The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-06-07

THE relief arrived, and as we left
the post the captain said;
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 Cnsseil were 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-
sions Of Old Pepper It sounded as II
raw meat was being thrown 10 the
lions. CasseiI, later, described II as
sounding like bombing raid. In about
two minutes the officer reappeared.
The sweat was pouring from his fore
head. and his face was the color OF
beet. He was speechIess. AS he
passed the captain he jerked his thumb
In the direction Of the lions den and
went out. Then the captain went In,
and the lions were 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. He looked like a wet hen.
"'rhe door Of the generals room
opened and Old Pepper stood in the
doorway. With roar he shouted:
(Which one of you is Cassell7
D--n me. get your heels together
when | speak Come In herep
"Cassell started to say, Yes sir
"But Old Pepper roared, shut upp
"Cassell came out In Ave minutes.
He said nothing, but as he passed me
he put his tongue into his cheek and
winked, then. turning to 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
ereI beckoned TO me, my knees started
to play Home, Sweet Home against
each other.
my interview was very short.
sold Pepper glared Mt me when
NAiAtItAF anu iUNhA tNl AobHNs
"'of course you don't know anything
about 1t. You're just like the rest
Ought to have a nursing bottle around
your neck and a nipple in your teeth.
Soldlers--by CAD, you turn my stom-
nch to look at you. Win this war,
when England sends out such samples
as have In my brigadel Not likely
Now, sir. tell me what you don't know
about this affair. Speak up. out with
II. Don't be gaping at me like fish.
Spit 1t out
81 stammered, sir, know absolute
ly nothing
"'That's easy to see,' he roared |;
that stupid face tells me that. Shut
up. Get out; but / think you are a
Did liar just the same. Back to
your battery
~ saluted and made my exit.
'1rhat night the captain sent for US.
With fear and trembling we went to
his dugout. He was alone. After sa-
luting we stood at attention in front
OF him and waited. His say was short.
"'Don't you two ever get II into your
heads that Morse Is dead language.
I've known It for years. The two of
you had better get rid of that nervous
habit of tapping transmltters; it's dan
gerous. That's ALL
I'VE saluted, and were Just going out
the door of the dugout when the cap.
tain called up back and said:
"'Smoke Goldfiakes2 Yesf Well,
| there are two fins Of thpm IN NV t0hIa
Go back to the battery, and keep your
tongues between your teeth. Under.
standT
eve understood.
"For FIVE weeks afterwards our bat.
terry did nothing but 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 TO Fritz feelings.V
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 guild OF tobacco, looked up
saw the captain, and got as red as a
carnatlon. The captain smiled and
lett Wilson whispered to me:
"Blime me, Yank, see where click
fer cruclfxion. That captain Is the
snme one that chucked us Goldflakes
In his dugout and here / have been
chucklng me weight about In his
hearing"
Wilson never clicked his cruclflxlon