shoulders as he dropped his hands straight along either trousers
seam, though he sneered:

"Putting on officer's airs, are you, Lund?"

"No; I appear to be talking to a rookie (recruit) who happens
to be wearing a sergeant chevrons," retorted the top sternly.
"Sergeant Mock, in this office, or anywhere in my presence, you
will refrain from making disrespectful remarks about your officers
And I'd advise you to adopt that as your standard at all times
and in all places. Do you get that?"

"I hear you," Mock rejoined, standing at ease again. "You wanted
to see me?"

"Yes. Shortly before recall sounded I looked out of the window
and noticed that you were handling the second platoon in anything
but a soldierly manner. I was about to come out and speak to
you when I observed the captain call you to him. He corrected
your method of handling the platoon, didn't he?"

"He thought he did," Sergeant Mock responded, his lips quivering
"But the tone he took, or rather the words he said to me, aren't
the kind that make better soldiers of non-coms."

"So?" demanded Sergeant Lund, looking sharply into his subordinate's
eyes.

"No!" Mock snapped sullenly. "When an officer wants me to do
my best be's got to treat me like the gentleman that he's supposed