The evening world., 1917-10-24
JOE M'gLRoY. NEW YORK, GETS
ATksTg OF TRENCH HORRORS.


when Joe NcElroy gets back TO
Now York he will havo n tale OF the
trenches 10 toll that will thrill every
ono VINO hears IL. Joe is not a SOL
dier. bu, no has had a trench eNperi-
ence hard 10 duplicate. In few days
ne expects TO get his hair to lie down
properly. At present 1t is inclined TO
atand IN like tho hair on q fright
ened dogs back.
Joe arrived In camp late yesterday
Afternoon to visit his many friends or
tho Avonia A. c.. who are enlisted In
the Supply Company of the old 7th
Regiment. Tho bunch httod Joe out
with a portion OF n uniform and In
troducod : m 20 tho mess shack As
tho evening wore along Joe became
more and more imbued with the MILL
tnry spirit. He wanted TO Know about
everything and tho Avonians had 70
talk 10 him In relays.
turned TO the six-mile trench system
In the rear OF 'hc oll ita'a camp. Joe
said he would give anything TO see
those trenches. The bunch thought
II best 10 walt until morning. but Joe
simply couldn't wait Wagner Jim
Bird announced that he would show
the trenches TO Joe, and forthwith
/ procured a lantern.
Arriving at the trenches, Joe wasn't
satisfied with looking down into the
perpendicular walled bitches. He
wanted 20 20 over the top and walk
about in tho big maze. 10 into the
trenches went Joe and Jim. They
wandered through the various traV-
erses, communicating trenches and
into dugouts. md then the lantern
went out. In tho Stygian darkness
the two started for tho first lines.
Jim led tho way and walked rapidly.
Joe had developed blister and fol-
lowed moro slowly. Jim. thinking
that Joo was at his heels. turned into
n traverse and went merrily on hi'
way, but Joe took another path. v"
were speedily out of shouting dis
tanco OF each other and became hope
lessly lost
After taps had sounded nnd Jim
nnd Joe had not returned. tho Avon
ians back In camp began 10 get wor-
ried and decided to send out a search
party. Bob Bell, Happy Hunt
Walter Cory and Bob Vance volun j
teered 70 md the missing ones. Halt
way 20 the trenches they encountered
jim Bird. covered with the rcd mud
OF the bitches and so tired OF walking
that he could hardly articulate.
where's Joef' inquired Happy
Hunt.
why. amt ne back In oamp7;
asked weary Jim.
Then no told how he and the visito
from Gotham had become separated
and he had supposed that Joe had go
out and returned to camp. On to th'
trenches went tho search party
loudly shouting the namo of McElroy
For half mile they went along tn
trench tops, and then TO their Btartle'
ears camo loud howls. At top spee'
they followed the direction OF tn
howls, and then they camo upon tn
terrified Joe speeding through a com
municating trench as though pos
sessed.
A half dozen arms reached dow
and lifted the frightened one to IN
trench TOP. He was speechless.
Hes after me. he's after me-" \
finally cried. and the bunch DC
manded 10 know who. but poor jill
was too overcome TO explain II !
could. And at that instant "Happ,
Hunt made the discovery. Down II
, trench came a big. black mule. one
the long cared caparies belonging
the regiment. Tho mule had strayt
from the corral ana fallen into q
trenches and had encountered Joe
his weary wanderings. Joe saw "
luminous eyes and fled In terror, 10
lowed by the mule.
The mule remained IN tho trench
until morning. when a way 20 get hi
out was found. Joe McElroy sa,