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"How--funny!" Norine exclaiot a blamed queer idea of humor," Branch flashed, with a show of his former irritability

"And so you shot yourself?"

"Yep! I tried to select a good spot where it wouldn't hurt or prove too inconvenient, but--there isn't a place to spare on a fellohole body He needs every inch of hi to shoot myself in the foot, but my feet are full of bones and I saw myself on crutches the rest of n froularly enlist and you've surely earned your discharge"

Branch nodded "I thought of that, but I've gained a reputation that I don't deserve and, strangely enough, I'ht if I were really shot by a regular bullet I'd be mourned as a hero and have a chance to walk out with colors flying I want to tell lorious man I was and how I helped to free Cuba Oh, I'd lie like a thief to my own children! Now you see why I don't want a doctor There's only one thing I want--and that's--HOME" Leslie heaved a deep sigh "Gee! I'ly declared "I think I understand how you feel and I can't bla to live, now that you've learned what a splendid thing life is"

"If O'Reilly had been with ed, soo back to the front, alone--they can shootfrom him?"

"Not a word Cuba sed hi the best and the youngest I--want to go away"

He smiled mirthlessly "I'm fed up on it, too I want to be where I can shave when I need to and wear so besides canvas pajamas I'm cured of war; I want a policeman to stop the traffic and help me across the street I want to putpaper, and slap an egg in the face That's all the exciteer for"

Norine filled a basin with clean water and, taking a fresh bandage, wrapped up the self-inflicted hurt, Branch watching her anxiously Now and again he flinched like a child when she touched his wound At last he inquired, apprehensively, "Is it infected?"

"No"

"Lord! I'?"

Norine surprised her patient by inquiring, irrelevantly, "Leslie, is there anybody here who can marry people?"