Arthur Train

“ When you go over the top, remember, you aint supposed to take the enemy trench. Your attempt fails. That's the whole point of the story. You don't ever get there. You all get killed. So remember to drop dead as you go along. Not all at once—but two or three at a time, scattering. I tell you when. But nobody gets more than halfway. You all die for France, see?”
Jules heard and understood perfectly, at last. Hitherto he had not been quite sure that it was all real. They were all to die for France, just as his brothers and little Alexis, and all the comrades, had died for France. ”

“ There were several hundred of them, with here and there a uniform, and it was clear that something important was afoot. At one end of the inclosure was drawn up a field battery, and there was a major on a white horse, just as Jules had dreamed of Alexis. The sergeant was calling the roll, and as each man answered to his name, he was given a uniform, helmet, cartridge-belt and rifle with bayonet. Against a wall rested a beautiful new flag—the flag of France! ”

“ Across the road there was some sort of shop, and presently a man with a black mustache came to the door and nodded to him.
“Hello!” said the man in a strangely familiar voice. “Some climb. Where are you going? Want a taxi?”
Jules peered at him, trying to recognize his features.
“Taxi!” He shrugged his shoulders. “I do not want a taxi—unless a job to drive one. Do you want a chauffeur?”
“No,” answered the other. “Out of a job?”
Jules nodded. He was trying to remember that voice. He arose and crossed the road. Over the door in large letters was painted the word Garage.
“How are you, Toni?” ”

“ The words startled Jules into quivering alertness.
“It's alive with boches, see? But they don't come out at all. They just shoot you down as you charge across No Man's Land. It's all right. You wont get near enough to feel any powder. This trench here is ours, the advanced French position—get me? That stuff in front is wire—white string, really. You don't need to bother with it. All that space between the trenches is swept by rifle-bullets. You can see the corpses lying about—dummies. ”

“ Jules shook his head.
“I will get no more job,” he answered in a toneless voice. “I cannot see any more—except the very big things in the day and the very bright things in the night, and I cannot tell which is which. No, I cannot drive any more.”
“Oh, well! Cheer up! Things aint always so bad as they look. Now, some doctor, maybe—”
“The doctor told me long ago,” said Jules.
Mat fingered nervously the black-bordered letter in his pocket. It was a fine time to deliver a letter like that! He walked back once to the end of the garage trying to make up his mind. ”

“ Sunday was his hardest day, for then the cars came roaring up the hill in endless succession, many of them stopping for oil, gas or repairs. But on Monday things were apt to be easier, and he occasionally got a chance to stroll off by himself.
It was on one of these off Mondays that Jules, having cleaned up a bit, wandered over the hill to rest and think. Ever since he had encountered the soldier-boys, the sound of the fife and drum had not left his head. ”

“ The supreme moment of his life had come!
“Now get down into the trench!” directed Varick. “And do exactly as I tell you. Keep your heads down, or the snipers 'll get you!
BY the light of a couple of blue flares, the column climbed down and sheltered itself behind the trench, Jules just letting the tip of the flag appear above it. He was full of a glorious exaltation. A few moments, and he would be carrying the colors of France into the German trenches. He did not notice the camera-man who had taken up his position just to one side of him, nor hear Varick shout “All ready!—Camera!” ”

“ But Jules would answer regretfully:
“My English, madame, is not very good. A footman would make it much easier for me at first. I think perhaps I had better not take the place, madame.”
And he would bow himself out, while the lady would remark indignantly:
“What a pretentious man! Too good for his job! I am well rid of him!'
Around the garage Conway encouraged him as best he could, but after three weeks Jules began to lose hope. He had been obliged to buy a new pair of shoes and an overcoat, which were absolutely necessary, and he had only fourteen dollars left. ”

“ He could not very well miss the opera-house—all covered over with lights and with so big an entrance. He joined the slowly crawling line of motors, stopping when it stopped and then grinding heavily along on low gear. There it was! His hazardous journey was safely over. He stopped in front of the glaring lights and leaped down to open the door of the motor, intending to explain again how inevitable it was that he should have been late. ”

“ The garage man yawned loudly and looked at the clock.
“Gettin' along toward mornin!” said he. “You go along home. The day man can wash the Pierce when she blows in! Beat it now!”
“But who will open the garage the Pierce comes?” demanded Jules, suspiciously.
“Sure, he'll ring, wont he?” retorted Conway. “And then I'll come down. No use your stayin' here just for that.”
Jules turned away. Did Conway intend to keep him on but not to allow him to do any work? Mat was a good boy! But it would not do. He could not be an object of charity. He would try it one more night and see. ”

“ Our Alexis is dead—but all goes well for France! It is well.”
THE anticipated summons to go around to the house to see Mr. Hollinsbee came by telephone the next morning at ee o'clock.
“Er—Jules,” began Mr. Hollinsbee awkwardly, “after what happened last hight I—er—we—shall be obliged to let you go. It was very inconsiderate for you to—er—be like that at this time Of year when it is so hard to get a chauffeur—and Patrick sick too. I don't know what Mrs. Hollinsbee will do! However, it would be quite impossible to keep you—quite impossible! I trust that you understand that, yourself?” ”

“ Jules hurried away as fast as he could and presently returned with the beer and sausage. His pourboire amounted to thirty cents!
“Come on inside,” invited his new friend. “You look kinda down on your luck. Ever seen a studio? Well, there's some doings, believe me! What do you do for a living?”
“Work around the garage,” answered Jules. He liked this camera-man. ”

“ But around the corner—là-bas—was his own house, and there,—surely!—there was the bakery of M. Duciaux, the father of his little playmate Nanette. Nanette! The thought of her still sent a great pang through his heart. Little Nanette! Dead now these forty years! ”

“ Varick, we're about a dozen men shy.”
The man in the fur overcoat made a gesture of wrath.
“Hang it,” he answered, “what did I tell you! If you haven't enough supers, you'll spoil the picture.”
“I'm not responsible if they don't show up!” retorted the sergeant resentfully.
“Well, can't you raise anybody else? What's the matter with the bunch in front of you?”
“They'll do, if you want em? answered the sergeant.
“Course we want 'em. Take anybody we can get!” yelled Mr. Varick,
JULES did not comprehend this interchange. ”

“ His expenses with the French family with which he boarded were about eight dollars a week. He could surely get along for five or six weeks, and during that time he ought to be able to find another place. He returned to his boarding-place and carefully pressed his only threadbare suit of blue serge and asked Conway to make him up a list of possible places from the want-columns of the evening papers.
It was late in the season, however, and it seemed as if few families wanted chauffeurs. Moreover, such persons as needed one did not keep a footman—a necessary condition in the case of Jules. ”