New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-12
A Story of War and
Childhood

the SUBSTITUTE OHCcI.
Naturally, Picha was ready To unds,.,.. i,
dangerous patrol. That was in Al, n. |"
pleased him much more than lv;,. = -
trenches. The fat Fabig also vo,n,...~
When the first lieutenant made soma 49,
to the latter's handicap Of obesity -.
winked his right eye and said:
1--WE have done many job togetAe,~
The commander was satisfied. Thev Al,
take Mucha with them, because he hs1
children at home.
High overhead it was clear, but thid..
lay on the ground. They made wild. -.
to the right, so as not 10 come upon or,,.-
or advanced trenches. After quart. =
hour they saw dim light ahead q g.
They crawled now on their elbows .,A 49,
with a facility which showed long pru,,-'
practice.
sharp, humming sound. Fabig had 49,.
in contact with a thin wire, which =.
stretched about foot above the ground n
crawed along the wire. 1t led behind Ia.
clump of birch trees; they both knew Ma,
that meant. A battery was concealed t,s,.
They worked their way back again, follox,,,
the wire in the opposite direction. Soo,
rose suddenly into the air, and they saw ..
irregular outlines of huge windmill.
"a telephone wire to the observation "a.
ton" whispered Fabig.
This discovery stimulated them TO new Z.
forts path. 1t must lead TO some villa,
not very far away. Picha now crawled b,
to twenty PAGES ahead; then he waited for u,
comrade to catch up. Thus they kept in dirst
communication, and one of them could be LIZ.
ening undisturbed all the time.
On both sides of the path were rife pits q,
the outposts, and they could hear the sentns,
talking. The two friends left the path md
stole through broken fence into a grdsr.
Picha almost cursed aloud, for the filth rI
stencil were too much for his nerves. Thea b,
gave start; for there, in the midst Of ts
filth, wrapped in a mantle, lay man. vts
snored. His cap lay beside him.
Picha crawled with Fabig into the next yard
where, between the dwelling and the stab.
there was a gimmer of light.
The yard offered a strange sight. In ordc
to make more room, apparently, the soldiers
had cleared the house of its furniture. Never.
theless, there was not space enough Cor a.
Some were propped up around fire. A lev
lay on straw, which had been dragged an.
through the half open stable door.
Against the dwelling, on small table, stood
a Madonna in a glass case. An old peasant
was kneeling in a heap before it. His head
lay in his folded hands on the tables edge.
The two scouts were on the point Of with
drawing. A single step further would Be yer!
perilous. Then Picha touched his cnmpMio,
on the arm.
Look there, ON the fence, on the third pa
ing!"
Fabig looked. On the fence at the cthe
side of the yard sat, or hung, doll. A solds
must have put it there in jest.
That would be something for our child
whispered the fat Fabig, enviously.
"Stay here and wait for me; III try to n
it," said Picha. "If I'm not back in five min
utes, get away. Then it will be too hot 10
you"
Picha crawled to the sleeper and borrcwe
the latter's cap. Fabig lay in wait at the cor
ner of the stable, keeping his eye on the DOL
Now a figure passed by on the other side
the fence. A hand seized the doll and tie hs
ure vanished.
That was clever piece of work, More "a
citing even than smuggling.
But as Fabig half raised himself to gre'
his comrade he heard heavy footsteps. II
fat scout pressed his body close against ID
wall. Something stumbled against ard owe
him. A heavy object fell across him. role
off, rose, and staggered away toward the me-
Fabg felt for his cap and found that II WI
gone. He gave one more glance at the grou
around the fire. There was a stir there. Son
of the soldiers looked at the newcomer, wn
held German cap in his hand, and then IN
direction of the stable where Fabig was lynn
or. rather. had been lying; for before
thought in the thick, sleepy heads Of the Eu
SLAMS could translate itself into action FAB
had vanished. Picha was right behind him
II was a. m. when they reported TO
first lieutenant. The information which ne
brought seemed so important TO him that
sent them back to Maria's village, and eve
went along with them himself, to cornmunles
their discoveries to the brigade commander
That old gentleman got up at once, oesms
with delight, clapped the Landsturm men
the shoulder and sent them 10 the oagfat
train, where they could have good sleep.
The next morning there was lively ae10
First, the artillery shot the windmill to p'ec.
Thereupon the fire of the enemy's battsi,'
became very uncertain. 1t ceased when "
clump Of birches to the right Of the village w
snraved ,y;tb ybalis