Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-06-25
NUMBER rs.

fleeing In all directions. The road and
roadside were spotted all over with
little field gray dots, the toll Of our
guns.
%The captain, In his excitement, had
slipped OF the sandbag. and was on
bis knees In the mud, the glass still at
his eye. He was muttering to himself
and slapping his thigh with his Olsen.
gagged hand. At every slap q big
round Juicy cuss word would escape
from his lips followed By:
"Goodi Finei Marvelousi Pretty
Work. Direct hits all
~Then he turned to me and shouted:
"'Wilson, what do you think Of lit
Did you ever see the like Of It in your
ufef D-n fine work, I call it.
"Pretty soon look Of wonder stole
over his face and he exclaimed:
"But who in HI gave them the
order to fire. Range and everything
correct, too. know didn't. Wilson,
lid I give you any order for the bat
terry to open upf OF course didn't,
did IT
II answered very emphatically, No,
sir, you gave no command. Nothing
went through this post. am abso-
lutely certain on that point, SIR
"'Of course nothing went through
ne replied. Then his face fell, and he
muttered out loud:
"But by Jove, wait till Old Pep
per gets wind Of this. There'll be fur
dying
Just then Bombardier Cassell cut in
on the wire:
Generals compliments to Captain
A.. He directs that officer and Sig
naIer report at the double to brigade
headquarters as soon as relieved. Re-
lief now on the way
"In an undertone to me, Keep a
brass front, Wilson, and for Gods
sake, stick answered with, Rely on
me, mate but was trembling oil over.
II gave the generals message to the
captain, and started packing up.
"The relief arrived, and as we left
the post the captain said:
"Now for the fireworks, and I 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 1t sounded as II
raw meat was being thrown to the
lions. Cassell, later, described 1t as
sounding like bombing raid. In about
two minutes the officer reappeared.
The sweat was pouring from his fore
head, and his face was the color OF
beet. He was speechless. AS he
passed the captain he jerked his thumb
in the direction of the lions den and
went out. Then the captain went In,
and the lions were once agcin fed.
The captain stayed about twenty min.
utes and came out. I couldn't see his
face, but the droop in his shoulders
was enough. He looked like q 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 I speak! Come in here?
"Cassen started to say, Yes SIR
"But Old Pepper roared, Shut up?
"Cassell came out In five minutes.
He said nothing, but as he passed me
he put his tongue into his cheek and
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
entered, and then let loose.
"'Of course you don't know anything
about It.. You're just like the rest
Ought to have nursing bottle around
your neck and 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 likely !
Now, sir, tell me what you don't know
about this affair. Speak up, out with
It. Don't be gaping at me like fish.
Spit 1t out
"I stammered, Sir, I know absolute
ly nothing
"'That's easy to see,' he roared;
that stupid face tells me that. Shut
up. Get out; but ! think you are
ID liar just the same. Back to
your battery
'"I 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 1t into your
heads that Morse is q dead language.
I've known it for years. The two Of
YOU had better get rid Of that nervous
habit of tapping transmitters; It's dam
gerous. That's ALL
1--WE saluted, and were just going out
the door Of the dugout when the cap
tain called up back and said:
".Smoke GoldAakes? Yes7 Well,
there are two tins Of them on my table.
Go back to the battery, and keep your
tongues between your teeth. Under
standf
I'VE 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 feelings"
When Wilson had finished his story
I looked up and the dugout was
jammed. An artillery captain and two
officers had also entered and stayed
for the finish. Wilson spat out an
enormous uuid Of tobacco, looked up