Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-13
CHAPTER v.
In the Trenches.

away 'hat iAN' II
filled with eggs of the Blue
Imps," directed Sir Ready
Smiler, as Mrs. Dalton prepared to
write another letter to her soldier
sons. Peggy obeyed and Mrs. Dali
ton opened a fresh bottle. This the
Rosy Pops filled with their own
eggs.
These eggs will hatch out cheer
fulness, fun, courage, hope, conf
dence and all things good" ex-
planned Sir Ready Smiler.
What shall l say?' asked Mrs.
Dalton.
Tell your boys how good the
crops have been; tell them about the
risky calf and the greedy young
pigs for which you are going to get
good price; tell them about how
splendidly this country is backing
them up by buying Liberty bonds
and subscribing to the Red Cross,
Y. M. c. A., X. of c. and all other
war activities; tell them how you
thrill when you read in the papers
of American victories. There's
plenty of CHEEKY things to write
about.
ITO be sure there are. can fill
my letter so full of them there'll
not be room for the little troubles
that have been in my mind"
Mrs. Dalton went at her letter
with a happy zest much different
from the gloomy depression with
which she had been writing before.
She smiled over it and before she
sealed it, she kissed it.
Kisses are a whole lot better
than tear drops" declared the Giant.
IF you'll be real good and prom
Use not to speak or try to make
yourself known, We'll take you with
us when we deliver the letter, said
Sir Ready Smiler.
ooh, promise" cried Mrs. Dali
ton, her eyes glowing.
"Put on the wings of Fancy" or
dered Sir Ready Smiler. The Rosy
Pops quickly fastened pink wings,
much like their own, to the sholders
of Mrs. Dalton, Peggy and the
Giant.
"And now for the trenches" cried
Sir Ready Smiler.
With that the whole party flew
out of the door and high up into
the misty air. Presently they be-
came lost in dark cloud and could
not see the earth beneath them.
Here we are in France" an
nounced Sir Ready Smiler, after
they had sailed along a few mo-
ments. Remember to keep silent"
Down they darted into deep night.
This puzzled Peggy until she re-
membered that the time is faster
in Europe than in America, the sun
getting up hours earlier in the morn
ing and setting hours sooner in the
evening hours.
"My boys" whispered Mrs. Dali
ton. Sure enough, there were Ben
and Bill, alert and strong, keeping
watch toward the German trenches.
With them was third soldier whom
they called Bob. The three, while
vigilant and ready for action, were
joking cheerfully among themselves.
II wish we could get crack al,
the Fritzies tonight I feel as though
l could lick a dozen of them," said
Bob.
so do we" declared Ben and
Bill, and Peggy saw their mothers
face light up with pride.
Here's the mail" spoke a SOL
der, coming along with a sackful of
letters. He handed one letter to
Bob and then looked through his
sack. II thought I had one for you,
Ben and Bill, but l can't find it," he
said.
Peggy knew why he couldn't find
it. She had seen Sir Ready Smiler
take a big blue envelope out of his
sack just before he reached the SOL
diers. The blue envelope was bulg-
ing out so large Sir Ready Smiler
could scarcely handle it. The Blue
Imps within were already Matching
out.
"Wel1, we are glad Bob got one,
anyway" said Ben and Bill, bravely.
As Bob opened his letter, Blue
Imps fairly sprang out of it. As he
read they sprang from every line,
until they were swarming all over
him. In an instant they had tied
him with letters. as they had tied
Peggy, and he sagged down with a
groan, all the sturdy alertness and
vigor gone out of him.
"Oh, mother, mother, how you
have discouraged me-" he sobbed.