The breach evidently was irreparable. He
magnanimously turned over the cab to them, and went back to the city in
another vehicle.
"Well, this is strange," said Sam. "I liked everything about Captain
Foster, but I don't understand this."
"Oh, you will tho, old man," said Cleary. "I've found out this morning
that it's the same thing all through the army and navy here. They're
hardly any of them on speaking terms. If it isn't one thing it's
another. It's the Whoppington fashion, that's all. The general of the
army won't speak to the adjutant-general there, and they're always
smuggling bills into Congress to retire each other, and that spirit
runs all the way down through both services. I'm a civilian now, and I
can see with a little perspective. I don't know why military people are
always squabbling like the women in an old ladies' home. No other
professions do; it's queer. It's getting to be better to lose a battle
than to win it, for then you don't have to fight for a year or two to
find out who won it."
Sam entered a feeble protest against Cleary's criticisms, and the two
relapsed into silence.
"Who did win that naval victory anyhow?" said Sam at last.
"That's just what I'd like to know," responded Cleary. "One of the
admirals admits he wasn't there, and, if we are to believe the naval
people, the other one spent most of his time dodging around the
smokestack.
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