Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-11
REMARKABLE ADVENTURES
OF LIEUTENANT BL|Nk|E
Failed in Two Slnglc-Handed Raids,
but Preserved His GOOD
Iiumor.
STORY OF THE FRONT LINE
Young Officer Seemed Always on
Good Terms With Himself and
Every One Else-Struck by Vcrey
Light on No MnE's Land.
STORY or THE FRONT LINE
DY REGINALD WINNIE, NJ. G..

BY REGINALD WINNIE. NJ. G.
FRANCE. November 10.-The batta
lion headquarter mess mad just sat
down to- their evening meal when
entered. For an instant the new come r
stood on the threshold while his cherub
face. surcharged 9Th health: smiled
colonel. You're nlinkie expect.
Come to join us, eli? Glad to see you.
'rhc young officer shook tho c. o.'s
outstHetched hand.
We'll. | expect you're pretty peck
ish., so come and have some, grub"
exclaimed the colonel hospitality:
Thank you. sir" returned H!inkie
nmiably making move towards the
There was u twinkle in the c. O.'s
eye as he saif Een;a!ly:
wouldn't you be more comfortable
|. you removed your pack and er-er
the other paraphernaliay
Second Lieutenant Blinkie. about
ceivable article that enterpris!ng tai
lors succeed In foisting upon their
e customers sm,ilinEiy agreed On his
Sam Browne, with revolver: and quite
correctly. his smoke helmet vas in
the alert position"
There was not the slightest sign OF
bumptiousness about Blinkic. but IT
new surroundings he was quite self
possessed. His answers to the colonci's
inquiries about h. Is experience on the
had at any rate memory for detail:
The commanding officer was evil
IDENTIFY somewhat ticklcd by the care.
fully. worded replies. and after bit
asked Blinkie what he thought of the
war. The newcomer pondered the
question for moment. then he said
with quiet decision:
THOUGHT WAR GREAT
WASTE OF TINT.
II think ia great w..s'e OF Zinc.
coloncls face at this unexpected reply
was dispcllcd by the entrance of an
orderly. who reported that the gas
alarm" had been 'phoned from the
Wat. With the wind in its pres
cnt direction" exclaimed the 6. .. in
room followed by the senior officers.
few moments later they returned.
There's no need for US TO be un-
he suddenly broke OFF: for a strange
slight had met his eye.
Seated at the table was Second Lieu
tenant Blinkic. 4 hidcous gas helmet
over his head. complacently inhIling
air In the prescribed manner.
The intelilsence department were
Iagiment occupied the sector opposing
That in which Biinkie's battalion was
located: but patrols had failed TO cap
turc prisoner.
Second Lieutenant Blinkic had set
tied down 10 life in the trenches as
though he had been used to nothing
else. lie always seemed on good terms
with himself. and even under the mo /
depressing circumstances "a sort OF
huboiing emile would ove;apread his
CHEEKY countenAncc.
IT was soon demonstrated that re
was OF an adventurous disposition fo..
avinE,taken his Platoon sergeant
solely into his confidence ne sut our
alone one night 10 capture the much-
needed prisoner.
II was pitch dark as he climbed over
or wire cutters aud ,shis revolver. dis
appeared in the direction OF the Boche
lines. For some unknown reason the
Versy lights and the sergeant and men
OF Biinkie's platoon We're unable 10
follow his movements. The minutes
passed slowly to the watching nea,
quarter OF an hour passed: then half
an hour: then an hour. and there was
no align OF their officers return.
sound in the wire entangiements.
and sigh Of relief broke iron, the
however there came the snickinC
sound OF wire cutters on, Of the dark
ness, and every man =.r.r3ed his rihe
went the wire-cutters. and it was
evident that the enemy was attempt
ing raid.
Suddenly the scrgeants voice rang
.Ha nds up. you blighters!"
Just at that moment 4 far-away
meE- lightning over. the scene. and re-
vealed the form OF Second Lieutenant
Rlinkie. an expression of astonishcd
disappointment on his face, in a knecI-
that he had lost his bearings and
the. boche. he was equal to the oc-
casion.
ing from patrol" he remarked gaily
as he sitY into the trench. ITS good
pra ctice.|
TO be denied: The following night he
set out again on his desperate mis-
sion; The boche was on this occasion
and Biintie was only iy's able to ,"c crawl
forward between the flashes produced
by the roekettins flares; suddenly a
watching men OF his platoon. a Verey
light descending in a graceful curve
had fallen flop on TO the back, 90
phorus adhered to his tunic and went
on faring
Just at that moment the colonel. who
trenches. was attracted by the excited
EXPLANATIONS Of the men and sprans
on to the fre-step.
figure on all-fours crawling towards
the wire with n light BLAZING away
on It's back. Suddenly the figure
turned over. and wriggled about on it's
road side. The light was extinEuished
and darkness prevailed Then ano: hcr
Hcrey light lit up tho scene, and showed
Second lieutenant Blinkie strid:ng to-
wards the trench. His countenance
was bnbhling With laughter and his
triumphant bearing suggested:
Sne what | can do when trv"
We'll. I'm damned,' chuckled the
Colonel Copyright. 1918
ARMY HAS MANY EYES