Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-03-02

8ze Whispering Pit
By GEORGE ELMER COBB
opyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union.

upon Adrian NODle ana gave nm tHe most pleasant surprise of his life. Lit tie Benny Burton was the spokesman of the group and Benny was Lois Bur tons brother.
 Were going to build a catamount, Mir. Noble," said Benny seriously.
 You mean q cantonment, don't you Benny?" suggested Adrian pleasantly. Il guess so," rattled on Benny, "and we want rifle pits, and some barb wire things, and some trenches. We don't want you to do the digging. We'll do that. Just come up and see the dandy place we've got to play soldiers in. Then you sort of mark out where we're to build the pits. We know you can do 1t, because you're an army officer"
 "Not quite yet, Benny" advised Ad- rian, but l think l can help you out"
 And very glad to do so was Adrian Noble, candidate for the officers train ing camp, soon to report for duty. He was glad because it would bring him near to Lois, the one idol of his dreams.
 Now Adrian Noble had never told his love. There had not been much oppor- tunity for Lois and himself met gen erally when they were members of a group.
 'I must tell Lois soon, though" " unused the anxious lover. 'In another week will be POO miles away, leaving the field to clever and handsOmer fel- lows than myself"
 Adrian could have marked out the mock camp in two hours. Instead, he took two days and he would have pro- longed this military supervision indefi- nitely, only that Lois was off on a 1y- ing visit to neighboring town. Those full. Lois and her girl friends pro- feSsed great interest in the little can tonment. She was gracious, more than friendly to Adrian, for she was pleased with his attentions and secretly proud of him for offering his services to his country unsolicited. The little patriots worked like beavers and really con- structed very creditable layout. "There's one thing we've got to have to watch the enemy" Benny had told Adrian.
 What's that?' inquired the latter.
 "Whispering pit, just like they've got in France"
 He means listening pitt" explain ed one of his cohorts.
 Nav, don't" dissented Benny staunchly. Cant you listen and whis- per, too, in the pit. Got to whisper if just as the soldiers at the front con- struct pit beyond the wire line with an underground passage to reach it, an old digging reaching some ten feet down was utilized, and Benny was very proud of this feature of his canton mcnt.
 Adrian visited his young friends daily, but Lois was away and the local ity had lost it's charm. She returned the day that he received orders to re- port at the distant training camp.
 Eve simply got to see Lois before l go away!" he declared to himself.
 Lois had returned. but he did not find her at home. He strolled past the homes of some of her girl friends, where he hoped to catch sight of her, but failed to locate her. It was just af- ter dusk that evening when he went to the vicinity of the Burton home. Ad- rian passed the house and did not see summon the courage to go to the door and inquire about her. He rounded the place and traversed the cantonment, hoping to find her in the garden. Sud l denly, while he was peering towards l the house, he slipped, lost his balance and went headlong into the whispering pit.
 "Benny-time to come in for the night" echoed out an abrupt voice. It belonged to Lois, who was in quest of little Benny, expecting to find him Ut his favorite rendezvous. but Benny had marched down town with his com- rides.
 Adrian could not repress sharp cry as he landed in the bottom of the pit, for he fell upon one side and his wrist was sprained.
 "Who is there, Benny?" spoke Lois, approaching the edge of the eXcava- | tion.
 It's me-Adrian Noble," came the reply. I've fallen in here by accident. It's pretty deep and I can't very well get out through the narrow under ground passage, and" "Oh. dear! how did it ever happen" cried Lois in iter solicitude. Are you hurt?"
 Nothing to speak of. except my ! wrist" explained Adrian. "'The boy had a ladder"
 Yes. it's here," responded Lois eag- | erly. 'l'm going to lower it. What ever were you doing here in the dark 2" Il was hoping to see you."
 oh"
 ''For I'm going away tomorrow. How good you are." added Adrian, as the ladder lowered, he ascended it, but paused at its top. Lois had extended d helping hand. He did not release it. "JuSt n minute hpforn I climh ovpr ''