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

When I'm talking 20 you, pay atten-
ton
MY heart sank. Surprising he had
rumbled that tapping, then all would
be up with our plan. ! stopped drum
ming with my fingers and said:
beg your pardon, sir, Just habit
with me-
Sand Did silly one, too he an
swered, turning 10 his glasses again,
md ! knew was safe. He had not
tumbled to the meaning OF that tap
ping.
"All at once, without turning round,
he exclaimed
"'Well. OF all the nerve I've ever run
across, this takes the cake. Those
----- --- Boches are using that road
again. Blind my eyes, this time It is a
whole brigade Of them, transports and
all. What a pretty target for our
4.b's.' The beggars know that we
won't fire. A DID shame, l call II.
oh, just for chance 10 turn ID 23S
loose ON them
II was trembling with excitement
From repeated stolen glances at the
captains range chart, that road with
It's range was burned into my mind.
"oycr the wire l tapped. ID 28s bat
terry, Target II. Range COCO, degrees
80 minutes, left, salyo, fire. Cassell
o, KID my message. and with the re-
cciver pressed against my ear, walt
cd and listened. In couple OF min
utes very family over the wire came
the voice OF our battery commander
issuing the order: ID 23S battery,
Salvol Firep
"Then a roar through the receiver
as the four guns belched forth, a
screaming and whlstling overhead, and
the shells were on their way.
'rhe captain jumped MS II he were
shot, and let out great big expressive
d---n, and eagerly turned his glasses
In the direction of the German road.
! also strained my eyes watching that
target Four black clouds OF dust rose
up right In the middle Of the German
column, Four direct hits--another
record for ID 23S.
"rhe shells kept on whlstllng over
head, and | had counted twenty.four
OF them when the firing suddenly
ceased When the smoke and dust
clouds lifted the destruction ON that
road was awful. Overturned llmbers
and guns, wagons smashed up, troops
fleeing IN all directions. The road and
roadside were spotted all over with
little field gray dots, the toll Of our
guns.
"The captain, IN his excitement. had
! slipped or the snndbug. and was on
hts knees In the mud. the glass stlll at
his eve, He was mutterlng to himself
and slapplng his thigh with his Olsen.
gagged hand. At every slap big
round juicy enss word would escape
from his lips followed by:
Good Finel Maryelousl Pretty
Work Direct hits all
"Then he turned 20 me and shouted:
Wilson, what do you think Of IT.
Did you ever see the like OF II In your
lief Oh fine work, l call H.
Pretty soon look OF wonder stole
ever his face and he exclaimed:
But who In HI gave them the
order 20 fire, Range aud everything
correct, too. know / didn't. Wilson,
did | give you any order for the bat.
terry 20 open upl OF course l didn't,
did II
Il answered very emphatically, No.
sir, you gave no command Nothing
went through this post. l am abso-
lutely certain on that point. 81.
"'Of course nothing went through
he replied. Then his face fell. and he
puttered out loud:
"'But, by love, walt vl Old Pep
per gets wind CT this. Thersll be fur
dying.
Just then Bombardier Cassell cut 10
on the wire;
Generals compliments 20 Captain
A.. He directs that officer and Sig
mailer report az the double 60 brigade
headquarters as soon as relieved. Re
lief now on the way
In an undert0ne 20 me, Keep :.
brass front, Wilson. and for Gods
sake, stick answered with, Rely on
me- mate, but was trembling all over.
Il gave the generals message TO the
! captain, and started packing up.