Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-02-19
1E
Whispering Pit
B, GEORGE ELMER COBB

deputation Of young boys waited |
upon Adrian Noble and gave him the \
most pleasant surprise Of his life. Lat
tie Benny Burton was the spokesman |
OF the group, and Benny was Lois Bur
tons brother.
Were going 20 build n catamount.
Mr.. Noble" said Benny seriously.
you mean a cantOnment, don't you
BennyT' suggested Adrian pleasantly.
II guess So" ratified ON Benny. "and
we want rifle pits, and some barb wire
things. and some trenches. We don't
want you TO do the digging. Wen do
that. Just come up and see the dandy
place we've got 10 play soldiers In.
Then you sort Of mark out where we're
to build the pits. We know you can do
II, because you're an army officer"
"Not quite yet, Benny" advised Ad-
rian, but think can help you out"
And very glad to do so was Adrian
Noble. candidate for the officers train
ing camp, soon to report for duty. He
was glad because II would bring him
near 10 Lois. the one idol OF his
| dreams.
Now Adrian Noble had never told his
love. There had not been much oppor-
tunity, for Lois and himself met gem
erally when they were members Of a
group.
81 must tell Lois soon, though
unused the anxious lover. "In another
week | will be 200 miles away leaving
the field to clever and handsomer feb
lows than myself"
Adrian could have marked out the
mock camp in two hours. Instead, he
took two days and he would have pro-
longed this military supervision indeh-
nItely. only that Lois was OF on ly-
ing visit to a nelghboring town. Those
first two days, however. were delight
full. Lois and her girl friends pro-
fessed great interest In the little can
tonment She was gracious, more than
friendly TO Adrian, for she was pleased
with his attentions and secretly proud
of him for Offering his services to his
country unsolicited. The little patriots
worked like beavers and really con-
structed very creditable layout.
There's one thing we've got TO have
to watch the enemy" Benny had told
Adrian.
whats thatT" inquired the latter.
whispering pit, just like they'w
got In France"
"He means u listening pit" explain
ed one Of his cohorts.
|
stnunchly. Cant you listen and wills
per, too, In the pit. Got TO whisper II
you don't want TO be bombed" and so
Just as the soldiers ut the front con
struct "A pit beyond the wire line with
an underground passage 10 reach II, an
old digging reaching some ten feet
down was utilized, and Benny was very
proud OF this feature OF his canton
ment.
Adrian visited his young friends
daily, but Lois was away and the local
ity had lost It's charm. She returned
the day that he received orders To re-
port at the distant training camp.
1--WE simply got to see Lois before ]
90 awas - he declared 10 himself
Lois had retu. ned, but he did not
/ lind her at home. lie strolled past the
homes of some Of her girl friends,
I where he hoped to catch sight Of her,
but failed to locate her. II was just NJ
ter dusk that evening when he went
to the vicinity Of the Burton home. Adj
rian passed the house aud did not see
Lois about the place, and could not
summon the courage to go to the door
and inquire about her. He rounded the
place and traversed the cantonment,
hoping To find her In the garden. Sud
denly, while he was pecrlng towards
the house, he slipped, lost his balance
and went headlong into the whispering
pit.
! "Benny-time 10 come In for the
night" echoed out an abrupt voice. IL
] belonged TO Lois, who was I'm quest of
little Benny, expecting to find him at
his fayorite rendezvous, but Benny had
marched down town with his COM
rades.
Adrian could not rcpresS IA sharp cry
as he landed In the bottom of the pit.
for he fell upon one side and his wrist
| was sprained.
"Who Is there. BennyT spoke Lois,
approaching the edge OF the eNcava-
don.
Its me-Adriun Noble" came the
reply. I've fallen IN here by accident.
It's pretty deep and / can't very well
get out through the narrow under
ground passage and"
"Oh, dear how did Il ever happen"
cried Lois Ia her soliCitude. Are you
hurtT"
Nothing TO speak OF, except my
wrist" explained Adrian. The boy
had a ladder"
yes it's here" responded Lois Gag
erly. I'm going TO lower Il. What
ever were you doing here In the darkfr