10c. a Copy AUGUST 10, 1923 Vol. 5, No. 32 The figure of Victory which Published weekly at New York. N. Y will surmount the shaft of the Entered as second cUbb matter March '24. 1920. at the Post Omce at New First Division Monument York. N.Y.. under act of March | 3, 1879. Price $2 the year. Acceptance for now being erected in Wash- mailing at special rate of postage pro- vided for in Section I 103. Act of Octoher ington, D. C. —See page 16. 3. 1917. authorized March 31, 1921. A CHANCE MEETING OF NIGHT PATROLS There were many things in the war used to kill men with. Yet often at night in No Man's Land silent hand to hand struggles took place where individual strength and skill alone determined the winner over death. In these engage- ments the use of anything but the bayonet and the hands might have drawn fire from either trench. In that event, members of both patrols probably would have gone West. cJELL-0 This is the twelfth"of a series drawn especially "Dessert for the Genesee Pure Food oAmericds Most Famous Company by Herbert M. Sloops, formerly SthField AT HOME EVERYWHERE Artillery, 1st Division, THE GENESEE PURE FOOD COMPANY Le Roy, N. Y. Bridgeburg, Onl Official publication of Owned exclusively by The American Legion The American Legion. and The American Legion Auxiliary. I CAN Correspondence and Published by the Le- manuscripts pertaining gion Publishing Corp.: to Legion activities President, Alvin Ows- should be addressed to ley; Vice-President, the National Head- James A. Drain ; Treas- LEGI ekly quarters Bureau., All urer, Robert H. Tyn- other communications dall; Secretary , Lemuel BUSINESS OFFICE EDITORIAL OFFICES should be addressed to Bolles. (Advertising and Circulation) Natl. Hqtrs. Bureau, Indianapolis, Ind. the New York office. 627 West J,3d Street, New York City 627 West USd St., New York City AUGUST 10, 1923 Copyright, 1923, by the Legion Publishing Corporation. PAGE 3 Blue Dog By Robert J. Casey GROGAN, rul- TIMing the foam from a beaker of amber nectar, which, al- coholically, was but the ghost of its former self, stopped suddenly and gazed at the wicker gates which had swung inward with a protesting squeal to reveal a new customer. Grogan rubbed his eyes and looked up at the cal- endar to make certain that the year was really 1923. Several of his steady cus- tomers stirred uneasily in their chairs or stood frozen in expectant atti- tude at the long, well-worn bar. Many strange things had come through those wicker gates. Many a phenome- non, in the old hundred- proof days, had vegetated in Grogan's saloon without taking the trouble to come "It was a large dog about collie size and through the wicker gates. — — apparently had all of a collie's objection to Many a zoological marvel being carried" had crawled out of the square bottles and squat decanters, now empty reminders of bet- Whereat Grogan's place lapsed into a The dogman's nose emerged from the ter, wetter days, that stood in decora- puzzled but peaceful calm. The spell foam. tive rows near the coffee urn. But was broken. Schooners that had paused "That's just what gets me," he re- never before, not excepting even the in midair when first the doors swung plied. "I gotta lot o' things to do in faded days of the curving pretzel and inward -pursued their upward course. town. Goin' to hunt up a buyer for the well-pawed free lunch, had Grogan's Small glasses of fusel oil, prune juice tomorrow, but got to put him away seen anything like this. and tobacco extract were nastily seized some place till then. Know anybody There had been curly-necked giraffes, by nervous hands and dumped into who'd take care of him for a day?" zebras with wings, singing jackasses, throats that had become unaccountably "Sure," said Mr. Grogan. "Leave pink elephants, numerous varieties of dry. Grogan went on with his ruling him here. I'll tie him up in the back intelligent snakes—all the quaint fauna and watched his new patron out of the room an' feed him his sausage an' that once inhabited the state of De- corner of a wary eye. cakes till you get back. He'll be a lirium Tremens—but never a blue dog. "'Tis a fine dog you've got there," he good ad for me." It was the blue dog that everyone observed as he filled the newcomer's "Fine," agreed the stranger. "My noticed first, not only by reason of its order. name's Topper an' I'll come an' get him color, somewhat unusual in dogs, but "You said something then," agreed tomorrow. See that his sausage