Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-10

shires' 'sniping officer, made an
~ observation post in an old house
just behind the firing line, and
the first morning of his occupation he
sat in its cellar with two of his men
waiting for the mist to rise.
The house was two-story building,
but only the gable end of the upper
STORY remained; yet the stairway
reaching right up to it's top gave him
the outlook that he wanted, and there
he had prodded two discreet spy
holes and fixed up handy telephone
transmitter, so that anything he no
ticed in the German lines worth men,
tioning to the artillery might quickly
be communicated to the proper
quarter.
But this morning the mist hid the
enemy line from view, so he sat at
breakfast with young George Smith
and Matthew Nimmo, waiting for the
line to clear.
The food was laid out on trench
board raised from re floor on two
stewed ration bacon there was bread
and butter and tea. with a boiled
tongue in glass and a tin of peaches
to finish off with. These two latter
items had been provided by Sniper
Jackson, and Georges eyes glistened
as he watched those dainties long
ingly.
.Dod, sir" he said- "I wouldna
mind bein' on this job all the year
roun'."
You'll be here just as long as the
boche lets you stay" replied his off,
Ger.
"Dawmn the alleyman," said Geor-
gle, broadly. 81 forgot they brought
me here" he said later, from the
midst of his peaches. His whole man.
ner showed that he more than re-
tracted his former utterance.
AS soon as the meal was over he
went up to the observation post to
do first spell of duty. The sniping
officer stayed behind to complete
some map work. while Nimmo
cleared away the breakfast dishes:
The clearing away was only half
finished when Georges voice sound
ed down the stairway.
"Sir. Sir.' he called. Come up and
see this
The officer and Nimmo rushed for
gazing out of a first-foor window.
did we ever see the like O. that,
noo?" he said, pointing away to the
right, where the sector held by a
chum battalion began.
The firing line was still wrapped in
mist, IaSI thinning, however, anu ING
ground behind the trenches toward
which George was pointing was
clear, save only for q haze patch
here and there. Down a narrow track
from their trenches group OF SOL
diers was escorting large two
had ever seen a wagon so near the
firing line before, and the sight took
their breath away.
"They are great boys, these Mids,"
exclaimed Nimmo, admiringly.
"Jove. yes! It's just like the Mids
their stores up by wagon" said the
officer.
"Oh. look, sir.' called out George.
But the hoomp Of distant shrapnel
had already attracted the officers
attention. German observers on a
wagon and turned their guns on to
it, The group of soldiers scattered
at the first burst. The driver whipped
up his horses. and though some of the
shell splinters must have whist1ed
very near him, he succeeded in rae
j ing into safety behind slight rise.
where he was hid from view.
Followed up by George, the officer
climbed up the stairs to the outlook.
There was comfortable room for them
both, and through the spy holes they
could command a wide sector of the
enemy trenches to goodly depth
behind his lines. The mist was fast
| lifting, and the line of the main COM
munication trench was momentarily
growing more distinct. 1t looked
! a mere black ditch in the ground
at first, but close examination
| through their powerful telescopes re-
! vealed some activity going on at a
point where it crossed the supports.
do you notice anything going on
! Just below that overhead traverse?''
asked the officer.
LAY, sir, ay,' replied George, ex-
citedly. THE trench is full O. Ger
mans They are working on the
parapet or something"
The officer rang up headquarters
and reported the matter to the col
onel, giving him the exact map read
| iner of the working marty. Within n