/) w AN mmCM SOLDO! WHO WENT out of the O. T. (t»Ulcers’ Training corps) niul does not know what neu­ trality Is." I decided to take a chance, and accepted his Invitation for an In­ troduction to the lieutenant. I entered the office and went up to him, opened up my passport and said: “Before going further I wish to state that I am an American, not too proud to fight, and want to Join your army." lie looked at me In a nonchalant mnnner, and answered. "That’s alt right; we take anything over here." I looked at him kind of hart) und re­ plied. "So I notice,” but It went over his head. He got out an enlistment blank, nnd placing his Anger on a blank line said, "Sign here." I answered, “Not on your tintype." "I beg your pardon?" Then I explained to him that I would not sign It without first rending It. I rend It over nnd signed for duration of war. Some of the recruits were lucky. They signed for seven years only I Then he asked me my birthplace. I answered, "Ogden, Utah." He said, “Oh, yes. Just outside of New York?" With a smile, I replied, "Well, It’s up the state a little." Then I was taken before the doctor nnd passed ns physically At, nnd was Issued a uniform. When I reported back to the lieutenant, he suggested that, being an American, I go on re­ cruiting service nnd try to shame some of ,ho i,,ackers *“»'* J«'i»lng the army.“ “AU >'m* hnve to 'I"-" ,u> «■•<*. “*■ t0 K° out on ,he '""I when y°u a youn* fe,low 1,1 m«f ,‘ who Iook" phy8,c“l,y flt- J ust S,'*I’ hlru and **ve hl,u th,s k,nd of “ ,alk: ‘Aron,t >'«« Affili (iUY n E ÌIP E Y u o c e -— m a ch ine : gunner , drying in • S ) T l * iii 7 BY tg/Y [M Y Ml 1 this nctlou by throwing the telegrams Into the wastebasket. Then we looked at each other In silence. He was squirming In his chair und I felt de- [ pressed and uneasy. The telephone rang and I answered It. It was a business call for me, re­ questing my services for an out-of- town assignment. Business was not very good, so this was very welcome. After listening to the proposition I seemed to be swayed by a peculiarly strong force within me, nnd answered, ’’I am sorry that I cannot accept your offer, but I am leaving for Kngland next week,” and hung up the receiver The lieutenant swung around In his chair. H ti d stared at me in blank aston- Ishment. A sinking sensation came over me, but I defiantly answered his look with. "Well, it's so. I’m going." And I went. The trip across was uneventful. I landed at Tilbury. England, then got Into a string of matchbox cars nnd proceeded to London, arriving there about 10 p. m. I took a room In a hotel near St. Pancras station for "five nnd six—Are extra.” The room was minus 1 the fire, but the "extra” seemed to I keep me warm. That night there was a Zeppelin raid, but I didn't see much It, because the slit In the curtains " as too small nnd I had no desire to make It larger. Next morning the tel- »’Phone t>*?ll rang, und someone asked, Are you there? I was, hardly. Any- " ay> * learned that the Zeps had re­ turned to their fatherland, so I went FOREWORD “ Over the Top” is a true story of trench w arfare on the French front, written by an American soldier who got into the great w ar two years ahead of his country. Sergeant Empey tells what the fighting men have done and how they have done it. He knows because he was one of them. His experi­ ences are grim, but they are thrilling, and they are light­ ened by a delightful touch of humor. CHAPTER I. From Mufti to Khaki. It was in an office in Jersey City. I was sitting at my desk talking to a lieutenant of the Jersey National Guard. On the wall was a big war map decorated with variously colored little flags showing the position of the opposing armies on the western front in France. In front of me on the desk lay a New York paper with big flaring headlines: LU U S S IT IT A A N N IA IA S A M E R I C A N ° Ut the Street eXPectin g to see S U U N N K K ! . A M E R IC A N soenes 0f awful devastation nnd a cow- L IV E S LO ST. erlng populace, but everything was I was not ns serious In those days ns 1 was u little luter when I reached the front)—well, It was the sixth day nnd my recruiting report was blank. 