Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1918-01-04

ME bosom OF Sergeant Lynd-
ham was filed to the brim with
disgust and loathing. Nor was
this disgust and loathing entire
ly without reason. Months of wallow-
Ing like pig In the mud of trenches
does not sweeten the soul, and when
| " is combined with endless duties in
DE cold fall rains Of shell-swept re-
| s1on that Is akin to the borders of
| inferno. the nerves become ragged.
Hence had come about the curdling OF
the milk of human kindness which had
previously existed within him.
Nor had few little midnight sur
prise parties over the top In which the
| bayonet had been the principal piece
| de resistance tended to decrease these
sensations. Even being bowled 20
not cheered him. But IL had remain
ed for Whit Of poison gas and
| squirt of liquid fire to set and solldlfy
his mind to Its present condition.
Alive, dead, or as yet unborn, Ser
geant Lyndham was of the fixed opin-
Ion that he did not like the Boches.
And the last "a hours had been
| particularly obnoxious from the fuct
that they had been entirely sleepless.
| The horizon was still lurid with can
non flashes and the uproar remained
| fiendish despite the fact that IL was
hours after midnight but he was ac-
customed to such things, and knew
that once asleep, they would not trou-
| BILE him. Also, for ali he knew, he
might dream of something pleasant. He
] was free now for n few hours within
his blankets, and was I'm the act Of
removing his boots when his captain
thrust his head within and motioned
| for him To come forth. Knowing that
something both new and disagreeable
confronted him, he arose and stepped
| out as commanded.
For a quarter of mile they silent
| ly wound their way along muddy
road until the dim lights Of partially
shell-rulned house appeared before
them. Into this they entered, and the
sergeant, casting his eyes about, saw
the colonel of his regiment sitting ut
\ IA
ton.
Sergeant Lyndham," said the colo
mel thoughtfuly. "A few months ago
when you accompanied one of our air
men over the line and destroyed a
plant Of the enemy, you did very
brave and skillful thing. For that
net you were made sergeant. To-
| night we must have another duty per-
formed, and i have selected you be-
cause Of my confidence I'm your cour-
age and ability. II Is very likely that
YOU will not return, yet war demands
its sacrifices. Without knowing more
Of this new duty do you volunteer tn
try and accomplish III" It was plain
enough now that there would be no
rest or sleep for him again this night,
and the scrgeant's disgust and loath-
ing mounted accordingly. Yet he man
nged to swallow them.
"Yes, sir" he grunted. The colonel
nodded.
"You are brave and willing soldier
sergeant. Were 1t not for the fact that
the regiment contains so many men
like you l would sometimes become
filed with fear and sadness Now
FOR the reason | sent for you. You
will remember the trenches which run
through Theirs woods, do you not p
slightly, colonel. | helped cap.
ture them from the Boches at the point
Of the bayonet."
"And in turn were driven from
them by the same amiable gentlemen
Lyndham made wry face.
"Yes, colonel. But they surprised
us most unfairly. 1t was oil very dis.
gushing and made me loathe them"
II have no doubt. But now listen
We have reason to believe that they
have evacuated the position, while II
has become important that we regain
II. You will follow my reasoning. IL
the enemy has deserted the ditch we
wish TO know II, while If he has not
It Is equally Important that we should
know, since we must be advised before
hand what we may expect when we
make our advance-whether resistance
or unoppoSed occupancy. Therefore
we are compelled TO send someone as
~ sNblA W hN''llhlH Alt NbHNlllOllS.
"And because of the darkness ant
treetops the armen are useless?"
Exactly, Therefore, you will craw
upon your stomach to the wood, coins
alone the better to escape observation
BY working your way fiat upon tn,
ground and instantly becoming still
should their lights fall upon You, you
may be mistaken by them for what YOU
are likely to become-one OF the dea,
men of which you will pass many, 1
you are lucky. Should you return will
this information, well and good If not
we will be compelled to adopt othe
means to secure our information. 70,
had best plan to arrive there by tn
first light of day that you may be abb,
@ TO observe conditions. If you find thu
A trenches empty, you will have TO ruI
| for II coming back. We will be watch