The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-12-22
CHAPTER XXI.
A Meetlnn In the Trenches.

| Nlldlllt ihlbN " Atu SUM- anu ZAP
tain Montague had ordered his men to
place Guy upon heap Of straw, where
/ he must lie until the doctor came. In
Trench % an atmosphere Of sadness
had succeeded the air of light-hearted
carelessness that Charlie Brown had
| found when he arrived there. The
candle still hickered upon the table
round which the poker players had
lately sat. But all thought of that
| frivolous game had vanished from
their minds. 1t was not that they had
not already seen many Of their men
shot down. But Guy Falconer had
quickly endeared himself to all-on-
GERS and enlisted men alike. And now
that he had received his billet, in the
German bullet, there was not one soul
in Trench % that was not both sobered
and sad
But they had little time to bestow
upon a contemplation Of wars horrors.
Five minutes had scarcely elapsed
after Charlie Browns departure when
sergeant appeared, holding a prisoner
by the arm.
1t was Streetman-that prisoner
And he was far from presenting the
iaunty figure that usually distin-
gushed him. His lothing-civilian
clothing-was badly torn, his face was
scratched and dirty, and his right arm
was in a sling. The mans hat was
gone, too.
The sergeant reported to his captain
that while on patrol duty he had
caught the fellow skulking around.
"He came from the German lines"
he said.
Captain Montague held the candle to
Streetman's face.
"And in civilians clothes! A spy,
eh?" he exclaimed.
mo, no, captain! An Englishman-
a loyal Englishmanw Streetman pro-
tested.
They searched him; but found moth
ing Of Importance.
Hes got some kind of cock-and-
bull story about being wounded and
then" the sergeant started to say,
when Streetman interrupted him.
"Never mind that! | tell you I've
information that's vital to England" "
he insisted.
But the captain was still suspicious
of him.
"My names Lee-Walter Lee"
Streetman asserted, formerly OF the
British army. I've been in business in
Belgium-the automobile business. My
papers there will prove what | say.
The Germans took my factory-kept
me prisoner all night in the cellar.
That's when learned their plans from
some major-Major Won Brenig and a
Captain Karl. | could listen to them
talking-there were holes in the floor
from that shell fire. realized what
ii would mean to England If | could
bring word to the British army of this
secret plan Of the Germans. During
the night I managed to escape through
the cellar window. They followed me,
and 7 got one of their bayonets in the
shoulder. They left me for dead; but
it was only a flesh wound. And for
the last twenty hours I've been seek
ing the British position somewhere
near Trench 27-for that's che vital
spot-when your sergeant caught me-"
Trench 27. eh?" the captain said.
"Yesr' Streetman answered eagerly.
"Is it near hereY'
Remember, sir, you are not ques-
tioning me-" Captain Montague replied.
$50 you won't believe me? Yet
you've looked at my papers. Don't
they convince you"
"Papers are easily forged" Monta-
que told him. Still, he was somewhat
impressed by the others glib tale,
and he allowed the captive to proceed
with his story.
'The Germans are 20 attack tonight
in force NJ your Trench 81 IN the hope
of cutting through the British lines '
StFcptnAn continued ''YDur OniV
rhnncp Is ia hiring up every possible
man e. protect that french otherwise
wen hr beaten NCu sNs what ~