Philip Dru: Administrator | Page 8

enforced idleness. Finally one day, after making a
pitiful attempt to read, Philip broke out, "I have been patient under this as long as I can.
The restraint is too much. Something must be done."
Somewhat to his surprise, Gloria did not try to take his mind off the situation this time,
but suggested asking the surgeon for a definite report on his condition.
The interview with the surgeon was unsatisfactory, but his report to his superior officers
bore fruit, for in a short time Philip was told that he should apply for an indefinite leave
of absence, as it would be months, perhaps years, before his eyes would allow him to
carry on his duties.
He seemed dazed at the news, and for a long time would not talk of it even with Gloria.
After a long silence one afternoon she softly asked, "What are you going to do, Philip?"
Jack Strawn, who was sitting near by, broke out--"Do! why there's no question about
what he is going to do. Once an Army man always an Army man. He's going to live on

the best the U.S.A. provides until his eyes are right. In the meantime Philip is going to
take indefinite sick leave."
The girl only smiled at her brother's military point of view, and asked another question.
"How will you occupy your time, Philip?"
Philip sat as if he had not heard them.
"Occupy his time!" exclaimed Jack, "getting well of course. Without having to obey
orders or do anything but draw his checks, he can have the time of his life, there will be
nothing to worry about."
"That's just it," slowly said Philip. "No work, nothing to think about."
"Exactly," said Gloria.
"What are you driving at, Sister. You talk as if it was something to be deplored. I call it a
lark. Cheer the fellow up a bit, can't you?"
"No, never mind," replied Philip. "There's nothing to cheer me up about. The question is
simply this: Can I stand a period of several years' enforced inactivity as a mere
pensioner?"
"Yes!" quickly said Gloria, "as a pensioner, and then, if all goes well, you return to this."
"What do you mean, Gloria? Don't you like Army Post life?" asked Jack.
"I like it as well as you do, Jack. You just haven't come to realize that Philip is cut out for
a bigger sphere than--that." She pointed out across the parade ground where a drill was
going on. "You know as well as I do that this is not the age for a military career."
Jack was so disgusted with this, that with an exclamation of impatience, he abruptly
strode off to the parade ground.
"You are right, Gloria," said Philip. "I cannot live on a pension indefinitely. I cannot
bring myself to believe that it is honest to become a mendicant upon the bounty of the
country. If I had been injured in the performance of duty, I would have no scruples in
accepting support during an enforced idleness, but this disability arose from no fault of
the Government, and the thought of accepting aid under such circumstances is too
repugnant."
"Of course," said Gloria.
"The Government means no more to me than an individual," continued Philip, "and it is
to be as fairly dealt with. I never could understand how men with self-respect could
accept undeserving pensions from the Nation. To do so is not alone dishonest, but is
unfair to those who need help and have a righteous claim to support. If the unworthy
were refused, the deserving would be able to obtain that to which they are entitled."

Their talk went on thus for hours, the girl ever trying more particularly to make him see a
military career as she did, and he more concerned with the ethical side of the situation.
"Do not worry over it, Philip," cried Gloria, "I feel sure that your place is in the larger
world of affairs, and you will some day be glad that this misfortune came to you, and that
you were forced to go into another field of endeavor.
"With my ignorance and idle curiosity, I led you on and on, over first one hill and then
another, until you lost your way in that awful desert over there, but yet perhaps there was
a destiny in that. When I was leading you out of the desert, a blind man, it may be that I
was leading you out of the barrenness of military life, into the fruitful field of labor for
humanity."
After a long silence, Philip Dru arose and took Gloria's hand.
"Yes! I will resign. You have already reconciled me to my fate."
CHAPTER IV
THE SUPREMACY OF MIND
Officers and friends urged Philip to reconsider his determination of