Captain Reginald Jones _and_ Captain James Smith, _demobilised,
meet accidentally in the waiting-room of a Government office. Their
acquaintanceship had originated in a shell-hole near Plum-Tree Farm in
1916._
_Reggie_. Cheerio, old egg.
_Jimmy_. Same to you. Doing anything?
_Reggie_. Lord, yes! I've been pushed on to the directorate of the
pater's firm.
_Jimmy_. Congrats!
_Reggie_. Stow it, old man; I'm simply worried to death. The whole
cabush is on strike.
_Jimmy_. The blighters! What bunch are they?
_Reggie_. Stone-breakers.
_Jimmy_. Not the stone-breakers, surely?
_Reggie_. Yes, the stone-breakers, perish them!
_Jimmy_. And are you here about it?
_Reggie_. Sure. The junior director gets all the dirty work to do.
_Jimmy_. What a coincidence! I'm on the same stunt, old thing.
_Reggie_. Board of Trade?
_Jimmy_. Rats! Organising secretary of the Stone-breakers' Union.
_Reggie (after, gasp of surprise)._ Lucky devil.
_Jimmy_. Rot! I'd chuck it if I could afford to. Don't you wish
sometimes you were back at Plum-Tree Farm?
_Reggie_. Crumbs, Jimmy; but weren't those the glorious days?
* * * * *
"EX-CROWN PRINCE'S HORSE TO RUN."--_Heading in "The Times_."
Like master like horse.
* * * * *
[Illustration: FOR ENTERPRISING DISPERSAL STATIONS. SPEED UP YOUR
OUTPUT BY INSTALLING THE MOVING-STAIRCASE SYSTEM. NO TIME LOST.
GOVERNMENT SUITS "ASSEMBLED" BY SKILLED WORKMEN IN RECORD TIME.]
* * * * *