Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-05-24
CHAPTER XVl-Continued.

CHAPTER xVI-continued.
~
"Cassell had fancy for that par
ticular blonde. The answer came back
IN the shape of a 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 Boches would never
have passed the reichstag, though 1
believe it would have gone through
our censor easily enough.
1.-THE bursting shells were making
such 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.
slonally he would let out a grunt, and
make some remark I couldn't hear on
account of the noise, but I guessed
what it was all right. Fritz was get
ting fresh again on that road.
"Cassell had been sending in the tap
code to me, but I was fed up and
didn't bother with it. Then he sent
y. s.. and was all attention, for this
was 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 matter, are you
asleep? Gust as If 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 one?'
Il answered that I was game enough
when 1t came to putting it over the
bocnes, but confessed that I had
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 #
Anyway, If we're caught, I'll take the
blame.'
Under these condition l told him TO
spit out MS scheme. 1t was so daring
and simple that it took my breath
away. This is what he proposed:
III 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 ont
iouu as II ne were sending through
orders. Well, if this happened. was
TO send the dope to Casseu and he
would transmit it to the battery CON-
mander as officially coming through
the observation post. Then the bat
terry would open up. Afterwards. dur-
ing the investigation, Cassell would
swear ne received it direct. They
would have to relieve him, because #
was impossible from his post in the
battery dugout to know that the road
was being used at that time nv tho
Germans. And also it was impossible
Tor him to give the target, range and
degrees. You know a battery char ,s
not passed around among the men like
newspaper from Blighty. From him
'he investigation would 20 to the nh.
serVation post, and the observing Off
Ger could truthfully swear that 7 had
not sent the message by 'phone and
Inat no orders to fire had been issnod
Dy MIN. The investigators would thon
De up in the air, we would be safe tho
boches would receive good boshino
uhu we would get our own back on Ola
Pepper. 1t was too good to he tr,,o
gleefully fell in with the scheme
ana told Cassell was his meat
Then l waited with beatino boor+
ana watched the captain like q howl,
he was beginning to fidget again
and was drumming on the sandhaas
with his feet. At last, turning To mo
he said: NC
Wilson, this army is a blanlxe+v
plank washout. What's the use If bor
Ing artillery if it is not allowed to fire2
Inc government at home ought to he
,iaheeo with some of their red tono
It's through them that we have M
Shells we naVe no
i answered, Yes, SIR and started
sending this opinion over the WIZ ~
oasseil, but the captain interrrn+o0
me with: interrupted
, Keep those internal fingers still
"hat's the matter, getting the n,r S,.; |