Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-17
CHAPTER "
Pogg, Crosses "No MANS Land"

"( Npb' work, Peggy shouted Bl,N Bel.
~ gium as the tat German sergeant,
both hands high in the air danced around TO
avoid the sharp ba,Vuet with which Peggy
threatened to lab him again
Good work" cried Homer and Carrie
Pigeon, hopping up and down in their joy.
The eyes of the German soldiers bulged
out as they saw the quick and threatening
punishment, Of their sergeant They bulgcd
bit farther when they saw the queer jubili-
hcation of the Birds And they bulgcd far
thest of all when Bily Belgium. swinging the
machine gun menacngly back and forth.
warned them Of unseen dangers
You are surrounded by an American phan-
tom army, he shouted in a sruf tone But
hc wisely did not. tell them that the phantom
army consisted Of cuy Two persons himself
and Peggy. "If YOU resist or try to escape,
you will be struck down at once John,
search the prisoner in front Of you"
Peggy locked around to see whom Billy
vas talking to. He mOtioncd that he meant
her stepping forward. she quickly searched
the Hun nearest her. securing big knife.
'Now. Pete" shouted Billy and Peggy. act
ing as Pete. searched another man down
the line And Sc II went on, Billy calling a
different name. until the Germans must have
ihought whole company cf phantoms was
in the shellho.c They looked decidedly
scared, and very well content to stand
mcokly st-l with their hands in the air As
Peggy searched each one he trembled and
muttered "Kamerad Kamerad'" until she
wanted to laugh.
AFTER a few hops in the dance Of 10y
Homer and Carrie Pigeon searched out a loaf
of black bread among the Germans supplies
and ate 1t eagerly.
We haven't had thing 10 eat in two
days" they explained as soon they had a
few bites. You know they don't feed army
pigeons when they are on duty. That's SO
thcy will fly straight back to headquarters
where they know food is waiting"
"Ncither have Been nor Rnl had any
food" exclaimed Peggy remembering the
plight of the young soldiers "l'll send them
a note telling them we have captured this
shellhole and that we will send supplies
right away"
In the pocket Of PeEgy's khaki suits was
! a not pbOok and pencil ln a moment she had
scribbled thf note:
billy Belgium and / have captured the
machine-gun nest and twenty Germans with
their supplies If you'll promise not to shoot,
we'll send food TO you. Your Good Fairy"
This note she fastened in the ring on
Homer Pigeons leg, and the two Birds dart"d
over the top headed for the refuge of the
American soldiers.
In remarkably quick time the Pigeons cam,
back with q reply which said
We don't believe in fairies-unless they
bring us food. Ben and Bill"
Peggy thought fast She wouldn't dare
let the German prisoners take food to Ben
and Bill Billy Belgium couldn't GO as he
had 10 guard the prisoners Homer and Car
rc Pigeon couldn't carry mere than scraps.
shed have to go herself
Gathering mp n loaf OF bread. couple Of
sausaEcs and a cdnteen Of water. she darted
up the side Of the shellhole and across No
Mans Land toward the Shellhole at the top
of the hill ON the way she discovered that
she and Billy had by no means captured all
the Germans In the forest, for bullets tipped
all about her. The Germans couldn't see
| her. but they could see the supplies she car.
| RED and they were so nervous and suS-
picious that they hlazed away at these with
| out waiting to- figure out what ii all was
| about.
! The bullets flew 8 thick that Peggy
| epurted fast. and when she came 10 the she'll
hole she pumped right down into II without
waiting to be bit formal And as she did
81 she got a shock. for she found that two
| razor-sharp bayonets were at her breast. and
two desperate. hollow-eyed young soldiers
we're behind the bayonets, ready to jab them
right through her.
"Don't stab" she cried "lts !, Princess
Peggy
ITomorrOtr ,Uui be tOM hOlc PCG0y and
BiIIy do lftlc "clcdHinO up" Of the Ger
mans 10 make rdy for the American
G"myJ