The Best Short Stories of 1921 and the Yearbook of the American Short Story

the soil is too hard, then the action will drag. And quick

e Captain. "Go get anoth

e camera-men had set up and were adjusting a motion picture apparatus. Twenty-

tain. "Turn the loose earth back

e said as he turne

y," came

liciously to two of his men. "You

side street. After walking a few hundred paces one remarked to the other: "When

Silly Peter and decid

tain wants you," they sai

boy struggled.

long, y

the spot that smelled fresh with upturned earth, place

era before him and the six soldiers standing at attention a

outed the

ed. "I don't want a grave," as he turned up the loose earth with trembling shovel-str

e was confronted with death for no apparent reason a

f blank cartridges shot at the boy. The frightened birds flew into the ai

: "Hey fool? Get up!-You're not dead." But the boy only s

arriage and drove away. The sheep-like inhabitants of the villa

he boy, and said: "Don't cry, Peter. It is only a little joke. See, you're not

a tree as the old man following his horse helped

ead. See the pigeons; see the sky. Loo

a film of tears and with his one-sided