THE BLACK SHEEP

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 9, 5 October 1918, Page 9

THE BLACK SHEEP

TAPTAIN "Y " HIT HERO WITH A MYSTERIOUS PAST The two recruiting sergeants stood seriously pondering the prone figure sleeping on the park bench. He was o tall man, poorly but cleanly cJa<l, of uncertain age, and looked as if ho had been drinking for years. Ono of the sergeants prodded the sleeper with his cane. "Hβ stirred uneasily, mumbling foolishly. A .rough shake brought" the man to a sitting position, rubbing bis eyes that blinked like au owl's in the bright sunshine. "What a-re you going to do in this war, old son?" The slouching figure straightened somewhat and the film of serai-con-sciousness left tho bloodshot eyes. "None of your damned business. Quietly tittered in a well-bred voice, with -meaning and purpose in its even tones, tho roply caused a swift look of understanding to flash between tho soldiers. They knew their man,' whose typo is found in every colonial city the "black sboep" banished from homo and living on a remittance from the Old Country—university men whose follies baulked parental ambitions anil exhausted forbearance and forgiveness. "Why not como with us and jom the colours? It's better life than yon ore now living, and it's a duty you owe to King and country." . "I'm not worth a damn to tho Army. I'm not worth a damn to anyoody or anything." . ~ There was a striking difference.in.his bearing as he walked away with the two sergeants half an hour later. J lie habitual slouch was gone from his walk, there was a perceptible effort to straighten rounded shoulders, and hs face expressed resolve and purpose, lne "black sheep" had taken a new grasp 01 A Canadian battalion landed" in Franco towards the end of 1915. J.no nc.o.'s were a particularly good-looK-ing lot, but ono tall corporal, .every inch a soldier, caught the eye. Bo had power of command written in every lino of his bronzed face and expressed in evory attitude of his nrusoular body, and he earned himself with the easy assuranco of a man ulio knows.hh work and likes it. It. was tho "black sheep," but without a single weakness which tho name implies Mid conjures tip. The training camp and clean, regular living bad found the man-spirit ineide the physical wreck or the park bench;, physical exercise, open air, and recreated interested inn new career had completed regeneration. After the action-of St. E oi m April, 1916, the "black sheep," who had since become a machine-gunner, was givon his commission on the field for conspicuous bravery and d™ ll *° duty " His promotion was deservedly popular, and the consensus of roginiental opinion w "that a braver and better offioer could not be found. A short course of training in England qualified him for the post o a battahon machine-gun officer, and he rejoined runit shortly before t|»e Cauadiau moved to the Somme. MagiuficeiitwQik at Rcgina Trench earned lain tl e M,U, and a special mention in divisional orders, «n<l before the transfer to the "sector came bis captaincy was was common knowledge, in the battalion that the name u> signed to ■Tegmental letters and orders was not his own, hut tho. .slightest inkhngo bis past could, not be wining from him oven when tho colonel referral to lob par-nte ar.d bis home in England in an endeavour to secure hie conficenco.Ho apparently wrote no personal letteis ho had no photographs and tho very occasional parcels which he receive lore .merely the address of, tho thop from which they were sent let it was evident that his people had means and position; his education and^«°" fl references to people m high place left it bevond doubt. What, was Ins story? The battalion, by which he was *rtmired and respected,, would have pven much to know, especially the colonel, X loved him and whose dream it wa to reconcile tho "black sheep to his family once again. . , , The end-cwno during a raid on tie enemy trendies in front of Lens; eailv in 1917 The work of the night tad b en accomplished and *e raiders were ready to return. A group of- nombeis who had gone beyond their objective So out off by the reinforced enemy, and "Captain X," who was superintendLg thei? return, dashed to their m^ bv a heavy enemy counter-barrage, •'fiiDtain X" was lost sight of and wasSer heard of, again. There.died a very gallant -gentleman--* man b man who held the warmest place ,m "Captain X's" loet sacrifice have oeen deposited with the other Sneltlm hopes will turn up though clues, rfe mystery J£> enshrouded "Captam X" m< 1*» ottnp to him in death, made more baffhng by thosplendid personality and admirnWa nualitles of mind and heart which Z omSeK to brother officers and fto roik and file. They hold his memory n r vc ence do these Canadians-a reverence that seeks' enlightenment to [he question. "Who wns 'Captain X, onco tho 'black sheep .