I got some news for you, Mable.  The cook says we only drew ten days supply of food last time.  He says he guesses when we et that up well go to France.  Hes an awful smart fello the cook.  Hes got a bet on that if the allys dont buck up an win the Germans is comin out ahead.  Max Glucos, a fello in the tent, is refere.  Were all eatin as fast as we can.  Perhaps we can eat it all in less than ten days.  So maybe well be gone, Mable, before I rite you from here again.

Theres a French sargent comes round once in a while an says the war is goin to be over quick.  He ought to know cause hes been over there an seen the whole thing.  He smokes cigarets something awful an dont say much.  Thats because the poor cus cant talk much English.  It must be awful not to talk English.  Think of not bein able to say nothin all your life without wavin your arms round an then lookin it up in a dickshunary.

[Illustration:  “HE SMOKES CIGARETS SOMETHING AWFUL”]

I feel so sorry for these fellos that Im studiin French a lot harder sos theyll have someone to talk to when we get over there.  Im readin a book now thats rote all in French.  No English in it anywhere, Mable.  A fello told me that was the only way to talk it good.  I dont understand it very well so far.  The only way I kno its French is by the picturs.  Some day Im goin to find out what the name is.  Then Im goin to get the English of it.  Those are some picturs.  Aint I fierce, Mable?  I guess thats why I get on with wimen so well.

I gave up readin it out loud cause the fellos said it made em think they was in Paris so much they got restles.  I cant speak no better yet.  I guess that comes all at once at the end of the book.

As soon as we got the hot shouers all fixed the pipes busted.  So the other day the Captin walked us all in town to take a bath.  I didnt need one much.  I used my head more than most of em.  Last fall when it was warm I took as many as two a week an got away ahead of the game.  I went along though.  More for the walk than anything.

I saw the Captin didnt make no move to take a bath hisself.  I thought he might be shy.  He dont mix very well with the fellos.  I felt sorry for him.  Everyone else was laffin an throwin things with him standin off an noone throwin a thing at him.  I went up an says “Aint you goin to take a bath this winter to, Captin?” Just jolly, Mable, that all.  I says, “You dont want to mind the bunch.  They dont care a bit.  There as dirty as you are anyway.  Probably more.”  An I bet they were Mable cause I aint seen the Captin do a stroke of work since we come here.  Just stands round givin orders.

I says, “If noone wont lend you a towel you can use mine.  I was just goin to have it washed anyway.”  He got awful red and embarassed Mable.  I thought he was goin to choke.  Hes awful queer.