THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 12, 1937.
the
In this odd inversion of t practice of sending a proxy to war is an idea to end all war
M
Twins Of War
"If you will give me Mr. Craw The old chauffeur eased the car close
to the curb. Mr. Foster said ford's new address, sir"
"What fool's play is
• Mings?" and groped for the
"New" Mr. Foster snorted, half rising to his feet.
"Exactly, sir the way brought home to those who stay at home."
Then then Crawford that bomb-not an accident—”
"Henry, here, had the honour of
FOSTER took the evening
"Call it prisoner of war, sir,-and let it go at that. His war twin did paper from the butler, and found it folded with black head-
this, not die just was captured” lines showing. “ Though he read
little "Mings-Mings." Mr. Foster was “Mr. Crawford, sir, has recently automatic. them from habit the news had been
a quaking jelly of a man: “There've"" his for hours, When you make moved-perhaps an hour ago. This Mings said, "Mr. Ladderly came been other funny things-swift
sir, we must all make our down just there, sir-where they've deaths-men disappearing—” munitions faster than anyone else war
cas- washed the sidewalk. Six stories, you are close to those who first hear sacrifices. Mr. Crawford is a
sir. That's where he came back- things, and that forty thousand ualty.”
"I-I dined with the man yester- then went. His war twin, sir was were dead or wounded since he had opened his last and largest factory, day-phoned him this afternoon." an aviator. Only he crashed two that the "operation had been only "Many men dined last night, sir, thousand feet."
And someone · "Damn you-what is this?" Mr.. a partial success" did not surprise who won't to-night. .him.
else called Mr. Crawford. You see, Foster got the gun out. But Henry, fixing that fuse, sir. Mings an- sir, his twin of war was killed in the second chauffeur turned, crash- swered, as the car swung onto half the big push yesterday.",
ed bony wrist against pudgy arm. rotten planking and towards the "Twin? Damn it Mings are you The gun dropped. Ming kicked it last street light between it and drunk? Crawford was an only away, put his foot on it. The car utter darkness. "Henry's son, sir, was Mr.: Ladderly's twin of war. child.”
slid forward.
sir. The big push, sir-and a bomb. I stop would not try to jump, sir. Henry is not-not feeling amiable.” And the car slowed by that last light.
"Perhaps you would care to see this, sir." Mings lifted that extra edition of the evening paper, and pointed to a small item.
He dropped the paper into his lap and glanced up. The butler, Mings, was standing by the win- dow where he had just drawn the curtains: Big chap Mings. Pity, Mr. Foster thought, that he was old. He'd look grand in a Foster- made uniform, squatting behind one of those new Foster super-machine guns. Men would count with those babies. The enemy, strangely, had identical arms, made from identical patents. This Mings, though, was
-
"Not of late, sir. Not since the Mings said "No more wars, war started. Mr. Crawford met Not with war twins. They with--with a glorious fate, sir-at it.” the Proving Grounds behind his "You you'll swing for this.
by
L. Paul Kuhring
old. Mr. Foster said-"Pity we factory. They were trying one of
"Only one destroyer-broke in I-I personally have nothing two, sir-hundred odd-drowned.” can't get into it, Mings. You re those new bombs. He he got in against you, sir, more than against Even as the car slid out on the gret it, too, eh?" "I fought once, the way of a premature.”
the man who drowned my boy." old wharf, as Mr. Foster tautened sir." Mings said, gravely. "The
"God!" Foster was on his feet Mings whispered. "You see, sir, for a struggle, he remembered war to end wars, sir. That'd be now. His face was white. "It-it we'd like you to know. Some of us something.
near twenty years ago. I have a might have happened to me, Mings thought the wrong men went to Mings had said, back home, a son son in this one, sir.”
-perhaps with a twelve inch gas war. So we got together: Humble somewhere. Mings now told him Where shell I've watched a thousand folk like myself at first, sir. Then again-
"Indeed. Proper spirit. is he?"
"Navy, sir escort work destroyer."
.on
Mr. Foster's
"
The car stopped and the lights his went out. The river sucked hungrily
at the wharf.
tried. And the little ants in thether some others not too hum "My son, sir, escort work, on a a streets yap about our lack of patrio ble. We know who made war and destroyer. Ship broke her back.
tism.”
war profits. We gave each of them They were just-just drowned, sir, memory “A little ant in the street stopped a war twin-so, you see, sir? If not maimed by shell or torpedo. fixed on another despatch which he a bomb much like the one that got the war twin met with a mishap An easy death, sir. He was your had been privileged to see that Mr. Crawford, sir. The little ant There was Alton, the big banker, twin of war.” evening-one not yet given to the was overseas. Drafted. Leaves a sir. press. Yet, even now, newsboys wife and baby. Mr. Crawford's were crying another extra. Mr. twin, sir, twin of war.” Foster said, from force of habit, "You are drunk, Mings.” Mr. "Get me one Mings" Mings went Foster accused, gratingly. "Leave out. Mr. Foster picked up the this room. Pack your things paper on his lap. There was some get out. Or wait you said Lad- thing on the front page his omnis- derly's come back." cience had missed
"I can take you to him, sir.
Ladderly Missing. Shell confer- Mings said, meekly or was it drink ence postponed.
that muffled his voice. He turned, went to the door, and
"You you locked that door?” Mr. Foster babbled. "What's this
muider, Mings?"
"So." Mr. Foster softly whistl- ed. Ladderly likely as not sneak- ing around to get a hog's share of the shell contracts And of course, since Mr. Foster's giant firm had "No sir." Mings towered, there. picked up the job of building those Mr. Foster shivered. Deep lines last five destroyers from under were now etched on Minga gray Ladderly's nose, Ladderly would face. Mings said
walk warily. But Mings was back, "I-presumed to order the car, grave of face. He said, gripping sir. The second chauffeur, Henry. the new extra edition firmly. "There Albert was drafted to-day.” was-a telephone message, sir, be "Good. Take me to Ladderly:" fore you came in. This war, sir, Mr. Foster remembered the le it made me forgetful”
handy automatic he kept fear his "Yes, yes. Quite all-right." Mr own favourite back seat in the lim Foster said, impatiently. After all, ousine.
though, when you see a war coming He thought. "T let this maniac and quietly, a year or so ahead, get me into the car then shove switch to old and draft-exempt ser- that gun into his ribs. Probably vants, you must expect their very not dangerous yet, why take age to slow 'em down. "What was chances.
Mr. it, Mings?"
The car was at the door.
"Mr. Ladderly's been found, sir." Foster followed Mings across the "I thought so Then he's come curb. A sheet of whiteness was back-and he'll have done the dirty there on the back seat. The chauf down at the capital. Get me Crawfeur, too, had been reading that ford at his house, his club. Craw.
trac
ford must know, Mings,
once.- Crawford and I can block.
Crescent, Henry”
ehouse, eh
"Kidnapped," Mr. Foster
pered.
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