Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-05-29
CHAPTER xui-continued.

p
"Cassell had a fancy for that par
ocular blonde, The answer came back
in the shape of volley of cusses. 1
changed the subject.
"After while our talk veered
round to the way the Boches had been
exposing themselves on the road down
on the chart as Target II. What he
said about those Boches would never
have passed the reichstag, though /
believe it would have gone through
our censor easily enough.
1.-THE bursting shells were making
such din that l packed up talking
and took to watching the captain. He
was fidgeting around on an Old sand
bag with the glass TO his eye. Occa-
sionally he would let out grunt, and
make some remark l couldn't near on
account of the noise, but ! guessed
what it was all right. Fritz was get
ting fresh again on that road.
"Cassell had been sending in the tap
code to me, but l was fed up and
didn't bother with it. Then he sent
O. s., and I was all attention, for this
was call used between us which
meant that something important was
on. was all ears in an instant. Then
Cassell turned loose.
"'You blankety blank dud, l have
been trying to raise you for fifteen
minutes. What's the matter, are you
asleep? Gust as if anyone could
have slept in that internal racket y
Never mind framing a nasty answer.
Just listen
care you game for putting some
thing over on the Boches and Old Pep
per all in one?'
81 answered that was game enough
when it came TO putting it over the
Boches. but confessed that | had a
weakening of the spine, even at the
mention of Old Peppers name
"He came back with, It's so absurd
~ easy and simple that there is no
chance of the old heather rumbling it.
Anyway, if we're caught. I'll take the
blame
Under these condition told him to
spit out his scheme. 1t was so daring
and simple that it took my breath
away. This is what he proposed:
"If the BocheS should use that road
again, to send by the tap system the
target and range. / had previously
told him about our captain talking out
loud as if he were sending through
orders. Well, If this happened, was
TO send the dope to Cassell and he
would transmit it to the battery COM
mandcr as officially coming through
the observation post. Then the bat
terry would open up. Afterwards. dur
ing the investigation, CaSsell would
swear he received ii direct. They
would have to relieve him, because it
was impossible from his post in the
battery dugout TO know that the road
was being used at that time by the
Germans. And also it was impossible
for him to give the target. range and
degrees. You know a battery chart is
rot passed around among the men like
o newspaper from Blighty. From him
the investigation would go to the OBJ
servation post. and the observing Off
Ger could truthfully swear that | had
not sent the message by phone. and
that no orders to fire had been issued
by him. The investigators would then
he up in thu air, we would be safe, the
Boches would receive n good bashing,
and we would get our own back on Old
Pepper. 1t was too good to be true.
[ gleefully fell in with the scheme,
and told Cassell / was his meat
""Then I waited with beating heart
and watched the captain like hawk.
"ae was beginning to fidget again
and was drumming on the sandbags
with his feet At last, turning to me,
he said:
Wilson, this army is a blankety
blank washout What's the use of hav-
Ing artillery if it is not allowed to fire?
The government at home ought to be
hanged with some of their red tape.
It's through them that we have no
shells
q answered, Yes, sir and started
sending this opinion over the wire 70
CasseIl. but the captain interrupted
me with:
Keep those internal fingers still.
What's the matter getting the nerves 3?
When I'm talking to you, pay atten-
ton.
My heart sank. Supposing he had
rumbled that tapping. then all would
be up with 9dr plan. l stopped drum
ming with my fingers and said:
"'Beg your pardon. sir. just a habit
with me-
"'And id silly one. too he an
swered, turn 'ng to his glasses again.
and I knew I was safe. He had not
tumbled TO the meaning Of that tap
ping.
"AlI at once. without turning round.
ne exclaimed:
4'lyell, of al the nerve I've ever run