Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-09-06
CHAPTER xvI-Continued.

'Cassell had fancy for that par
ticular blonde. The answer came back
in the shape Of 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 Il. What ne
said about those BOches would never
have passed the reichstag. though
believe it would have gone through
our censor easily enough.
"The bursting shells were making
such din that l 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. ana
make some remark l couldn't hear on
account Of the noise. but l 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 l was fed up and
didn't bother with 1t. 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 cars in an instant. Then
Cassell turned loose.
"'You blankety blank dud. have
been trying to raise you for fifteen
minutes. What's the matter. are you
asleepr Gust as II anyone could
have slept in that Internal racket y
Never mind framing a nasty answer.
Just listen
"'Are you game for putting some
thing over on the BOches and Old Pep
per all in oneT
81 answered that was game enough
when 1t came to putting 1t over the
Boches. but confessed that l had a
weakening of the spine. even at the
mention Of Old Peppers name.
HE came back with. It's so absurd
~ easy and simple that there is no
chance Of the old heather rumbling it.
Anyway, If we're caught. I'll take the
blame
Under these condition l told him to
spit out his scheme. 1t was so daring
and simple that it 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. had previously
told him about our captain talking on,
loud as IL he were sending through
orders. Well, If this happened, l was
TO send the dope to Cassell and hi
would transmit 1t to the battery com
mander as officially coming through
the observation post. Then the bat
fiery would open up. Afterwards. dur
Ing the investigation, Cassell would
swear he received II direct. They
would have to relieve him, because Il
was impossible from his post in tn,
battery dugout to know that the rOat
was being used ut that time by the
Germans And also II was impossible
for him to give the target. range ant
degrees. You know a battery chart /!
not passed around among the men lik,
a newspaper from Blighty. From hin
rhe investigation would 20 to the OBJ
servation post, and the observing of!
Ger could truthfully swear that ha,
not sent the message by phone. ant
that no orders to fire had been ISSUED
by him. The Investigators would ther
he up in the air. we would be safe. thu
Boches would receive n good bashing
and we would get our own back on OIL,
upn1 - hn fr,, q,
! gleefully fell In with the scheme
and told Cassell l 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 washout. What's the use of hav
ing artillery il ii 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
81 answered. Yes. SIR and started
cCuulh6 NbAS oPihioI oNCI lilc wire II
Cassell. but the captain interrupted
me with:
keep those Internal fingers still
What's the matter. getting the nerves
When I'm talking to you. pay atten
tiOn.'
MY heart sank. Supposing he ha,
rumbled that tapping. then all woul,
be up with our plan. / stopped drum
ming with my fingers and said:
"'Beg your pardon. sir. just habi
with me-
".And ID silly one. too he an
swered. turning to his glasses again
and l knew I was safe. He had no
tumbled to the meaning Of that tap
ping.
sAn at once. without turning round
he exclaimed:
"'Weil. Of all the nerve I've ever rul