The Mena weekly star., 1918-06-06

old mates.
 promised to do this and left.
 I reported at headquarters with six teen others and passed the required ex- animation Out of the sixteen appli- cants four were selected.
 was highly elated because was, I thought. In for cushy job back at the base.
 The next morning the four reported to division headquarters for instruc- tions. Two of the men were sent to large towns in the rear of the lines with an easy job. When it came UT turr the officer told us we were good men and had passed a very creditable examination.
 My tin hat began to get too small for me, and noted that the other man, Atwell by name. was sticking his chest out more than usual.
 The officer coatinued: q think I can use you two men to great advantage in the front line. Here are your orders and instructions, also the pass which gives you full authority as special NJ. P. detailed on intelligence work. Re port at the front line according to your instructions. It Is risky work and wish you both the best of luck"
 My heart dropped to zero and At wells face was study. We saluted and left.
 That wishing us the ''best os luck" sounded very omln0us in our ears; if he had said T wish you both swift and painless death" 1t would have been more to the point
 When we had read our instructions we knew we were In for 1t good and plenty.
 What Atwell said Is not fit for pub lleation. but I strongly seconded his opinion of the wnr, army and divisional headquarters in general.
 After bit our spirits rose. We were full-hedged spy-catchers, because our instructions and orders. said so.
 We Immediately reported to the nearest French estamlnet and hnd sey- eral glasses of muddy water. which they called beer. After drinking our beer we left the estaminet and hailed m empty ambulance.
 After showing the driver our passes We got in. The driver was going to the part of the line where we had to re- port.
 How the wounded ever survived ride in that ambulance was inexplica- ble to me. II was worse than riding on gun carriage over rock road.
 Tho iriYer If the amlulance was ' corporal of the k. A. NJ. C., and he had the wind up" that is, he had an aversion to being under fire.
 was riding on the seat with him while Atwell was sitting in the ambu- lance, with his legs hanging out of the back.
 As we passed through shell-de- stroyed village a mounted military po- liceman stopped us and informed the driver to be very careful when we got out on the open road, as 1t was very dangerous, because the Germans lately had acquired the habit of smelling 1t. The corporal asked the trooper if there was any other way around, and was informed that there was not. Upon this he got very nervous and wanted to turn back, but we Insisted that he pro- ceed and explained to him that he would get into serious trouble with his commanding officer If he returned without orders: we wanted to ride, not walk.
 From his conversation we learned that he had recently come from Eng land with a draft and had never been under fire, hence his nervousness.
 We convinced him that there was not much danger. and he appeared greatly relieved.
 When we at last turned into the open road we were not so confident. On each side there had been line of trees. but now, all that was left of them were torn and battered stumps. The fields on each side of the road were dotted with recent shell holes, and we passed several in the road it. self. We had gone about half mile when shell came whistiing through the air and burst in field about three hundred yards to our right. Another soon followed this one and burst on the edge of the road about four hun dred yards In front of us.
 I told the driver to throw in his speed clutch, as we must be in sight of the Germans. l knew the signs !; that battery was ranging for us, and the quicker we got out of it's zone of fire the better. The driver was trem- bling like leaf, and every minute expected him to pile us up in the ditch. I preferred the German fire.
 In the back Atwell was holding onto the straps for dear life, and was sing ing at the top of his voice:
 We beat you at the Marne,
 We beat you at the Aisne,
 We gave you hell at Neuve Chapelle.
 And here we are again.
 Just then we hit a small shell hole and nearly capsized. Upon loud yell from the rear I looked behind, and there was Atwell sitting In the middle of the road shaking his fist at us. His equipment, which he had taken off upon getting into the ambulance, was strung out on the grnnnd. and his rife was in the ditch.
 shouted to the driver to stop, and in his nervousness he put on the brakes. We nearly pitched out head first. But the applying of those brakes saved our lives The next instant there was q binding flash and deaf