Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-11
The Daily
Short Story
THE WHISPERING PR
BY George Elmer Cobb.

upon ADRIAN Noble and gave him n.
most pleasant surprise OF his lifs -
title Benny Burton was the spol..-..
OF the group, and Benny was Lois IS,
tons brother.
| We're going to build a catauso~,.
Mr.. Noble said Benny seriously
You man a cant0nment. DOM -.
Benny?' suggested Adrian pleass..,s
Il guess So" rattle on Benny ss.s
we want rife pits, and some barb n.
things. and some trenches. We ds.s
want you to do the digging. Wen q
that. Just come up and see the danSs
place we've got to play soldier =
Then you sort Of mark out vhsss<
we're to build the pits. We know ~
can do it, because you're an army N.
GER"
Not quite yet, Benny" advised ~
rian, but think can help you al
And very glad to do so was Adris,
Noble, candidate for the officers tr.is.
ing camp, soon to report for duty. Il.
was glad because it would br!rs ~
near to Lois, the one idol Of I'M
dreams.
Now Adrian Noble had never toll
his love. There had not been. nueS
opportunity for Lois and himself A.,
generally when they were .memhe,,
of group.
Il must tell Lois soon, thoush-
unused the anxious lover. In ausiAe,
week will be 200 miles away, leayiss
the field to clever and handsonyr ri.
lows than myself"
mock camp in two hours. Instead e
took two days and he would have oro.
lcnged this military supervision inda6-
nitely, only that Lois was on on N.
ing visit to a neighboring town. Thosa
first two days, however, were DELIGHT.
full. Lois and her girl friends bro
fessed great interest in the little ca.
Torment. She was gracious, more thu
friendly to Adrian, for she was please
with his attentions and secretly prop1
of him for offering his services to bis
country unsolicited. The little patriots
worked like beavers and really ca.
structed very creditable layout.
There's one thing we've got to have
to watch the enemy" Benny had told
Adrian.
Whats that" inquired the latter.
whispering pit, just like they've
got in France"
HE means listening pit" e.
planned one. of his cohorts.
Nav, l don't" dissented Bsnny
staunchly. Cant you listen and whil-
per, too. in the pit. Got to whisper 4
you don't want to be bombed" and O.
just as the soldiers at the front con
struct pit beyond the wire line with
an underground passage to reach II
an old digging reaching some ten feet
down was utilized, and Benny va
very proud of this feature of his can
Torment
Adrian visited his young friends
daily, but Lois was away and the To-
cality had lost its charm. She returned
the day that he received orders to r.
port at the distant training camp
1--WE simply got to see Lois befpred
go away" he declared to himself
Lois had returned. but he did no.
find her at home. He str0lled past
the homes of some of her girl frienda
where he hoped to catch sight Of hef.
but failed to locate her. It was Just
after dusk that evening when be went
to the vicinity Of the Burton home
Adrian passed the house and did not
see Lois about the place, and could not
summon the courage to 30 to the doof
and inquire about her. He roundA
the place and traversed the canton
ment, hoping to find her in the ~
den. Suddenly. while he was peerins
towards the house, he slipped. lot htsi
balance and went headl0ng into ~
whispering pit.
"Benny-time to come In for ~
night" echoed out an abrupt VICE. y
belonged to Lois, who was in queet q
little Benny, expecting to find him y
his favorite rendezvous, but BpW
had marched down town with his CO.
rades.
Adrian could not repress q sheN
cry as he landed in the bottom q ue
pit, for he fell upon one side and ~
wrist was sprained.
who is there, Benny" spoke Las
approaching the edge OF the eKcaNt
ton.
Its me-Adrian Noble" came "a
reply. I've fallen in here by accident
It's pretty deep and l can't very ven
get out through the narrow nneG
ground passage, and"
.'Oh, dear! how did it ever happeA
cried Lois in her sOlicitude. Are ~
hurt?"
Nothing to speak Of. except
wrist" explained Adrian. the ~
had a ladder"
"Yes, it's here" responded Lois -
erly I'm going to lower It. va.
ever were you doing here In u
dark"
Obi"
For I'm going away tomorrow
How good you are." added Adrian. /
the ladder lowered, he ascendsd ",
paused at its>top. Lois had exee.
a helping hand. He did not re!eess
Just minute, before CLIMB o.n
added Adrian, infused with
courage-and hope, too-for the ~
iety and interest of Lois in him
the moment a delightful one.
This is the whispering PIT
know, Lois, said Adrian. u
whisper something to you oesVs
leave i'll love YOU"
And Lois did not take AVA 3.
hand. and when he got to her s'ss
did not run away.