The Vanished Messenger by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim
page 6 of 353 (01%)
page 6 of 353 (01%)
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"I play a bit," was the somewhat indifferent reply. Mr. Dunster turned to another part of the paper and pointed to the great black head-lines. "Seems a queer thing for a young fellow like you to be worrying about games," he remarked. "I haven't been in this country more than a few hours, but I expected to find all the young men getting ready." "Getting ready for what?" "Why, to fight, of course," Mr. Dunster replied. "Seems pretty clear that there's an expeditionary force being fitted out, according to this evening's paper, somewhere up in the North Sea. The only Englishman I've spoken to on this side was willing to lay me odds that war would be declared within a week." The young man's lack of interest was curious. "I am not in the army," he said. "It really doesn't affect me." Mr. Dunster stared at him. "You'll forgive my curiosity," he said, "but say, is there nothing you could get into and fight if this thing came along?" "Nothing at all, that I know of," the youth replied coolly. "War is an affair which concerns only the military and naval part of two |
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