The Benson signal., 1918-06-08

1.-The relief arrived, and as we left
the post the captain said:
SNOW for the fireworks, and know
they'll be good and plenty They were.
"When we arrived at the gun pits
the battery commander, the sergeant
major and Cassell were waiting for us.
We fell in line and the funeral march
to brigade headquarters started.
ARRIVING at headquarters the bat
terry commander was the first to be
interviewed. This was behind closed
doors. From the roaring and explo-
sions of Old Pepper it sounded as if
raw meat was being thrown to the
lions. Cassell, later, described it as
sounding like bombing raid. In about
two minutes the officer reappeared.
The sweat was pouring from his fore
head, and his face was the color of a
beet. He was speechless. AS he
passed the captain he jerked his thumb
in the direction of the lions den and
went out. Then the captain went In,
and the lions were once again fed.
The captain stayed about twenty min
utes and came out. couldn't see his
face, but the droop in his shoulders
was enough. He looked like wet hen.
"The door Of the generals room
opened and Old Pepper stood in the
doorway. With roar he shouted:
"'Which one Of you is Cassell?
Oh me, get your heels together
when speak! Come in here!'
"Cassell started to say, Yes SIR
'But Old Pepper roared, Shut up!
"Cassell came out in five minutes.
He said nothing, but as he passed me
he put his tongue into his cheek and
winked, then, turning to the closed
door, he stuck his thumb to his nose
and left.
"Then the sergeant majors turn
came. He didn't come out our way.
Judging by the roaring, Old Pepper
must have eaten him.
"When the door opened and the gem
eral beckoned to me, my knees started
to play Home, Sweet Home against
each other.
"My interview was very short.
"Old Pepper glared at me when /
entered, and then let loose.
"'Of course you don't know anything
about it. You're just like the rest
Ought to have nursing bottle around
your neck and nipple in your teeth.
Soldiers-by CAD, you turn my stom-
ach to look at you. Win this war,
when England sends out such samples
as have in my brigade! Not likely!
Now, sir, tell me what you don't know
about this affair. Speak up, out with
it. Don't be gaping at me like fish.
Spit it OUT
81 stammered, Sir, know absolute
ly nothing
"'That's easy to see,' he roared;
that stupid face tells me that. Shut
up. Get out; but I think you are
ID liar just the same. Back to.
your battery
"I saluted and made my exit.
''That night the captain sent for us.
With fear and trembling we went to
his dugout. He was alone. After sa-
luting we stood at attention in front
of him and waited. His say was short.
"'Don't you two ever get it into your
heads that Morse is dead language.
I've known it for years. The two of
you had better get rid of that nervous
habit Of tapping transmitters it's dan
gerous. That's ALL
"We saluted, and were just going out
the door of the ,dugout when the cap.
tain called up back and said:
"'Smoke Goldflakes? Yes? Well,
there are two tins of them on my table,
Go back to the battery, and keep your
tongues between your teeth. Under
stand?'
"We understood.
"For five weeks afterwards our bat
terry did nothing but extra fatigues.
We were satisfied and so were the
men. 1t was worth it to put one over
on Old Pepper, to say nothing Of the
injury caused to Fritz feelings.v
When Wilson had finished his story
looked up and the dugout was
jammed. An artillery captain and two
officers had also entered and stayed
for the finish. Wilson spat out an
enormous quid of tobacco, looked up,
saw the captain, and got as red as a
carnation. The captain smiled and
left. Wilson whispered to me:
"Blime me, Yank, see where click
for crucifxion. That captain is the
same one that chucked us Goldflakes
in his dugout and here I have been
'chucking me weight about in his
hearing"
Wilson never clicked his crucifxion.