The sun., 1916-12-10

wires down outside" calls over the
operator from the board. n almost
Immediately two of the number with a
long pole disappear through the door.
Other shells tear overhead. They all
seem to be crashing into the field
near by. There is a battery over there.
A few minutes later "A dark form at
tho top of a high ladder leaning against
Il pole sways slightly in the night piec-
ing together ends of wires. below Is
another Fastening baCk and forth along
the ground with IA long pole following
up ends Of wires lying on the ground
once. when "A shell with a terrific
crash tears down and bursts in the re-
mains of a house just on the other
side Of the road. II seems as though the
form swaying up there on the pole
must fall, that surely the man has been
hit. But he is still there and the work
goes on.
The few inside sit about saying moth
ing. In the silence the men are en-
pecting other shells. II they crash
much nearer they may come through
the roof of the little room. But this
has been going on for months and the
men are used TO 1t. 1t is nothing. Then
finally all is quiet. keeps SO for some
minutes. the Smelling is over and the
talking continues.
some time later the two men return
from the outside. put ava their pole.
then sit down At h table again.
Half an hour later a series of heavy,
pounding crashes come through the
night from the direction of the
trenches. 4. few seconds of silence and
then other similar sounds. The driver
VI the remaining ambulance VINO has
been taking 10 some soldiers outside
looks throuGh the window.
So the operator at the switchboard
rings w the dugout near the first line.
They just sent ovc some torpc-
does" the soldier ny there replies.
Those at the bureau prepare for
sleep. Ttcrc is a place along the wall
whore there are blankets and some
straw. Some of tho men drop down
on tho straw and cover themselves
with the blankets. while others take
some stretchers standing against the
wall. place them on the floor and lie
down on them.
Meanwhile the driver OF the ambu-
lance. called some time before TO the
dressing post. has returned. lie has
taken the wounded man to "A hospital
out Of shell range half "A dozen miles
in the rear.
Back already" the soldiers say, as
he comes in. lie replies that the stars
came out during the return trip and
the driving was easy.
The two drivers have their own
I'a platy ,f,l ,.l
trast with the cheap. t~hreadbare
Blankets Of the soldiers in the room.
The Frenchmen are as solicitous AS
women FOR the comfort of the Ameri-
cans, help them unroll the blankets on
the stretchcrs, wish them good night
and say they hope there viii bc no
calls To disturb them. During quiet
nights when ON duty here the men try
To steal some sircp between calls.
The soldiers bow out the lights.
only II renla.rs', 1t fickers away
uncertainty OYER h. the switchboard
and later = g., he outlines of the
operator, head druwsily resting on
hands.
The room was once "A country school,
room. There are still desks piled in
he corners There are rude carvings
on them n others roundabout ON the
wall, There are names linked to-
gether, here the picture OF Il heart,
while another heart in Colorcd Crayon
has "A roughly drawn arrow through it
and beneath in the same color two
names are linked.
About the Don arc notices. In the
dim flicker of the lone light only We
are distinGu!shablc. Goodness is bet
ter than beauty" runs one. Man
passes, time does not runs tho other.
Thinls are ~singularly quiet this eve
ming, Now, there Is no sound except
from somewhere without the subdued
noise oi horses and wagons the clank-
ing of chains and the occasional. faint
talking OF men.
Up nj h battery of big guns, in the
comfortable dugout, the men have not
yet retired. They still sit before tho
little hearth with the fire. The walls
of the place are lined with bricks.
Where they came from 10 one present
knows. The place was built by the
men of the old regiments, while bat
ter!cs have come and one above. The
men feel lucky 10 be Guartercd in II.
They are all singing. Their voices
are 50 low hat they are hardly audible
outside. They are singing a song they
learned as children, and they are going
over a verse again and again. n verse
that has "A strange appeal to them.
one Is playing n mandolin, so softly
that It is scarcely heard.
Finally they stop. They also pre-
pare to go to bed. All OF them have