Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-15
(Continued)

1--WE decided to make thorough
search of all houses, barns and
buildings for concealed wires, and
did so, but with barren results.
Nothing suspicious was found. This
search wasted five days, and we were
in desperation. Watch and question
as we would, not a single clue came
to light.
During this time two large
bodies of troops had passed through
and each time they were heavily
shelled with dire results.
Ion the sixth night of our as
signment utterly disguised, l, being
in charge, had decided to chuck up
the whole business and report back
to "Old Pepper" that we had made
a mess out of the investigation. My
partner pleaded with me to stick 1t
out a couple of days more and after
he gave me a vivid description OF
what Old Pepper would hand out 10
us, I decided to stick it out for six
months, if necessary. To celebrate
this decision my side-kicker offered
to blow to several rounds of drinks.
Now, this fellow had never, during
my acquaintance with him, offered
to spend a ha' penny, so l quickly
accepted his offer and we went TO
the nearest estaminet.
Sitting around long table,
drinking French beer and smoking
cigarets, was crowd of soldiers,
laughing, poking, arguing and tell
ing stories.
1--WE sat down at the end of the
table, and in low tone tried to
work impossible theories as to how
the spy, If there was one-by TINS
time we were doubtful-could get
the information back to the German
batteries.
fright across from us were two
soldiers arguing about farming. SUD
denly my side-kicker pinched me on
the knee and whispered:
Listen to what those two fellows
across the table from us are saying.
1t sounds good"
"I listened for about minute
and then paid no further attention.
At that time farming in no way IN
terested me. l wanted to catch that
spy, and started devising impossible
theories as to the ways and means OF
doing so. At last L gave up in dis
gust. My partner was still attenuVely
listening to the two across the table
from us. Another poke in the knee
from my partner and I was all at
tention. One of the fellows across
the way was talking:
well, I don't see why this French
blighter should change horses in his
plow every afternoon. I've watched
him for several days. Now, in the
morning he uses two greys, and
and then about 2 in the afternoon
he either hooks up two blacks or
grey and a black. French ways may
be different, but this rog-eater is
very partial to the colors of his team.
1,o oil T11nrninR and
then changes them in the afternoon.
Now, figure it out for yourself. He
starts work with the two greys about
six o'clock in the morning; works
the two beggars up till noon. That's
six hours straight. Then he sticks
them in the stable, lays off for two
hours, and in the afternoon about z
o'clock the new relay of animals
comes on and works up till four.
Now, anybody with any brains in
their nappers knows that that is no
way to keep horses in condition
working one team over six hours and
the other team only two hours. 1
know because we have been farmers
in our family back in Blighty for
generations"
"'I was all excitement, and a great
hope surged through me that at last
we had fallen on the clue that we
were looking for. Restraining my
eagerness as much as possible, ad-
dressed the fellow who had just
spoken:
We'll, mate, I don't like to intrude
into your conversation but I've also
been a farmer all my life and /
don't see anything so queer in the
actions of this French farmer"
"'He answered.: "Well, blime me,
there might be a reason for this
blighter doing this, but 1 can't figure
it out at all. If you can explain it, go
ahead" =,
about it, it would be easy enough
to explain. Who is the farmer,
and where is his farm located?"
"'He swallowed the bait, all
right, and informed me that the
farmer was plowing a field on a
hill about five hundred yards west
of the church at the point where
our troops were being shelled.
buying a round of drinks, /
nudged my partner and he came in
on the conversation. The two of us,
by adroit questioning, got the eX-
act location of the field and a de-
scription of the farmer.
az pretended to be sleepy, and
yawning, got up from the table say
ing that 1 was going to turn in,
and left My partner soon followed
me. Upon reaching our billet we
outlined our plan. We decided that
next morning we would get up al
daybreak and scout around the
field to see If there was a hiding
place.
"'Sure enough, along one edge
of the field ran a thick hedge. We
secreted ourselves in this and wait
ed for developments.
"'At about six in the morning
the farmer appeared, driving two
grays, which he hooked to the plow
and carried on with his work. To
us there appeared nothing suspi-
cious in his actions. We watched
him all morning. At noon he un-
hooked the horses and went home.
We remained in hiding, afraid to
leave, because we wanted to take
no chances of being seen by tn
farmer. We had forgotten to bring
rations with us, so it was a mis-
Ia