Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-05-24

THE relief arrived, and as We left
the post the captain said:
SNOW for the fire works, and know
they'll be good and plenty They were.
"When we arrived at the gun pits
the battery commander, the sergeant
major and Cassell were waiting for us.
We fell in line and the funeral march
to brigade headquarters started.
ARRIVING at headquarters the bat
terry commander was the first to be
interviewed. This was behind closed
doors. From the roaring and explo-
sions of Old Pepper it sounded as if
raw meat was being thrown to the
lions. Cassell, later, described it as
sounding like bombing raid. In about
two minutes the officer reappeared.
The sweat was pouring from his fore
mead, and his face was the color of a
beet. He was speeches.. As he
passed the captain he jerked his thumb
in the direction of f:he lions den and
went out. Then th: captain went in.
and the lions vert, once again fed.
The captain stayed about twenty min
utes and came out. couldn't see his
face, but the droop in his shoulders
was enough. He looked like wet hen.
1.-THE door of the generals room
opened and Old Pepper stood in the
doorway. With roar he shouted:
(which one of you is Cassell?
D-n me, get your heels together
when l speak! Come in here!'
"Cassell started to say, Yes SIR
"But Old Pepper reared, Shut upr
"Cassell came out in five minutes.
He said nothing, but as he PASSED me
he put his tongue into his cheek ana
winked, then, turning to the closed
door, he stuck his thumb to his nose
and left.
"Then the sergeant majors turn
came. He didn't come out our way.
Judging by the roaring, Old Pepper
must have eaten him.
when the door opened and the gen.
eral beckoned to me, my knees started
to play Home, Sweet Home against
each other.
my interview was very short.
"Old Pepper glared at me when I
entered, and then let loose.
"'Of course you don't know anything
about it. You're just like the rest,
Ought to have a nursing bottle around
your neck and a nipple in your teeth.
Soldiers-by CAD, you turn my stom-
ach to look at you. Win this war,
when England sends out such samples
as have in my brigade! Not likelyl
Now, sir, tell me what you don't know
about this affair. Speak up, out with
1T. Don't be gaping at me like a fish,
Spit it out
II stammered, Sir, I know absolute
~ nothing
That's easy to see,' he roared:
that stupid face tells me that. Shut
up. Get out; but I think you are
id liar just the same. Back to
your battery
II saluted and made my exit.
THAT night the captain sent for US.
With fear and trembling we went to
his dugout. He was alone. After sa.
lutlng we stood at attention in front
OF him and waited. His say was short.
"'Don't you two ever get it into your
neads that Morse is a dead language.
I've known it for years. The two Of
you had better get rid of that nervous
hablt of tapping transmitters; it's dan.
gerous. That's ALL
I'VE saluted, and were just going ont
the door of the dugout when the can.
tain called up back and said:
Smoke Goldflakes? Yes? Well.
there are two tins of them on nv table.
20 back to the battery, and keep YOUR
tongues between your teeth. Under.
stand?
I'VE understood.
For five weeks afterwards our hat
[ery did nothing but extra fatfgues
we were satisfied and so were the
men: 1t was worth it to put one over
On Old Pepper, to say nothing Of tho
"Jury caused to Fritz feelings.r
When Wilson had finished his story
looked up and the dugout was
!ammed. An artillery captain and two
olncers had also entered and STAYED
or the finish. Wilson spat ont On
enormous quid of tobacco, looked nm
saw the captain, and got as red as a
The captain smiled and
cit: Wilson whispered to me:
bllme me, Yank, 1 see where click
or cruclf1xion. That captain is the
'ame one that chucked us Goldhakes
n MS dugout and here I have been
me weight about in his
learing.'" LILO
wilson never clicked his crucif1xfon