Evening star., 1918-08-11

Of me" Lennert added Nn telling the
story.
In no time a lieutenant returned and
surveyed the sight with amusement.
Lennert and the officers were lined up
in front, while the two-platoon strength
Of prisoners faded away into the dark
ness.
gnard." said the lieutenant
They want to come with me-" Len
nest replied. II can't lose them. / don't
need a guard. but I'd like a runner to
show me the way to my own regi-
mental headquarters.
'It was getting daylight then and
saw for the first time what a mob I
had with me-" said Lennert. I'VE
were pretty tired. for wes had been
walking for couple of hours. The
officers and 1 sat down on a bench
and took some drinks out of my can
teen and the men lay down on the
, grass. The captain told me that he
had been in the army since the war
started and was glad to get out of it.
While we were sitting there the
boches started throwing shells into
Lucy right near where we were.
German Shells Reach Lucy.
"T don't want to get killed after
going this far the captain said.
Neither do T. I said Let's shove
on"
1t was not far from there to La Vote
de Chalet. where the regimental head
quarters Were. In the breaking dawn
the party marched down the road.
Lennert left his charges standing in
military formation outside and, car
rying his shovel over his shoulder.
went into the dugout used as a regf-
mental "P. c." He located the bunk
of the adjutart.
Come outside and see some prison.
ers. captain" he said. shaking that
sleeping officer.
Il don't need to see them" replied
the adjutant. who was trying to get
his first sleep in forty-eight hours.
But I've got lot of them" in
sisted Lennert.
Take them on to,the brigade head
quarters" ordered the weary adju-
and I've some officers I want you
"My Heavens!" says Captain,
The captain. who recognized Len
merit as one of the battalion runners
crawled out of his bunk and walked
out. The prisoners. their officers
standing in front: saluted as II on
parade.
My heavens! How many have you
eyes wide open.
Il don't know. sir" replied Lennert.
Better count them so you'll know
II you lose any," suggested the cap
tain.
They'll follow me anywhere. but
III have them counted. sir" answered
Lennert
He called a short. stocky under Of
1cer out of the ranks and gave him
an order in German. The sergeant
hustled back and the Elm. swei. drei.
vier-." the familiar preliminary to
Squads by fours." in every army.
started.
There are seventy-six. sir. and four
officers" Lennert reported
adjutant.
NO. | can handle them all right.
along"
Get them back to the brigade head
quarters before the fighting starts
again" said the adjutant
They all had murderous- looking
knives" said the adjutant afterward
IN describing the event. II took one
out of its sheath and looked at it, and
the man grinned all over At the time
we had so many other things to think
about-the fighting was to start
again in a few minutes-that never
thought of the righteousness of that
young army going back without a
guard. They started away, Lennert
with the shovel over his shoulder and
the officers in front. all jabbering to-
gether in German. like the best Of
friends"
Probably no more incongruous party
ever covered the two kilometers of the
sunny Paris-Metz road between 5th
regimental and 4th Brigade head
quarters. Dust hung heavy from the
stream of ammunition trucks and
wagons of supplies moving toward
the front. Out of the clouds would
dash ambulances speeding toward the
rear. Spasmodically shells whistled
overhead or burst. crashing close by.
Through it all steadily plodded the
carefree party. more like roisterers
returning from an a1l-night .saenger-
fest" than participating in those
scenes of blood and violence.
Major Takes a Look
I'VE finished up the whisky in my
canteen on the way and were feeling
pretty good when We reached the bri-
gade headquarters" said Lennert.
Lennert puffed at his cigar.
That captain was q fine fellow even
II he was a boche." he said. We're
going to correspond after the war
that is. IL I get through. I gave him
my address in Wisconsin and he gave
me his"
From an inside pocket he extracted