Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-24
FOLD FOR LAMBS
COVERED AMBUSH
OF TEUTON GUNS
British Battery M al or
Senses Ruse in Time to
Save Command
DEAF TO OLD MANS PLEA
BY ELLEN ADAIR



LONDON, April 6.--It was morning in
Flanders and the dawn lit up scene of
ruin and devastation. True, spring was
in the air, and when the early mists rolled
Off, the distant ruins of Ypres, with the
plundered framework of the ancient Cloth
Hall, could be clearly seen.
An English officer strolled quietly out
into the morning air. How spendid to
take long, deep breath after the stuffy
! atmosphere Of his little dug-out! Lighting
a cigar, he seated himself on little en-
/ inence and gazed around the quiet country.
side.
Yes, there was ruin everywhere. The
uncut wheat of last years crop lay rotting
on a neghboring field. Big shell holes
loomed dark and threatening, like the
craters of slumbering volcanoes. The
bones of dead cattle lay whitening in the
sunshine, and nearby, a horse, killed ut
the harvest time, had fallen among the
splinters of a broken reaping machine.
The English battery major paused re.
nectively. He had been eyeing the charm
ing greenness of some rich pasture land,
which stood out, serene and solitary,
amidst the wreckage. At It's edge was a
line of stunted trees and foliage. Ap.
parently some haystacks were there too
or were they tiny huts? The Major ad.
tion and took one long, careful look.
THE OLD MANS PLEA.
He could discern nothing clearly, ex-
cept-what was that? A figure was surely
emerging from the underground and com.
ing toward him. Yes, he was right An
old, old man was walking painfully across
the fields. The artilleryman leant back
and calmly lit another cigar, awaiting
the arrival of the interesting stranger
Slowly the figure approached. grew
nearer yet, then paused. What an old. old
man It was, with long white beard that
swept the shrunken chest! And, Monsieur,
have come to beg of you boon!" said
the voice.
The artlleryman stared. Not since
his childhood days when Father Christmas
was his hero had he seen any one quite
so old!
Speak on, old man" said the Major.
"and let's hear what you want"
'The noble English, monsieur. are ever
kindly toward all yor and tender
things" was the ansv -, 'Be generous
as you are brave, I beg of you--''
"The point, man, Get to the point"
cried the officer testify, There's no time
here for longwinded speeches.'
The old man trembled visibly 'Such
a small favor, kind m'sieur," he muir
INJURED, 81 only ask of you to spare my
lambs! From yonder belt of trees | come
all that possess in the world is there
my flock of sheep with their tiny offspring
in the little huts beneath the trees. See,
1 bring you a little one as Eiftr'
Opening a queer bundle the old man
drew forth a forlorn lamb, and laid 1t
at the Majors feet. The Major stared,
amazed.
Kind m'sieur," continued the old
shepherd sadly, ''the English guns lie
hid in that wood behind us. and perchance
All m'sieur I'm an old, old man. and
may never see the sunshine of another
spring. Grant me this favor-spare my
lambs !"
"I'll attend to the matter" said the
Major rather sharply, but take this trib-
ute away with you-take it back to its
nanny"
MY heartfelt thanks, kind m'sieur!"
SUSPICION is AROUSED.
Picking up his bleating burden, the
white-bearded man departed. But the
Major seemed dis:uieted in his mind.
'Methinks," said he softly to himself,
staring after the retreating figure. me
thinks my shepherd doth protest too
much -
Another pause for reflection. Then
"How did that ancient worthy find out
he soliloquzed.
No answer could the Major find to his
question, and the day wore slowly on.
When shadows heightened and the night
at last descended, the officer was still
turning the veXed problem over in his
mind. Approaching the lines, he selected
a Tommy and entrusted Investigations to
him.
"Over there" he jerked his head I'm the
direction of the distant belt of trees,
there's an innocent little sheepfold-a
lambing creche, to be precise, full OF
plump young bleaters-which 1 want ex-
plored with care and circumspection. Re-
port to me everything you see and hear,
And tonight's the night"
"By the way" added the Major, Should
you chance to run into a much-bewhisl-
cred old gentleman, either give him wide
berth or free pass instantly to Jordan's
hospitable shore! Remember! Ware white
whiskers and keep your eye skinned !"
Slowly the night wore on as Tommy and
another private crawled cautiously
through the grass to the distant sheep
fold. The journey was quite uneventful.
Not a whisker could be seen waving in
the breeze; and when the pair gained the
belt of trees and lay quietly In their
shadow, not sound could be heard TO
break the silence Of the long night.
"Curious?" said Tommy softly, Il won
der where those lambs can be-"
A wisp of moon rose in the heavens and
in it's lurid CLEAN they saw the little
sheep huts, roughly matched. Raising his
head quickly, Tommy emitted long and
quavering "Ba-baa :" Surely that'll fetch
'em!" he added gently
No answering bleat came from the little
huts. Remarkable! How soundly those
lambs slumbered And: II can smell
something" whispered Tommy, hut 1t
amt no sheep. I'm blessed il IL amt
yes. it is-its a kind, of human smell
ilke a workhouse on hot night-well,
I'm jiggered :"
Covering himself with sheaf of wheat,
bold Tommy cTawled forward closer TO
those little huts and soon was swallowed
up in darkness.
Time passed. The other man waited