Jack Keefe Stories · Chapter
Decorated explained
Jack writes to Al from France, recounting his mistaken suspicion that a fellow soldier named Geo.
What happens
Jack writes to Al from France, recounting his mistaken suspicion that a fellow soldier named Geo. Shaffer is a German spy based on a letter with 'x' marks and German text. He reports his findings to Capt. Seeley, who explains the marks are kisses and the German letter is a prank. Jack later confronts Shaffer, leading to a physical altercation where Jack is injured, but he insists he will fight back next time.
Themes in this chapter
Humor and Irony
Jack's serious spy investigation turns out to be a prank involving kisses and a German letter, highlighting the irony of his overreaction.
Masculinity and Bravado
Jack's insistence on fighting 'fair like man to man' and his bravado after the fight, despite being injured.
Characters to notice
- Jack Keefe
Narrator and protagonist; writes letters from France, gets into a fight with Shaffer over a prank.
- Geo. Shaffer
Soldier suspected by Jack of being a German spy; later confronts and fights Jack.
- Capt. Seeley
Jack's captain; explains the 'x' marks as kisses and dismisses the spy theory.
- Johnny Alcock
Soldier involved in the prank; Jack threatens him after the joke is revealed.
Key passages
“the boys in baseball use to swell up when I pulled 1 of my gags on them it wouldn’t last long because I would just smile at them and they would half to smile back and be pals and I always say that if a man can’t take a joke he better take acid or something and make a corps out of himself instead of a monkey.”
Jack reflects on his baseball days, noting that his teammates would get upset at his jokes but he could always win them over with a smile, and he believes anyone who can't take a joke should give up.
Jack's philosophy on humor and camaraderie, setting up his later reaction to being pranked.
“Well Al I don’t suppose you knew I was a detective but when it comes to being a dick it looks like I don’t half to salute Wm. Burns or Shylock or none of them.”
Jack boasts to Al that he is as good a detective as famous investigators like William Burns or Sherlock Holmes.
Jack's self-aggrandizement as he begins his spy investigation.
“So he said “Well your lady friends was all cheated then because this is ciphers all right but its the kind of messages they love to read because it means kisses.””
Capt. Seeley explains that the 'x' marks in the letter are not secret codes but symbols for kisses, a common romantic gesture.
The revelation that Jack's spy theory is based on a misunderstanding of romantic correspondence.
“Well Al I am tickled to death I won’t half to give up my uniform and snoop around Paris like a white wings double crossing women and spying and etc.”
Jack is relieved he doesn't have to become a spy in Paris, which he associates with dishonorable behavior like betraying women.
Jack's relief that the spy mission is off, reflecting his preference for direct combat over espionage.
“But a man like Shaffer that if he stopped a shell the Dutchmens would half to move back a ways so as they would be room enough in France to bury him hasn’t got no right to pick on a smaller man especially when I wasn’t feeling good on acct. of something I eat but at that Al size don’t make no difference and its the bird that’s got the nerve”
Jack complains that Shaffer, being huge, shouldn't pick on a smaller man like him, especially when he was unwell, but insists that nerve matters more than size.
Jack's rationalization of the fight and his assertion of courage despite being physically outmatched.
