The lane was hot under the afternoon sum, but the grass grew Long at the roadside and the trees offered a welcome shade. Two pairs of shabty boots showed dustily among the green where two men sprawled at their ease. From the village nearby came faintly the tap of a drum and the sound of girls voices raised in song. The elder man rolled over on his elbow and spat disgustedly.

 "Bloomin’ army', he growled. “Ain't what it was the Army ain‘t. Knows too much they do, "when we've investigated, they sez Investigated!” He swore freely. 

The younger man, hat tilted over his eyes, grunted somnolently. 

“Once on a time, now” went on the other, “you could pitch ‘em the yarn same's anyone else and get away with it, but now it's only them green baby orf’icers -Lieutenants they call ‘em what'll believe anything. ‘Them there Majors and Commydants - -!

 " A chuckle came from under the hat. 

“I done "em, though,” said the voice, reminiscently, “Done the Army for 10 bob tn Pykehen.”

 "Ten bob?” repeated tho other, incredulously. “They ain't got it, nate. They ain't got it mate. They don’t get no pay worth looking at, them orf’cers don't. I never tried ‘em for more'n two or three.”

 The sardonic chuckle came again.

 "Don't go the right way to work, you don't. Finnies, that's what you want.” 

“and wot's that?” growled the older man. The hat jerked back revealing a thin, crafty face. 

“Finnesss mate art, plan o’ campaign like. Listen, I'll tell you. I was broke when I come into Pykeham, so in I goes to a shop. "Mister", I sez to the man, “can you tell me if there's a Salvation Army corps in this town?" "Sure," ses ‘e, “down the end of the street. But come to think of it there's a bandsman right next door. Old Roberts, plays the cornet, he does." “Thank you," ses I, and off I pop next door. A women comes to the door “Good-days Mrs Roberts," ses I, friendly like. “Is Brother Roberts at home?" “No” ses she,  looking puzzled. "Do you know him?” 

“know im?" ses I, “l known him all my life; used to to be in the band with ‘im twelve years ago. Does ‘e still play the cornet?’  She smiles at that. "Sure 'e does,” sez she. “well, well,” ses I pleased like. He was a great one on the cornet, Brother Robert was. And who would be bandmaster now? The old man'l be dead and gone long ago.” “Marsh,” ses she; “‘e’s been ‘ere five years. That’ll be since your time.” We chatted some, and she give me the names I wanted. Then I leads up to it, like. Got a job in the gown, starting tomorrow, and a came to look up me old pal Roberts to borrow a bob to buy me tools. She thinks a bit, “ands it over and off  I goes,"

 He shifted his position and rolled back on the grass.

“Off I goes to, the Bandmaster, he resumed "Well, Brother — Marsh, ses I, shaking ‘im by the hand. Its long since we met.  "Do I know you?” ses ‘e, “Don’t know me?” sez I, "It's twelve years since I lived ‘ere; but I’ve been back time and again and allus looked up the old Army, Played the cornet I used to, along o’ Brother Roberts.” 

“ ‘Ah,” ses ‘e, 'That's before my time, but come in.”

 “In I went and we chatted, like, I come away with a pick and a shovel, a good pick and shovel, it was, for that job I was starting in the morning.” 

“On I goes to the Commydant. He was a tough nut, ‘e was. Swore ‘e never forgot a face. ‘Brother Marsh'll vouch for me, Sir, ses I, ‘And Brother Reberts, ‘e remembered me too." But *e ‘adn't no ‘eart. So I traded ‘im for a loan -three bob to get me tools for the job in 

the morning, ‘e nearly landed me there – wanted to know where the Job was and all. ‘Meet me tonight at eight,’ ses ‘e. ‘'I'll see my Treasurer. ‘e's a bullder’s foreman, Maybe ‘e can give you a hand, Knows all the jobs going in the town.”

 “And you went" drawled the other, with emphasis, 

"And I went to met “is bloomin’ foreman wot knew all the Jobs going. He yes, I should say so. I was at Lylethorpe before eight, I was, But I did it on that old Commydent not ‘arf I didn't, In I walks to the baker's *e was another Army man, got ‘is name from Ma Roberts. 

 ‘Are you Brother Baxter?' ses I, ‘umble like. 

"Yes", sez ‘e

 "I come from Commydant King,' ses I. ‘He sent me to you asking you to do ‘im a favour I'm one of ‘es old bandsmen down on ‘es Iuck, and I been calling on ‘im. ‘Bert,’e ,'I'd give you a dinner or old times’ sake, but i'm called out o’ town. Go to Brother Baxter and ask “im kindly to give you one of ‘is beefsteak pies and charge it to me.’ He looks doubtful like, but ‘e ‘ands it ‘over.  “Well, well,’ ses 'e," we must ‘elp each other, Brothers and here's sixpence for you '”

 "So I takes the road for Lylethorpe 'aving placed the pick and shovel.”

 "wot did you get for it" asked the older man, drowsily.

 “Three bob. One I got from Sister Roberts, two from old Marsh and sixpence along the pie, Reckon I did tho Army well that day.” 

The old man ruminated, chewing a straw.

"That don't make ten bob, do do it?” he cavilled. “Don't seem to add up right to me, Ain't there another ‘arf crown or so somewhere? . 

The exponent of finesse sighed regretfully and composed himself to sleep. 

"That weren't art, that other ‘arf crown. Me, I just found it like, on the Commydants desk, I allus wished I adn't. It weren't part of the: plan o’ campaign."