1 was getting low In the pocket- bar­ maids haven't much use for anyone who cannot buy drinks so I looked around for recruiting material. You know a man oil recruiting service gets a "bob" or shilling for every recruit he entices Into Joining the army, the recruit Is supposed to get this, but h# would not be n recruit if he were wise to tills fact, would he? Down at the end of the bar was a young fellow in mufti who was very patriotic—he had about four "Old Six” ales aboard. He asked me If he could Join, showed me his left hand, 'two Angers were missing, but I said that did not matter as "we take any­ thing over here.” The left hand Is the rifle hand as the piece Is carried nt the slope on the left shoulder. Near­ ly everything In England Is "by tha left," even general traffic keeps to tha port side. I took the applicant over to head­ quarters. where he wus hurriedly ex­ amined. Recruiting surgeons wera busy in those days and did not hnva much time for thorough physical exam­ inations. My recruit was passed aa "At" by the doctor and turned over to a corporal to make note of his scars. I was mystified. Suddenly the rorj*o- ral burst out with, "Bllma me. two of his fingers are gone.” Turning to ma he snld, "You certainly have your nerve with you, not 'ulf you ain’t, to bring this beggar In." The doctor cutne over ami exploded, “What do you mean by bringing In a man In this condition?" Looking out of the corner of my eya I noticed that the officer who had re­ cruited me had Joined the group, and I could not help answering. “Wall, sir, I wns told that you t<*ok anything over here." I think they called It "Yankee Im­ pudence," anyhow It ended my recruit­ ing. ^ In training quarters, “some­ where in France," Empey hears the big guns booming and makes the acquaintance of the “coo­ ties." Read about his experi­ ences In the next installment. (IX» UK CONTINUICI» ) HAD CONFIDENCE IN EDISON The windows were open and a feel- ; normal. People were calmly proceed­ Negro Was Sure That Wonderful But ing of spring pervaded the air. ing to their work. Crossing the let He Invented Would Never Through the open windows came the street, I accosted a Bobble with : Kill American Soldiers. ________ X strains of a hurdy-gurdy playing In the “Can you direct me to the place of street—“I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be damage?" Two negroes were walking along a a Soldier.” He asked me, "What damage?” New York street discussing the won­ "Lusitania Sunk! American Lives In surprise. I answered, “Why, the derful Inventions hrougl t about by tha L ost!”—“I Didn’t Raise My Boy to damage caused by the Zeps.” war. Be a Soldier.” To us these did not I With a wink he replied: “Yes, sab," one said, ”un’ a friend of seem to jibe. “There was no damage; we missed | miue who knows all about It says dls Swearing In a Recruit The lieutenant In silence opened one I *kcn» again." heah man Edison has done gone and After several fruitless Inquiries of of the lower drawers of his desk and ashamed or of yourseir, yourself, n itntisner, Britisher, phys- ' Inventt'd ......... a magnetized bullet dat can't ______ . . . ,, , ■ 1 asnnmeo took from It an American flag which lw nP!n starch 1 d^ lded t0 00 “ 5 I ,cnlI>' flt- and ln n,nftl «hen your king " ° ' ’r“lal>- kuse ef dere’s one In he solemnly draped over the war map rds de bullet Is drawn ner /,ulldlnf s ”nd s and country need you? Don’t you a hundred yard: on the wall. Then, turning to me with n «hi boarded a bus i k jjnow Is u at i war and . i , , h . - .. , _ u u n t|,nt m i n your i n u i i country - v u i n i i 19 iv u r 11 u(] 1 rlght ■mack - - - - - - - nga ..I n st Ills s t e e l h e l t n e L a grim face, said: r urt r 1 v»me Tottenham i tlint the place f,.r every young Briton ' • x s•'111 • *■' h*’i dOM Invented an-| Recruiting posters were ,s on fhe fir|nK |lne7 Here i nlll an other one with u return attachment. “How about it, sergeant? You had better get out the muster roll of the • ^re\ e *^at Impressed American, In khaki, who came funr Whenever dat bullet don’t hit nothin' Mounted Scouts, , — as . I think --------- - — i— « they w.w will « ... T nrj a„ .,n ^ ki Pcture ”f thousand tnlles to fight for your king It comes right straight back to de be needed in the course of a few days.” . .. ^ . . " ‘‘¡s fir3ger point- ; nnfj coun(ry. and you, us yet, have not American lines." We busied ourselves till late in the “Vrofr in «« f f x-* enlisted. Why don’t you Join? Now "Dnt's what I cnl! Inventin'," ex­ evening writing out emergency tele- N0 m attei whlch wav T t n r a i l th i ,s ,h* ,lme'' claimed the other. "But. say. how grams for the men to report when the accusing finger followed —^rn* - "This argument ought to get many about dem coinin' hack bullets? What I was recruits, Empey, so go out and see do dey do to keep ’em from hlttln' call should come from Washington. an American, In mufti, nnd me. hnd a little i what you can do." Then we went home. ouuh men?” American flag In the lapel of my coat. I crossed over to New York, and as I hnd no (ft«« ____..