Miss Mink, looking like a small tug towing a big steamer, shamefacedly made her way to the nearest exit, and got him out through the Sunday-school room. She would take him home through a side street, feed him and send him away as soon as possible. It was a horrible ordeal, but Miss Mink was not one to turn back once she had faced a difficult situation. As they passed down the broad steps into the brilliant October sunshine, she noticed with relief that his shoes were not muddy. Then, before she could make other observations, her mind was entirely preoccupied with a large, firm hand that grasped her elbow, and seemed to half lift her slight weight from step to step. Miss Mink's elbow was not used to such treatment and it indignantly freed itself before the pavement was reached. The first square was traveled in embarrassed silence, then Miss Mink made a heroic effort to break the ice: "My name is Mink," she said, "Miss Libby Mink. I do dress-making over on Sixth Street." "I am Bowinski," volunteered her tall companion, "first name Alexis. I am a machinist before I enlist in the army." "I knew you were some sort of a Dago," said Miss Mink. "But no, Madame, I am Russian. My home is in Kiev in Ukrania." "Why on earth didn't you stay there?" Miss Mink asked from the depths of her heart. The soldier looked at her earnestly. "Because of the persecution," he said. "My father he was in exile. His family was suspect. I come alone to America when I am but fifteen." "Well I guess you're sorry enough now that you came," Miss Mink said, "Now that you've got drafted." They had reached her gate by this time, but Bowinski paused before entering: "Madame mistakes!" he said with dignity. "I was _not_ drafted. The day America enter the war, that day I give up my job I have held for five years, and enlist. America is my country, she take me in when I have nowhere to go. It is my proud moment when I fight for her!" Then it was that Miss Mink took her first real look at him, and if it was a longer look than she had ever before bestowed upon man, we must put it down to the fact that he was well worth looking at, with his tall square figure, and his serious dark face lit up at the present with a somewhat indignant enthusiasm.