is because of its audible protest against the dogman. "He's the only one of his cooked. Raw meat kinda spoils the its entry. It was a large dog—about kind in the world. Ain't you, Fido?" color of his hair." collie size—and apparently had all of Fido lifted an ultramarine muzzle in Mr. Topper remained long enough to a collie's objection to being carried. obvious agreement and wagged his see Mr. Grogan escort the azure Fido to Of secondary importance in the pic- turquoise tail. his temporary lodgings in the rear ture was the carrier, an insignificant "Valuable?" inquired Mr. Grogan. room. He repeated his thanks and his little man with a long nose and small, "No word for it," declared the dog- admonitions in one whining farewell, watery eyes. He dropped the squirming man. "These here dog collectors would and took himself off while the reassured nightmare to the floor, dragged it to the give a thousand dollars for that speci- patrons clustered about to look at this bar by a chain and ordered refresh- ment without askin' his name." cerulean vision which, strangely ment without seeming to notice that Mr. Grogan didn't doubt it. The ex- enough, had turned to be an animal Grogan's trade had stopped to attend act usefulness of a blue dog was not def- rather than a symptom. his entrance. One customer with great- initely placed in his mind, but simple As Mr. Grogan had forecast, the er temerity than the others seized upon soul though he was, he realized the colorful Fido brought him business arvl this oppoitunity to approach the blue worth of novelty. that speedily. All day long the cash beast. It emitted a single plaintive yipe "Where you goin' with him?" he register clinked out its cheerful monot- and retreated to the end of the chain. asked. onous song of good business. Foaming f PAGE 4 THE AMERICAN LEGION WEEKLY stated the bartender. "If you can get a good concession stand try tamales or hamburg sandwiches." Mr. Grogan did not notice that he had been misunderstood. * * * * MR. TOPPER arrived about ten o'clock the next morning to claim his property. Mr. Grogan had been waiting for him since six. "Mr. Topper," inquired Mr. Grogan, "how much will you take for that dog?" "Couldn't part with him," declared Topper. "Fido and me is old friends." "But you said yesterday that you in- tended to sell him." "I did, but I changed my mind, an' besides, the other guy wouldn't make "If he tries to come the deal." back rap him on the "I can get you a good price for him." head with the bung Topper had been loosing the dog starter" from the radiator to which he was tied. He stopped, straightened up, closed his ferrety eyes a bit farther and thrust forward his inquisitive nose. "What do you call a good price?" he inquired. beakers and prune- "A thousand dollars." stained glasses passed Topper demurred. across the bar in tides Mr. Grogan argued. that rivalled the flood Fido yawned, lay down and went to record of an old-time sleep. election day, while dog fanciers of a note of indescribable sorrow as he For the rest of an hour the two men dozen classifications stood foot to foot forced his unwilling tongue to reply: wrangled reaching, finally, a com- before the brass rail and observed that "I'm sorry gents. He ain't my dog. promise price of fifteen hundred dol- they would be bad-worded if they had If he was we'd have a deal on in a lars. Grogan offered the five-hundred ever heard of the like. minute." dollar cash deposit and announced that With the inquisitive ones came a Mr. Carmody's jaw dropped. Mr. Topper could get the remainder of the number whom Mr. Grogan had never Keeler's broad smile vanished. Both purchase price by calling that after- seen before, among them Messrs Keeler turned a reluctant gaze toward Fido. noon at five o'clock. He was shocked and Carmody. "What's the owner's name?" asked when the dogman promptly pushed the A well-mated pair were these, genial Mr. Carmody at length. five hundred back across the bar and souls, well fed, well clothed and evi- "Topper," replied Mr. Grogan. started for Fido's chain. dently well provided with the world's "Where does he live?" "Nothing doin'," he declared flatly. goods. They might have been stock "I don't know. He brought the dog "I'm goin' out o' town at eleven bells brokers, or successful contractors, or in here and asked me to keep it for an' when I go I take fifteen hundred merchants or advertising men. In one him. I don't know anything about him cash or my dog.