Which indicates there may be something doing, as report has it that the
doughboys don't intend to let the Q.M. man walk off with the
championship.

----
A PINCH HITTER IN KHAKI.
----

Lank used to be something of a baseball player. In fact he's still on
the rolls of a certain National League club and back in 1914 it was
Lank's mighty swatting that won the world's championship for his team.

Next to General Pershing himself and a few other generals, Lank is about
the most popular soldier in France. When his regiment--once of the
National Guard--comes swinging down the pike the sidelines are jammed
with other soldiers who crane their necks to get a peek at him.

Lank always carries the colors. He's now color-sergeant.

"So that fella's Lank, the great ball player," you can hear one doughboy
say to another. "Well, I'll be doggonned. Looks just like any other
soldier, don't he?"

"What you expect to see?" will ask a soldier who has worshipped Lank's
batting average for lo! these many years. "Didja expect to see a fella
wearin' a baseball uniform and carryin' a bat over his shoulder? Sure,
that's Lank. Hello, Lank, howja like soldiering?"

Lank will look out of the corner of his eye and then, sure that no
officer is looking, reply out of the corner of his mouth:

"We're on to the Kaiser's curves, boys. We'll hit everything those Huns
pitch for home runs. No strike outs in this game!"

Lank is the life of his regiment. In his "stove league" this Winter he
has organized all kinds of baseball leagues and next Spring he's going
to lead a championship team against all soldier comers.

If General Pershing isn't too busy Lank will try and get him to umpire
some afternoon.

----
STRAY SHOTS.
----

So Grover Alexander has been drafted? Some squad is going to have a
nifty hand grenade tosser to its credit, eh, what?

----

Wonder if John L., when he arrived at the pearly gates and St. Peter
asked his name, gave his customary reply of, "Yours truly, John L.
Sullivan?" If he did, we bet he walked right on in while the good saint
was still trying to figure it out.

----

Speaking of the great John L., we suppose that "Handsome Jim" Corbett is
the only old time champion who can at