augh at all. His face remained the dull thing it
was.

"You see," said the story-teller, explaining the point, "there are all
sorts in the Army now, and this man was a toff. He was so rich that he
could afford to allow his wife four thousand pounds a year. Four
thousand pounds! Do you see?"

"Oh, yes, I see that. He must have been very rich. Why was he just a
private?"

"I don't know."

"Funny being a private with all that money. I wonder you didn't ask
him."

"I didn't, anyway. But you see the point now. No end of a joke for the
quartermaster to try and get a man who allowed his wife four thousand a
year to deduct sixpence a week to send to her! I thought I should have
died of laughing."

The first soldier remained impassive. "And what happened?" he asked at
last.

"What happened?"

"Yes, what was done about it? The sixpence, I mean. Did he agree to send
it?"

The second soldier pulled himself together. "Oh, I don't know," he said
shortly. "That's not the point."

"After all," the other continued, "the regulations say that married men
have to deduct sixpence for their wives, don't they?"

"Yes, of course," the other replied. "But this man, I tell you, already
gave her four thousand a year."

"That doesn't really touch it," said the first soldier. "The principle's
the same. Now----"

But I could stand the humiliation of the other honest fellow, so
brimming with anecdote and cheerfulness, no longer; and I came to his
rescue with my cigarette case. For I have had misfires myself too often.

* * * * *

[Illustration: IN THE TRENCHES THE COSTER DREAMS OF HAPPY DAYS TO COME.]

* * * * *

"Mrs. Ruth Roberts, of Folkestone, celebrates the completion of
her 103rd year to-day. She is one of a family of twenty-two, and
her father fought with two of her sons at Waterloo."--_Irish
Times._

She seems to have been very young for a mother when these family
dissensions occurred.

* * * * *

"Will you allow me to give a warning to Ford owners who, like
myself, jack up to obtain an easy start. A few days ago I was
doing so as usual with only one scotch. The car jumped the jack,
went over the scotch, knocked me down, ran over me, tore my
clothes to rags, bruised me all over, tore my flesh and broke my
collar-bone, and I think I got off very lightly. Of course that
will not h