Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1917-12-06


HE bosom Of Sergeant Lynd-
ham was filled to the brtm with
disgust and lOathing. Nor was
this disgust ana loathing entire
ly without reason. Months of wallow.
Ing like a pig In the mud of trenches
does not sweeten the soul, and when
1t is combined with endless duties in
the cold full rains Of q sheli,swept re-
giOn that Is akin to the borders of
inferno. the nerve become ragged.
Hence had come about the curdling Of
the milk Of human kindness which had
previously existed within him.
Nor had a few little midnight sur
prise partfes'over the top In which the
bayonct had been the principal piece
de resistance tended to decrease these
sensations. Even being bowled 20
feet by the %concussion Of a shell had
not cheered him. But 1t had remain
ed for a Whit Of poison gas and a
squirt Of liquid fire to set and solidlfy
his mind to Its present condition.
Alive, dead, or as yet unborn. Ser
geant Lyndham was Of the fixed opin-
Ion that he did not like the Boches.
And the last "a hours had been
particularly obnoxious from the fact
that they had been entirely sleepless.
The horizon was still lurld with can
non flashes and the uproar remained
fiendish despite the fact that 1t was
hours after midnight, but he was &C
cllstomed to such things, and knew
that once asleep, they would not troll
bic him. Also, for all he knew, he
might Dream Of something pleasant. He
was free now for q few hours within
his blankets, and was In the act of
removing his boots when his captain
thrust his head within and motioned
for him to cone forth. Knowing that
something both new and dlsagreeable
confronted him. he arose and stepped
out us commanded.
For a quarter Of a mile they silent
ly wound their way along a muddy
road until the dim lights Of a partially
s~hell-ruined house appeared before
them. Into this they entered. AID the
sergeant, casting his eyes about. saw
the colonel Of his regiment sitting at
n table. Saluting he stood ut atten-
ton.
Sergeant Lyndham," said the colo
mel thoughtfully. "a few months ugc
when you accompanied one of our air
Men over the line and destroyed Il
plant Of the enemy, you did a yer?
brave and skillful thing. For tia,
act you were made a sergeant. To
night W. must have another duty per
formed. and l have selected you be,
Of my confidence in your cour
age and ability. 1t is very likely tina;
you will not return. yet war demand
Its sacrifices. Without knowing nor
Of this new duty do you volunteer to
try and accomplish its" 1t was plain
enough now that there would be no
rest IL sleep for him again this night,
and the sergeaut's disgust and loath.
ing mounted accordingly. Yet he man
aged to swallow them.
eyes. sir" he grunted. The colonel
nodded.
"You are a brave and willing soldier.
sergeant. Were 1t not for the fact that
the regiment contains so many men
like you I would sometimes become
filled with fear and sadness. Now
for the reaso I sent for you. You
will remember the trenches which run
through Theirs woods, do you not?'
Slightly, colonel. I helped cap.
ture them from the Boches at the point
of the bayonet."
"Aud in turn were driven from
them by the same amiable gentlemen"
Lyndham made a wry face.
Yves, colonel. But they surprised
US most unfairly. 1t vas all very dis.
gushing and made ME loathe them"
Il have 40 doubt. But now listen.
We have reason to believe that the.
have evacuated the position. while. It
has become important that We regain
it. You will follow my reasoning. If
the enemy has deserted the ditch VIZ
wish to know 1t. while II he has not,
1t is equally important that we should
know, Since VI must be advised before.
hand what we>may expect when We
make III advance-whether Resistance
or unopposed occupancy. Therefore,
We are compelled to send someone as
a scout to ascertain the conditions"
"And because of the darkness and
treetops the airnien are uselesSf"
Exactly. Therefore. you will craw,
upon your stomach to the wood, going
alone the better to escape observation.
BY working your way fat upon the
ground and instantly becoming still
should their lights fall upon you. you
may be mistaken by them for what you
are likely to become-0ne Of the dead
men Of which you will pass many, II
you are lucky. Should you return with
this information. wei and good, II not,
We will be compelled to adopt other
means to secure u information. You
had best plan to arrive there by the
first light Of day that you may be able
to observe conditions. II you md the
trenches empty. you viii have to run
for 1t coming back. We will he watch.
Ing and II We see you returning, ever
though you may not succeed In reach
Ing our lines, we will understand that