The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-05-23

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.s1sFaasss .ss ..s.ses
THE rruef arrived, bnd ms we t2t
the post tho captuiIl said.
Now Cor tue fireworks, and ( know
they'll be good and lllenty.' They were.
"When we arrives at the gun pits
the battery commander, the rgean
major and Cassell were waiting for us.
We fell in line and the funeral march
to brigade headquarters started.
ARRIVING Mt headquarters the bat
terry commander vas the first to be
interviewed. This was behind closed
doors. From the roaring and explo.
sions Of Old Pepper 1t sounded as IL
raw meat was being thrown to the
lions. Cassell, later, described 1t us
sounding like a bombing raid. In about
two minutes the ssficer reappeared.
The sweat was pouring from his fore
mead, and his face was the color Of q
beet. He was spsechless. AS he
passed the captain he jerked his thumb
In h direction of she lions den and
went out. Then TIN, captain went in.
and the lions vert once again fed.
The captain stayed about twenty min
utes md came out, I couldn't see his
face, but the droop in his shoulders
was enough. He looked like n wet hen.
"The door Of the generals room
opened and Old Pepper stood In the
doorway. With a roar he shouted:
"'Which one of o Is Cassell?
On me, get your heels together
when l speak! Come in herer
"Cassell started to say, Yes SIR
"But Old Pepper roarcd, Shut upl'
"Cassell came out In Eve minutes.
He said nothing, but as he pissed 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
each other.
"N1y interview was very short.
"Old Pepper glared Mt 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 q 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 I have in my brigade! Not likely !
Now, sir, tell me what you don't know
about his affair. Speak up. out with
it.. Don't be gaping at me like q fish.
| Spit it OUT
II stammered, Sir, I know absolute
ly nothing
"'That's easy to see,' he roared;
that stupid face tells M that. Shut
up. Get out; but I think you are a
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-
luting we stood at attention In front
Of him and waited. His say was short.
"Don't you two ever get it into your
heads hat Morse Is a dead language.
I've known it for years. The twu Of
you had better get rid Of that nervous
habit Of tapping transmitters it's dam
gerous. That's ALL
I'VE saluted, and were just going out
the door Of the dugout when the cap
tain called up back and said:
"Smoke GOldfakes? Yes? Well,
there are two tins Of them on my table,
Go back to the battery, and keep your
tongues between your teeth. Under.
stand?'
"We understood.
For five weeks afterwards our bat
terry did nothing but extra fatigues,
We were satisfied and so were the
men. 1t was worth 1t to put one over
on Old Pepper, to say nothing Of the
injury caused to Fritz fcellngs.r
When Wilson had finished his story
l looked up and the dugout was
damned. An artillery captain and two
officers had also entered and stayed
for the finish. Wilson spat out an
enormous quid Of tobacco, looked up
saw the captain. and got as rec rs q
carnation. The captain smiled and
left. Wilson whispered to me:
"Blme me, Yank. l see where + click
for crucifixion. That captain is the
same one that chucked us Goldhakes
IN his dugout INT here I have been
'chucking me weight about in his
hearing"
Wilson never clicked his c%rucifxion,