Загадочная история Бенджамина Баттона

           "Wanttoplaysoldier,sonny?"demandedaclerkcasually.

           Benjaminflushed."Say!NevermindwhatIwant!"heretortedangrily."Myname’sButtonandIliveonMt.VernonPlace,soyouknowI’mgoodforit."

           "Well,"admittedtheclerkhesitantly,"ifyou’renot,Iguessyourdaddyis,allright."

           Benjaminwasmeasured,andaweeklaterhisuniformwascompleted.Hehaddifficultyinobtainingthepropergeneral’sinsigniabecausethedealerkeptinsistingtoBenjaminthataniceV.W.C.A.badgewouldlookjustaswellandbemuchmorefuntoplaywith.

           SayingnothingtoRoscoe,heleftthehouseonenightandproceededbytraintoCampMosby,inSouthCarolina,wherehewastocommandaninfantrybrigade.OnasultryAprildayheapproachedtheentrancetothecamp,paidoffthetaxicabwhichhadbroughthimfromthestation,andturnedtothesentryonguard.

           "Getsomeonetohandlemyluggage!"hesaidbriskly.

           Thesentryeyedhimreproachfully."Say,"heremarked,"whereyougoin’withthegeneral’sduds,sonny?"

           Benjamin,veteranoftheSpanish-AmericanWar,whirleduponhimwithfireinhiseye,butwith,alas,achangingtreblevoice.

           "Cometoattention!"hetriedtothunder;hepausedforbreath—thensuddenlyhesawthesentrysnaphisheelstogetherandbringhisrifletothepresent.Benjaminconcealedasmileofgratification,butwhenheglancedaroundhissmilefaded.Itwasnothewhohadinspiredobedience,butanimposingartillerycolonelwhowasapproachingonhorseback.