The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-10-11
A Clock Tower
In France
How Il Helped Two Amer
can Soldiers to Gain
Promotion
By F. A. mitchell

years old. He wished to enlist, but his
mother, who was a widow, stood In his
way. Russell did not consider himself
forbidden to enlist, but he knew that
his doing SO would well night break
the poor woman's heart. The tempta-
ton was too strong for him, and, with
out saying a word to her, he went to
recruiting station and became a SOL
dier. After the deed was done he went
home, and about an hour afterward
mustered up courage to tell his mother
what he had done, hurting II out all of
sudden:
Mother, I've enlisted"
The response was not what Russell
had expected.
"Well, my boy" she said, "since you
have Joined the army there is nothing
for me to do but get you ready to 60"
Russell Andrews passed to a regi-
ment and was sent to a camp, where
he got his first drilling. Then he was
put on troop steamer and, In COM
pany with other steamers, guarded by
submarine destroyers. departed for
France. Being with the first division
that went abroad. he participated In
the animated reception they received,
and IL seemed to him to he worth a
whole lifetime to he one Of the Ameri-
can troops on that occasion.
The training camp behind the lines
was nearer the war and not nearly SO
delightful as the reception. especially
that part pertaining to pretty girls
breaking through the lines to bestow
bouquets. But the boys were not sent
for the purpose of receiving flowers.
and those first happy days in France
were soon n mere memory.
Russell Andrews was well fitted for
a soldier. Whether cooped up in a
troopship or a box car, or making a
long march. he was always jovial. No
matter how uncomfortable the situa-
ton, he was always ready for a joke.
When his corps had been sufficiently
trained to face the enemy he proved
himself brave man.
The ordinary routine work Of a SOL
der even in face of an enemy was too
tame for Private Andrews. Not that
the work was not exciting; indeed, 1t
was at times too exciting. or. rather.
dreadful. for the young American. Rus
sell was cut out for ingenious devices.
He admired the methods adopted by
the Germans for obtaining information
Of what their enemies were doing and
longed to try his hand at one Of their
games.
One day I'm a hand to hand fight Rus
sell. with some thirty of his comrades.
was taken prisoner. A church stood
handy. and since there was no more
convenient place to put the prisoners
they were shut up there. Besides. a
open space. Four sentries were con-
sideIed quite enough to watch the pris-
Oners. and they were stationed about
the church prison.
Now. this church was on an emf
hence and commanded good view Of
what the Germans were doing in its
vicinity. Ii was constructed like most
old churches. open within from floor to
roof. with gallery on three sides.
From the gallery the prisoners could
see what was going on about them;
but, fearing that II they showed them
selves at the windows guard would
be introduced to keep them from en-
joying the view, they took care not to
be seen.
Russell Andrews had no sooner been
incarcerated than he began an explora-
tiou of the premises. He found the
passageway into the basement. went
down there and opening a door. found
a sort OF closet about three feet square
Looking up. he saw that the roof was
only few feet above his head. and
around It was frame OF light. This
puzzled him till suddenly the roof be-
gan To rise. accompanied by a clicking
sound usual TO the winding of the
weight Of clock.
Z Andrews saw at once that the closet
was the shaft within which hung the
weight that worked the church clock
above. A vague something came into
his mind that induced him TO go up
stairs and look out through window.
, He could see the shadow of the spire
OF the church and noted where II fell
This was the time the sexton wound
! the clock.
/ The next evening at the clock wind
/ ing hour Russell went down into the
shaft and when the weight reached
it's lowest point he stood on bench
and took firm grip on the weight
In a few minutes the weight began to
rise and carried the soldier up with IL.
when Russell reached the belfry he
saw a white haired man turning a
crank. Russell stepped OF on 20 the
floor The Old man raised his head
and. seeing the soldier stood aghast.
"Mon Dieur' he exclaimed.
"You are French" said Russell. IF
you had been German you would have
said. Colt in himmel
Yes: I am French. but II the Ger
mans find me speaking with an enemy
they win shoot me. They permit me to
take care OF the church as Its sexton.
bur I have promised not 10 speak with
one OF the prisoners"
THAT you can't help" said Russell.
$50 don't let your conscience trouble
vou. Go on attending to your duty as
usual and say nothing about this meet