The moone is shining britely in the ski my Cora deer The nite is late the village clock strikes 2. Yes everything says 2 my years can hear Cora, And that is why i think of you. "Poor kid, he seems to be up against it! Wonder where he got that about the village clock? Must have been doin' some promiscious readin'. He said that was the best 'piece' he'd written. I wonder if he--I wonder if she----" Still wondering, Stone carefully put the precious manuscript away and turned back to work, resolving to corral Private T. Ryan at the first opportunity. Private T. Ryan proved obliging, however, and came into Stone's room after supper to get his verses and the first sergeant's opinion of them. [Illustration: "'HE USED LANGUAGE TO ME, SIR, AND I AM HISS SERGEANT'"] "What do I think about 'em, kid? Why, I think they're mighty interestin'. Take a chair. I didn't know you had it in you. But that one about your lady-friend, now; is that straight goods or is it a poet's pipe-dream?" "It's true, all right. You know who she is, too. Cora Sheean--father's that retired chief trumpeter; lives over back o' the ridin'-hall." "Cora Sheean! Why, yes, I know who _she_ is." Mrs. Sheean did Stone's washing, and he had often seen red-haired Cora, and heard of her, too; for she was the belle of the post in "enlisted" circles. "She's a mighty pretty girl, Ted,--here's luck to you,--but she's so bloomin' popular it's liable to be heavy goin'. You tell me all about it, an' maybe I can help you some"; and Stone began a rapid-fire broadside of questions, in the midst of which arrived John Whitney. "Howdy," he remarked. "Say, yo' runnin' a pumpin'-station, Jerry?" [Illustration] "No, I'm not. Now, either you clear out or come in an' help. I showed you Ryan's poetry--an' you remember that one about his lady-friend? Well, it's true, an' he's tellin' me about it. Do you mind his comin' in, kid? He can probably help you better than I can, as he's had so much more experience with Eliz----" "Shut up! Yo'-all are mighty fond of refe'in' to that lady. I notice yo' get a letter every day yo'self!" "Set down," said Ryan. "No, I don't mind, but don't you ever let on. There's Hansen, now. He'd devil me all over the place if he caught on."