The Robesonian., 1918-09-09
"0ver the Top
By An American Soldier
Who Went
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
1Copyright, lgl7. BY Arthur Guy Bmpey)
Machine Gunner Seruing In Franc

Machine OunneT oeIU'HS +" 'o"es Il
1Copyright, lyl7. BY Arthur Guy Bmpey)
Atwell was a good companion end
very entertaining. He had an utter
contempt for danger, but was not fool
hardy. At swearing he was wonder.
A cavalry regiment would have been
proud of him. Though born in Eng
land, he had spent several years In
New York. He was about six feet one,
and as strong as an OK.
We took up our quarters in large
dugout of the royal engineers, and
mapped out our future actions. This
dugout was on the edge Of q large
cemetery, and several times at night
in returning to it, we got many fall
stumbling over the graves of English,
French and Germans. Atwell on these
though at any other time, at the least
stumble, he would turn the air blue.
A certain section of our trenches
was held by the Royal Irish rifles. For
several days very strong rumor went
the rounds that q German spy was in
our midst. This spy was supposed to
be dressed in the uniform of British
staff officer. Several stories had been
told about an officer wearing a red
band around his cap, who patrolled the
front-line and communication trenches
asking suspicious questions as to loca-
ton Of batteries, machine-gun emplace,
ments, and trench mortars. IF shell
dropped in a battery, on machine gun
or even near a dugout, this spy was
blamed.
The rumor gained such strength that
an order was issued for all troops to
Immediately place under arrest anyone
answering to the description Of the
spy.
Atwell and I were on the qui vive.
We constantly patrolled the trenches
at night, and even In the day, but the
spy always eluded us.
One day while in communication
trench, we were Mortified to see our
brigadier general, Old Pepper, being
brought down it by big private Of the
AAVydA XAASA I1AC0s Lie SOucIdl was
walking in front, and the private with
fixed bayonet was following in the
rear.
We saluted as the general passed us.
The Irishman had broad grin on his
face and we could scarcely believe our
| eyes-the general was under arrest.
) After passing few feet beyond us, the
! general turned, and said in q wrathful
voice to Atwell:
~Tell this d-n fool who I am. He's
arrested me as a spy"
Atwell was speechless. The sentry
butted in with:
'NOne O. that gassin' out o. you
Back to headquarters you goes, Mr.
Fritz. Open that face o. yours again
an TIL dent in your napper with the
butt o. me rifle"
The generals face was a sight to be
hold. He was fairly boiling over will
rage, but he shut up.
Atwell tried to get In front of thu
sentry to explain to him that it reall!
was the general he had under arrest
but the sentry threatened to run hi
bayonet through him, and would hav,
done it, too. So Atwell stepped aside
and remained silent. I was nearl,
bursting with suppressed laughter. On
word, and I would have exploded. I
Is not exactly diplomatic to laugh q
, your general in such a predicament.
/. The sentry and his prisoner arrives
:! at brigade headquarters with disas
trous results to the sentry.
The joke was that the general ha
personally issued the order for tn
spy's arrest. 1t was habit of the ger
eral to walk through the trenches O
- rounds of inspection, unattended b
any Of his staff. The Irishman, bein
new in the regiment, had never see
! the general before, so when he cam
a across him alone in communicate
y trench, he promptly put him under a.
rest. Brigadier generals wear a re
J; band around their caps.
lr Next day we passed the Irishma
n tied to the wheel of a timber, the b.
IS ginning of his sentence of twenty-on
days, field punishment No. 1. Nevt
n before have I seen such wOebego1
expression on a mans face.
For several days, Atwell and mac
ourselves scarce around brigade hea,
4 quarters. We did not want to me-
the general.
The spy was never caught.
CHAPTER XIV.