The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1918-08-01

Atvoli was gvoa companion aud
very entertaining. He had an utter
contempt for danger. hut was not fool
hsrdy. At swearing he was wonder.
A cavalry regiment would have been
proud Of him. Though born In Eng
land. he had spent several years In
New York He was about six feet one
and as strong Ms an OK.
We took up our quarters Ia large
dugout OF the royal engineers, and
mapped out our future actions. This
dugout was on the edge 81 n large
cemetery. and several times at night
In returning 10 II. we got many fall
stumbling over the graves OF English.
French and Germans. Atwell on these
occasions never INDUCED In swearing,
though at any other time. nj the least
stumble. he would turn the air blue.
A certain section OF our trenches
was held by the Royal Irish rifles. For
several days n very strong rumor went
the rounds that a German spy was In
our midst. This spy was supposed TO
he dressed In the uniform OF n British
staf officer. Several stories had been
told about an officer wearing a red
band around his cap. who patrolled the
front-llpe and communication trenches
asking suspicious questions ms 20 loca-
ton OF batteries. machlne-gun emplace-
ments, and trench mortars. II shell
dropped in battery. on a machine gun
or even near a dugout. this spy was
blamed.
The rumor gained such strength that
an order was issued for all troops 10
Immediately place under arrest anyone
answering TO the description OF the
spy.
Atwell and I>were on the qul vive.
We constantly patrolled the trenches
at night. and even In the day, but the
spy always eluded us.
One day while In a communication
trench. we were Mortified 90 see our
brigadler general. Old Pepper. being
brought down IL by big private Of the
Royal Irish rides. The general was
walking In front. and the private with
fixed bayonet was following in the
rear.
We salutcd as the general passed u.s.
The freshman had broad grin on his
face and we could scarcely believe our
cyes-the general was under arrest
After passing few feet beyond us. the
general turned. and said In wrathful
voice 20 Atwell:
Tell this d--n fool who am. He's
arrested me as n spy"
Atwell was speechless. The sentry
butted In with:
"None o. that gassln' out a. you
Back TO headquarters you goes, Mr.
Fritz. Open that face o. yours again.
an III dent In your napper with the
butt o. me rifle"
The generals face was a sight TO be-
hold. He was fairly boiling over with
rage. but he shut M.
Atwell tried TO get in front OF the
sentry TO explain 90 him that II really
was the general he had under arrest.
but the sentry threatened 10 run his
bayonet through him. and would have
done II. too. So Atwell stepped aside.
and remained silent. I was nearly
bursting with suppressed laughter. One
word. and would have exploded. u
Is not exactly diplomatic TO laugh at
your general In such predicament.
The sentry and his prisoner arrived
AZ brigade headquarters with dkns-
trous results to the sentry.
The joke was that the general had
personally issued the order for the
spy's arrest. II was n habit OF the gen
erai 20 walk through the trenches ON
rounds OF inspection. unattended by
any OF his stan. The Irishman. being
new Ia the regiment. had never seen
the general before. so when he came
across him alone In a communication
trench, he promptly put him under ar
rest. Brigadier gena-als wear n red
band around their cups.
Next day we passed the Irishman
tied 10 the wheel of a timber, the be-
ginning Of his sentence of twenty-one
days. field punishment No. I. Never
before have / seen such a woebegone
expression ON mans face.
For several days. Atwell and made
ourselves scarce around brigade head
quarters. We did not want TO meet
the general
The spy was never caught.