he front--so I quit school and am trying to help mother
continue the business."

"How old are you?"

"I belong to the Class of 1923," came the proud reply.

"Oh, I see. Come right in then, I'll show you what I need."

With a most serious and important air he produced a note book, tapped
on the partitions, sounded the walls, took measures and jotted down a
few lines.

"Very well, Madame, I've seen all that's necessary. I'll be back
to-morrow morning with a workman."

True to his word he appeared the next day, accompanied by a decrepit,
coughing, asthmatic specimen of humanity, who was hardly worthy of the
honorable title his employer had seen fit to confer.

Our studio is extremely high, and when it was necessary to stretch out
and raise our double extension ladder, it seemed as though disaster
were imminent.

We offered our assistance, but from the glance he launched us, I felt
quite certain that we had mortally offended the manager of the _Maison
Bincteux_. He stiffened every muscle, gave a supreme effort, and up
went the ladder. Truly his will power, his intelligence and his
activity were remarkable.

After surveying the undertaking, he made his calculations, and then
addressing his aid:

"We'll have to bore here," he said. "The wires will go through there,
to the left and we'll put the switches to the right, just above; go
ahead with the work and I'll be back in a couple of hours."

The old man mumbled something disobliging.

"Do what I tell you and don't make any fuss about it. You're better
off here than in the trenches, aren't you? We've heard enough from
you, old slacker."

The idea that any one dare insinuate that he ought to be at the front
at his age, fairly suffocated the aid electrician, who broke into a fit
of coughing.

"Madame, Madame," he gasped. "In the trenches? Why I'm seventy-three.
I've worked for his father and grandfather before him--but I've never
seen his like! Why only this very morning he was grumbling because I
didn't ride a bicycle so we could get to places faster!"

At noon the _Maison Bincteux_ reappeared, accompanied by the General
Agent of the Electric Company. He discussed matters in detail with
this awe inspiring person--objected, retaliated, and finally terminated
his affairs, leaving us a few moments later, having accomplished the
best and most rapid job of its kind I have ever seen.

With the Class of 1919 now behind the lines, by the time this volume