The Ordway new era., 1918-05-17
CHAPTER xvI-continued.

ChAtVEH NVI-Continuco.
-f2-
"Cnssell had fancy for that par
ticulnr blonde. The answer came back
in the shape of II volley of cusses.
changed the subject.
after while our talk veered
round to the way the Boches had been
exposing themselves on the road down
on the chart as Target II. What he
said about those Bochcs would never
have passed the relchstag, though
believe 1t would have gone through
our censor easily enough.
"The bursting shells were making
such n din that | packed up talking
and took TO watching the captain. He
was fidgeting around on an old sand
bag with the glass to his eye. Occa-
sionally he would let out grunt. and
make some remark couldn't hear on
account of the noise, but | guessed
what 1t was all right. Fritz was get
ting fresh again on that road.
"Cassell had been sending In the tap
code to me, but 1 was fed up and
didn't bother with It. Then he sent
O. s.. and was all attention. for this
was a call used between us which
meant that something important was
on. was all ears in an instant. Then
Cassell turned loose.
"'You blankety blank dud. I have
been trying to raise you for fifteen
minutes. What's the marter, are you
asleepf Gust as IL anyone could
have slept in that Internal racketD
Never mind framing a nasty answer.
Just listen.'
"'Are you game for putting soms-
thing over on the Boches and Old PEP
per all in oneT
"I answered that was game enough
when 1t came to putting It over the
Boches. but confessed that / had
weakening of the spine, even at the
mention of Old Peppers name.
"He came back with. It's so absurd
ly easy and simple that there is no
chance of the old heather rumbllng 1t.
Anyway, II we're caught, I'll take the
blame
Under these condition told him to
spit out his scheme. 1t was so daring
and simple that 1t took my breath
away. This is what he proposed:
''If the Boches should use that road
again, to send by the tap system the
target and range. I had previously
told him about our captain talking out
loud as II he were sending through
orders. Well, II this happened. was
to send the dope to Cassell and he
would transmit 1t to the battery COM
mander as officially coming through
the observation post. Then the bat
terry would open up. Afterwards, dur
ing the Investigation, Cassell would
swear he received it direct. They
would have to relieve him. because 1t
was impossible from his post in the
battery dugout to know that the road
was being used at that time by the
Germn.s. And also 1t was impossible
for him to give the target. rnnge and
degrees. You know a battery chart Is
not passed around among the men like
newspaper from Blighty. From him
the investigation would go to the OBJ.
servation post, and the observing Off.
Ger could truthfully swear that l had
not sent the message by phone. and
that no orders to fire had been issued
ty him. The Investigators would theu
be up in the air, we would be safe, the
Eoches would receive n good bashing
md we would get our own back on Ole
Pepper. II was too good to be true
/ gleefully fell In with the scheme
and told Cassell was his meat.
Then I waited with beating hear
and watched the captain like a hawk
He was beginning to fidget agair
and was drumming on the sandbag.
with his feet. At last, turning to me
he said:
Wilson. this army is blanket,
blank wnshout. What's the use of hav
ing artillery II 1t is not allowed to fire
The government at home ought to b,
hanged with some of their red tape
It's through them that we have n,
shells
II answered. Yes, sir and starte,
sending this opinion over the wire I,
Cassell. but the captain interruptc,
me WITH:
Keep those Internal fingers still
What's the meter. getting the nerves