cut short the tale. “Go this way,” directed the man at the desk. The man at the head of the line started off swiftly enough toward the door that opened into the pleasant sunlight again. Just as he reached it, an arm shot out and barred his path. “What’s your hurry?” asked a rough man, who had a mouthful of licorice. “T ain’t in no hurry,” said the other mildly, his eye taking in the other’s bulging cartridge belt, his bayonet, his holster flap tied back away from his pistol-and the cav- ernous muzzle of his shotgun. “No,” said the first man, “I ain’t in the slightest hurry.” “Well, that’s lucky,” said the man who barred the door, “fer you ain’t gonna go nowheres for some time. Sit down, now, an’ keep cool a minute.”’ The first man sat down with a slight sigh. He had expected it anyway. Sergeant Eadie waited patiently while the rest of the men were disposed of. One man really had a travel order, for he had been left behind in hospital, but the others had nothing, not even an alibi. ‘shotgun. The man behind the desk listened politely and then waved his pen and the man before the desk sat down in the group at the other door. Then the sergeant stood at the desk. “A Battery, 76th,” said he. ‘They’ve been gone a month. Here’s my leave.” He tossed a leave on the desk and the calm man picked it up. He riffled the sheets and consulted a calendar. “This here leave’s up two weeks ago,” he remarked. “TY wouldn’t have come back at all,” said the sergeant, “only my money gave out.” The man behind the desk was startled out of his calm. “Shsshsh!” he said. ‘‘Don’t make no cracks like that. They’ll hang a lead brace- let round your neck for less’n that. Boy, don’t chuck your weight none thataway. You birds goin’ absent an’ showin’ up after your outfit’s gone are gonna ketch —— from now on, I ain’t kiddin’ yuh. There’s new orders out. Take ’em away, Pete.” This last to the rough man with the weapons. , “Forward—ho,” said the rough man. “Straight across the road an’ down the street. I'll tell yuh when to stop, an’ if any one starts to go, I’ll help him with a little dust outta this here,’’—slapping his ‘*Perceed!”’ They proceeded. Across the road, up the slope between the barracks to the crest of a slight hill, where there was a separate block of barracks, eight or nine of them, huddled by themselves. The men viewed these barracks with a slight quickening of the heart. A high, wide fence surrounded them, a fence of barbed wire, and at the corners of the fence were watch towers, with searchlights atop. In the middle of the fence was a great gate that swung open at their approach. The men passed in and the gate swung slowly to. Clank! ‘“‘Well,” said Eadie. ‘So this is Paris!” The men looked at him askance. Two more guards appeared and, having called the names of the prisoners, signed a receipt for them and the rough man took his departure. “Hey,” called the sergeant after him. ‘What is this place?”’ “Tt’s where they puts yellar lice what ain’t got the guts to go overseas with their outfits, so’s the other fellars won’t string ’em up by the ears.” CoMmicbook © 5}