United States Military Academy Furlough - Furlough Book Yearbook (West Point, NY)

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for the skin bookg then, too, he is one in dis. Private Heidt is first captain, and a fairly good one, but a quill. The other captains are O'Neill, Blunt, McCleary, Burlingame and March. I was second ranking first Sergeant last year, but His Majesty the Com. got sore because I wou1dn't use the quill. Somehow it's not in me to skin a fellow, so my ehevrons fell. Rowley wouldn't bone bootlick either, with the same result. As- for me, l'd rather be a good old buck anyway. l.et's have another one. Pass the bottle, Phil. The bottle was passed, then passed again, and the crowd soon became more talkative. Porty Nance finally succeeded in getting the floor. Tell you what, fellows, things are goin' to hell around here now. The instructors we have are all lemons. without an exception. Being a member of Phil Fleming's goats, I suppose I ought not to expect. much more than lemons, but Heffernan says it's the same way in the first section. Who'll come out one? VVhy Heff, I supposeg but Cowles and Kern will run him a close second. Oh, hush, fellows! You make too much noise! Shut up, Paul! shut up! But Paul wouldn't shut up. Liquor had loosened his tongue, and after a few introductory oaths he began: 'M goin' t' Y. M. C. A. t'nightg jus t'tell President Frank Clay whosser matter 'ith him. He's too sant'fied t' suit me. Got insulted 'cause I said 'damn' 'fore him, and wanted t' whip me when I ast 'im t' dhrink. Lesh 'ave 'nother dhrink-ffnish big dhrink--'nd goter bed. I'm sleepy. 'Night, I'm sleep! 'Night, fellows! 'Niglitl---ff I looked around me. All had fallen asleep during Paul's talk, and now his eyes were closed too. Silently I made my way out of the room and towards the station---wondering. You've been there, old maui could you blame me? 45

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UQ ' - HY hello, old man! I'm awfully glad to see you. You are on leave, I suppose. What! not v in the Army? Why, man, I thought you would make the Engineers! Yes, I've been back E X to the old place once. It's a long story, but if you really wish to hear it I'll try to tell you. As you may remember, it was at my Plebe Christmas that I was found in Math and given my discharge from the Academy. I had come to hate the place, and had made a reso- 6, lution never to return, but time mellows memories, and in May, 1911, I found myself once more at the Point, with the object of looking up my former classmates. Accordingly I went to the guard-house to call out some of the fellows, and upon entering the O. Dfs oftice I was greeted by that official himself in the form of Private Heidt-weariing caplaiws chevrmzs. He remembered me and directed me to Phil Fleming's room, where I expected to find some of my old friends. I knew West Point well enough to know better than knock, so I opened the door and walked in. What do you suppose I saw? Well, I'll tell you. Seated around a table in the center of the room were Phil Fleming, Paul Reinecke, Bennie Lockwood, Hoisington, Bowley, and Porty Nance--playing poker! I was dum- founded, and after shaking hands with them I proceeded to say so. Oh, this is nothing! said Paul, only a little Gfty-cent limit game. VVe were getting tired any way and were going to stop when you came in. Thirsty? I admitted that I'd like a drink of cool water. U Water nothing! Bennie, get out the booze---that full quart. You see we have to keep it pretty well hidden to-day, for Heidt is O. D., and he's such a quill he wouldn't hesitate to skin us. I-Ie is too efficient to suit me. Well, fellows, what's the news? I asked, as soon as we had gotten settled and had our drinks. Tell me aboutthings. You know I haven't been here in three years. Who are the makes and honor men? Well, said Bennie, you shouldn't expect much news about makes from a crowd of bucks like us, but I'1l tell you all I can. Snake Evans is, of course, adjutantg he has all the requisites, including form and a liking 44

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