Christmas Leave

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17348, 20 December 1919, Page 3 (Supplement)

Christmas Leave

? VERNON BALSTONj .„ *

• Corporal Dabbs stood on the platform with two friends in khaki contemplating the Millrow train. The third-class carriages were already filled to overflowing.

'"There's a nice carriage up here with only fourteen in it, and three of 'em land girls," said Private Cringle. "We can squeeze in there." i

" Aye," said Private Calder, "we can all squeeze in there," laying a pronounced emphasis on the verb.

' " What's this?" exclaimed the corporal, as he contemplated a stout, fur-coated man coming along the platform. The furcoated one took his bag from the porter and entered an empty first-class carriage. " Blow me, if it ain't Sammy Phelps, 'oose father 'ad the saucepan factory and went bankrup'," exclaimed the corporal. " I worked for 'is father one week, I did. Then he give me seventeen and six and a sack to put it in. 'Ello, Sammy."

" We'll go in .with 'im," said the corporal. " Left turn, quick march."

"Look 'ere, we've only got third-class passes," protested Private 'Calder.

• " The British Army is first-class everywhere," returned the corporal. " Platoon by the left, quick march."

Mr. Phelps glanced up as the three entered his compartment.

"This is first-class!" he observed haughtily. " There ain't a better," replied the corporal, " else we'd have it, Sammy. 'Ere, pals this my old pal, Sammy. You didn't wear a fur coat when I knew you, Sammy."

" I've got to go up to the Ministry of Munitions so often that I must keep warm travelling," . explained Mr. Phelps. "I don't know what would i-appen if T was laid up." He drew a flask from his pocket and took a long drink. "There's not enough to make it worth while passing round," he said.

" I shouldn't think there was when you'd done with it," replied the corporal. " War going on all right?" inquired Mr. Phelps, changing the subject. " Considering that Duggy Haig has let us three have ten days' leave you m-y bet your boots on that," said the corporal modestly. " You don't know what a sira'n this war is for its at home," said Mr. Phel; s. " In my facto.ry now I employ nearly a thousand hands."

"I reckon you're piling up brass, boss," commented Private Calder.

"No, no," protested Mr. Phelps; "It all goes in excess profits." " And a bit in fur coats," said Private Pringle. " the war strain has aged me twenty years," said Mr. Phelps sadly. "It's stopped a lot o' pals of mine from ageing," said the corporal. " Yes, the army is healthy. I often wish I could have joined up, but the Ministry wouldn't hear of it." ".Aye, but my pals stopped ageing because their ages got fixed on their tombstones.. Well, well, it don't do to go talking about it on Christmas leave. These two pals o' mine having nowheres partiklar to go are coming down with me, Sammy. I'm going to show 'em what the beer at the Eagle's like." Mr. Phelps smiled maliciously. " The Eagle's been out of beer this last week. Unless you've got a pull with a brewery and can get a private barrel there's nothing in the town but minerals."

I'll lay a quid you've got a pull," remarked Private Priusde. ; V. - * " Then," boys,". said the corporal, bear--ing up bravely against the shock, " I'll show you the prettiest little barmaid in England:- Little' Susie Graham's a great pal d' mine," and she's a bit of all right." *" You won't find Miss Graham at the Eagle," 'interposed Mr. Phelps. " She's left there."

"What pub is she at now?" asked the corporal' eagerly. "It can 'ave~ all •my custom, especially as the poor old Eagle's no beer."

"She's in private life," replied Mr. Phelps. " I insisted on her giving it up directly she got engaged to me."

" Engaged to you!" exclaimed the corporal.

"Boss," said Private Pringle, " you seem to 'ave collared all the brass, all the beer, and all the beauty. Where does we come in?"

" We've got all the fighting, cocky," said ; Private Calder. " That's our share."

" I don't believe little Susie Graham's walking out with the likes of you," said the corporal.

" You'll believe it when you 6ee her meet me' at the station. She's coming to meet me because I've been buying her engagement ring in London. And there it is."

Mr. Phelps opened a small case and produced a dazzling ring. "Cost me all of fifty quid," bragged Mr. Phelps. " What she wanted — monds and rubies. She's done very well for herself has Susie. She'll have her own car and as many servants as she wants, and as many dresses as she cares to buy."

"Well, she'll need a lot to make up for 'aving you," said Private Colder candidly.

The corporal leant back in his seat, and whistled.

" That bloke had better be careful," whispered Private Calder to Private Pringle. " I never knew ole Dabbs whistle excep' when he was out bombing Huns."

" Shut your eyes quick if he goes for him, 60 we can swear at the inquest we never saw no one chucked out of the winder," replied the cautious Pringle,

But the train went on and the corporal made no move, much to the amazement of his friends. As it slowed down when entering Millrow, the corporal . stood up, and leaning out of the window sun-eyed the platform. There in the background he saw . a pretty, dainty girl with a strained, worried face. As the train drew up the corporal darted from the compart meut.

" Susie !" he called.

Her face lit up. " Bill!" she.cried, and the next moment was in the corporal's arms.

"Here!" cried Mr. Phelps. "That's my young ladyengaged to me."

" You're not on in this act, cocky,'" said Private Calder elbowing him back in the carriage. "The ole British Army 'as a 'abit of winning."

"Just as wimmen 'as 'abits of changing their minds," said Private Pringle. In the meantime Corporal Dabbe had swept the girl away from the platform. "I wouldn't have done it Susie," he said, "if you'd looked happy waiting to meet him. But when I saw you I'd got to rush the position."

" And when I saw you, Bill, I forgot all about him."

"This is a nice state of things!" protested Mr. Phelps, as he was allowed to emerge from the carriage. " Here's a girl engaged to me gone off with a soldier. They're just mad on khaki. That's what it is. And I've spent fifty quid on a ring for her. What am I to do with that?"

"Wear it in your nose,"-said Private Calder, " Merry Christmas, Boss."