Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-06-07

"'Now for the fireworks, and know
they'll be good and plenty They were.
"When we arrived at the gun pits
the battery commander, the sergeant
major and Cassell we're 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.
sons OF Old Pepper II sounded as II
raw meat was being thrown to the
lions. Cassell, later, described II as
sounding like n bombing raid. In about
two minutes the sFficer reappenred.
The sweat was pouring from his fore
head, and his face was the color Of
beet. He was speeches.. As he
passed the captain hr jerked his thumb
In the direction OF he lions den and
went out. Then tia captain went In,
and the lions wen once again fed.
The captain stayed about twenty min.
utes and came out. couldn't see his
face, but the droop in his shoulders
was enough. lie looked Ike wet hen.
"The door Of the generals room
opened and old Pepper stood In the
doorway. With roar he shouted
(Which one Of you is Cassell,
Oh me, get your heels together
when | speak Come In hereF
"Cassell started TO say. yes SIR
"But Old Pepper reared. shut upF
"Cnssell came out in Gte minutes
He said nothing, but as he PASSED me
he put his tongue into his cheek ana
wnked. then, turning 10 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 gem
eral beckoned to me. my knees started
to play Hone, 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 1t. You're Just Ike 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
1t. Don't be gaping at me like a fish.
Spit II out.
II stammered, Sir know absolute
ly nothing
"'Thats ensy to see, he roared:
that stupid face tells me that. Shut
up. Get out; but think you are a
id liar Just the same. Back to
your battery.
~ Saluted and made my exit
"That night the captain sent for US
With fear and trembling we went 10
his dugout. He was alone After sa.
lu'ing we stood nj attention in front
Of him and waited His say was short
"'Don't YOU two ever get il into your
heads that Morse is dead language.
I've known II for years. The twu Of
YOU had tetter get rid OF that nervous
habit Of tapping transmitters; it's dan.
gerous. That's all
1--WE saluted. and were Just going out
the door Of the dugout when the cap
tain called up hack and said:
Smoke Godfakes? Yes? Well,
there are two tins Of them on my table.
Go back 10 the battery, and keep your
tongues between your teeth. Under.
standY
Eve understood.
For five weeks afterwards our bat
terry did nothing hut extra fatigues.
We were satisfied and so were the
men. II was worth II to put one over
on Old Pepper TO say nothing of the
INJURY caused 10 Fritz feelings.r
When Wilson had finished his story
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 Quld of tobacco, looked up.
saw the captain, and got as red as a
carnatlon The captain smiled and
left. Wilson whispered to me
"Blime me, Yank see where click
for cruciilxlon. That captain is the
same one that chucked US Goldhakes
In his dugout and here | have been
'ehucking me weight about in his
hearing"
Wilson never clicked his cruclfxlon.