„a He ,h'*n K“v<‘ me n f,mn" rosette of “Well, mull frlen’ didn’t tell in« .? y .' .nniL? ^ d — red, • ........................... white and bHie ............................... ribbon, with three I went up Fulton street to take the „„„I n «. s. — „bout It. but ef Mr. Edison made ’« IQ ' ~ '• ............ • " J. ™ 8tl1!. thni | little streamers hanging down. Thla | you MD bet youali life he’a got ’em subway to Brooklyn, the lights - ln the pointing finger made me feel small and ill at ease. I got off the bus to try wiis the recruiting insignia and was i (rained. You don't 'spose he'd let ’em to be worn on the left side of the cup. B„y Americans, do you? No, sulu to dissipate this feeling by mixing Armed with a swagger stick nndjuy j , Ie.g got Vm fix, - i s got a chnnct to do somethin'.' ” British army. I opened the door. He pea red physically fit, I snld to myself, "Newport News.'' I looked up and greeted me with "I s’y, “They don’t want to Join the army; In Virginia's early days communica­ | myte, want to tyke on?” | perhaps they have someone dependent I looked at him and answered. “Well, I on them for support,” so I did not uc- tion with the mother country was, of course, wholly by ships, and when one I whatever that Is, I ’ll take a chance cost them. was expected the colonists were all j at It.” Coining down the street I saw Without the aid of an Interpreter. I young dandy, fop hat nnd all, with a I eagerness for the news from home, found out that Tommy wanted to know fashionably dressed girl walking be­ i On the occasion of one. it may hnve I If I cared to Join the British army. He side him. I muttered, "You are my been the first, of ii certain Captain , asked me: “Did you ever hear of the meat,” nnd when he came abreast of t Newport's expected return from Kng­ Royal Fusiliers?” Well, ln London, me I stepped directly In”his path and land, at or near the place now bearing you know, Yanks are supposed to know stopped him with my swagger stick, his name, a large number of persons collected to receive “Newport's news." everything, so I wus not going to ap­ saying: pear Ignorant and answered, “Sure.” "You would look fine In khaki; why Hence the name, now shortened to Itn After listening for one half-hour to not change that top hnt for a steel present form. Tommy’s tale of their exploits on the helmet? Aren’t you ashamed of your­ The Sardine. firing line, I decided to Join. Tommy self, a husky young chap like you In took me to the recruiting headquarters, mufti when men nre needed In the The fresh sardine Is a beautiful lit­ where I met a typical English captain. trenches? Here I nm, an American, tle fish. The scales on Its back nr# He asked my nationality. I Immedi­ came four thousand miles from Ogden, an Iridescent blue-green, the exuct ately pulled out my American passport Utah, Just outside of New York, to tint which the sea so often tnkes, and showed It to him. It was signed fight for your king nnd country. Don’t while beneath the scales there shows by Lansing. After looking at the be a slacker, buck up and get Into uni­ up the most wonderful peacoek-hlue. passport, he Informed me that he was form ; come over to the recruiting of­ There nre bnrs on Its hack and side# sorry but could not enlist me, as It fice and I’ll hnve you enlisted.” when It first comes out of the water, would be a breach of neutrality. I He yawned nnd nnswered, “I don’t like those of the mackerel, but they Guy Empey. Insisted that I was not neutral, be­ care If you came forty thousnnd miles, seem to fade and disappear the mo­ tall buildings of New York seemed to cause to me It seemed that a real no one asked you to,” and he walked ment It Is exposed to the air. The rest be burning brighter than usual, as If American could not be neutral when on. The girl gave me a sneering look; of Its body Is silver. they, too, had read "Lusitania Sunk! big things were in progress, but the I was speechless. American Lives L o st!” They seemed captain would not enlist me. I recruited for three weeks and