Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-16
CHAPTER TIT
Peggy Uses n Boyouet


T'HE German machine gun was mounted
so that It would face down ravine up
which the Americans would have TO agb,
their way If they came to the rescue OF Ben
aud Bill Dalton
The German soldiers with the rifles were
apparently having lot Of fun firing at Ben
aud Bill, Tor they laughed aud talked Just rs
II they Were AZ peace-timp shooting tourna-
ment As Billy and Peggy climbed to a
pace where they could look over the edge OF
the shell hole they saw what all the fun was
about An American helmet was showing
Just above The top Of a hole about hundred
feet away, It was a. his that the Germans
were firinE. Peggy gave "a gasp Of terror a.
the big fat sergeant in charge Of the Ger
mans fired after very careful aim and sent
hole right through the helmet The Ger
mans gave Yell Of triumph.
But second later the American helmet
was back in It's place, and the Germans
looked Crestfalleu
Bin and Ben are fooIiug them causing
them 10 waste their ammunition by holding
up q helmet on stick" snickered Billy
Belgium.
Now the Germans tried the same trick,
but the Americans did not fire. This caused
the Germans 20 grow holder and one OF
them rose above the edge of the hole as h
jiggled a helmet up and down on his
bayonet
Ping" sounded ride from tho other
hole. "'rhud" went the bullet catching the
Hun in the shoulder and sending him
crashing back
The other Germans ducied down in a
hurry and all the suecrjug fun went ont OF
their faces. The two men Ia charge OF the
machine gun jumped 10 give first aid 20 the
wounded man
Now is our chance" whispered Billy
Belgium. starting for the deserted nachiue-
gun platform. Peggy scrambled after him.
Billy quickly examined the gun and the
ammunition stacked beside it
II can work this gun" he whispered TO
Peggy. II saw how the Germans did 1t
when | was in Belgium"
Billy swung the gun around until IL
pointed over the heads Of the Germans on
the opposite side Of the shell hole, and put
his finger to the trigger
I'm going TO fire." he whispered 20 Peggy.
'Rap-rap-rap-rap-rap'' ronrcd the gun
The effect on the Germans in the shell
hole was funny. They dropped their rifles
and pushed their hands into the air shouting
"Ermerad' kam"rad!"
Peggy couldn't help quick giggle. The
Germans looked 50 astOnished and 81
puzzled.
But it was no time for laughing. The
situation VS. very serious. The Germans
saw the gun spOutiug bullets. but they
couldn't understand how it was operating,
the machine gun had accidentally got started.
The fat sergeant jumped forward to stop II,
Billy released the trigger aud the gun
stopped barking. At the same moment Billy
swung down the muz2le until it pointed right
at the fat sergeant.
Halt where YOU are. You are my pris-
ouers'" he shouted in German
In shot the hands of the Germans again.
"kamerad -. they yelled in chorus. more
frightened than ever at this voice coming
out Of the thin air. They couldn't under
stand IT, Was this some new Yankee trick
some strange kind Of CamOu1age? But they
knew what the machine gun could do If Il
got started aui they weren't going 20 take
any chances with II.
Gather up their rifles" said Billy to
Peggy. and she scrambled quickly "a obey,
The Germans were more dtmfounded than
ever before when they saw their rifles being
piled up in a heap at one side,
"rhis is Yankee sorcerv. Charge the
gun " shouted the fat sergeant making "A
rush toward Billy.
For a moment Peggy held her breath.
Billy didn't dare fire. because she was
among the Germans, right behind the ser
geant And in another second he might be
captured. Peggy had q rifle in her hands
ON the end of it was hayou"t Raising
the gun she thrust swiftly forward The
bayonet caught the sergeant in the back Of
the leg.
"Kamerad" he shrieked and his hands
went up as high as he could reach.
(TomOrrOir ,riH be t0id hptr PeGdB and
BiIly 90 TO the rescue Of Ben and BiL.l