near­ Finest New Year Celebration. to be glowing with anger and righteous With disgust in my heart I went out ly got one recruit. The finest New Year celebration Id Indignation, and their rays wigwagged in the street. I hnd gone about a This perhaps wns not the greatest the world Is In Jnpnn nnd China, block when a recruiting sergeant who stunt In the world, hut It got back nt where before the clock strikes New the message, “Repay I” Months passed, the telegrams lying hnd followed me out of the office the officer who had told me, “Yes, we Year’s eve, every debt and account handy, but covered with dust. Then, tapped me on the shoulder with his tnke anything over here." I hnd been must he paid. No good Chlnemnn or one momentous morning the lieutenant swagger stick and said: "S ’y, I can spending a good lot of my recruiting Jap ever thinks of entering Ihe new with a sigh of disgust removed the get you In the army. We have a ‘lef- time ln the saloon bar of the Wheat year with an unpaid bill. Would that flag from the war map and returned tenant’ down at the other office who Sheaf pub (there was a very attractive we might emulnte thnt form of cel» to hla desk. I Immediately followed can do anything. He has Just come. blonde barmaid, who helped kill tline— bratlon!—Ladles’ Home Journal. i RIB1ÍC KÂD6 CARING FOR COUNTRY ROADS Heavily Loaded Wagons With Narrow Tiros Are Injurious— Place H ar­ rows on a Drag. illy K. n IIOimK. Colorado Asrleullural College, Fort Collins, Colo ) Excessive loads placed on wagons with narrow tires are exceptionally had for any road. Tractors using wheels upon which are cleats, or any­ thing that will cut through or Injure the road surface should never be al­ lowed on country roads. Disk har­ rows and In fact any cultivating tool Himuld he kept off the road. If It Is necessary to move them along the road, place them upon a drag, stone boat, or haul them to tIn- field on a wagon. If draggeil over the road, they will scar the road badly, break through the surface ami start disin­ tegration. No road Is In such i*»or condition ns to warrant abuse of this kind. ITEMS OF HIGHWAY EXPENSE Interest on Investment snd Cost of Malntensnce All Have Vital Bear. Ing on Road Plans. The following Is quoted from nn u» tide by B. II. I’lepmeler. maintenance engineer, highway department, slate of Illinois: ‘There are three principal Items of expense connected with road Improve­ ment which tlie engineer must Impreaa upon the public mind before It will be |M*sslble for him to construct ail econ­ omical system of roads. These factors are: The original cost of the Improve­ ment ; the Interest on the money In­ vested In the Improvement, and (he to­ tal upkeep cost. When nil of these factors are taken Into consideration, It Is evident that ninny of the cheaper types of roads, when properly mnln- tnlned, will give the desired service snd yet will be much more economical on account of their low first cost. “When u type of road Is selected, taking Into consideration the three principles set forth nbove. It Is very essentlnl that provision be made for proper nnd efficient maintenance. If locnl conditions are such that mainte­ nance may be delayed or prevented, preference should be given to a ty|s* of pnveinent that n-qtilres only n small amount of mulntenance and which will he serviceable for n period of time oven with no maintenance whatever. Concrete Road in Suburbs of Chicago. Neglecting proper maintenance for hut one year on many types of roads Is very much more serious than the amount of money Involved represents. The rond engineer should keep tills In mind and thoroughly Impress the fact upon the Individuals who have a voice In the final determination of a type of road.” SOUTH IS IMPROVING ROADS Interest Stimulated by "Drlve-Awaya” of Automobiles and Trucks From Northern States. “Drlve-aways" of automobiles nnd trucks from the manufacturing cen­ ters In tho North to points south of the Mason nnd Dixon line has won­ derfully stimulated the good road« movement In tho South, writes an ac­ cessory denier In Atlantn. "I hnve traveled over considerable territory ln the South of late nnd It Is noticeable the Hmount of Interest that hns been worked up locnlly over rond Improvement by the Influx of cars thnt from necessity hnd to be driven to distributors. The high price of cot­ ton Is responsible In great measure for tho prosperity this section Is enjoy­ ing.”