The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-02-01
CHAPTER XIII.

No word had come Of any project OF
attack on the morrow morning. In this
the sergeant's prediction had probably
proved fnlse;Syet the feeling In the mir
OF something impending seemed TO
have communicated itself to the enc
my's lines.
A wiring party and listening post
party were out from the American
trenches. and Mark was on duty with
three others of the stretcher bearers
company. ready for call.
A corporal was NJ the dugout door.
"Stretcher bearers" he whispered.
The four men were on their feet
Immediately. two stretchers ready.
"a man hit between the lines" said
the corporal. "You've got 10 bring him
In. You can see him from this loop
hole"
Mark stepped upon the sentry's plat
form and saw, indistinct in the dark
ness, hudded form about halfway
10 the German trenches.
Then he heard Kellerman's voice Mt
his side.
"a man Of the --th got hit" he said.
"Brlng him In. Weston. Make n quick
job of IL. Corporal BaIncs, you'll take
charge. You two will be ready TO take
out your stretcher In case anything
happens" he added 10 the two others.
The corporal led the way. crouching.
toward the gnp In the wires. They
ttr< @aI In al
lane, and emerged beyond the third
into the open. The body OF the wound
ed man. which had disappeared. came
into light, n black patch under the
stars.
"Get down 7" whispered the corporal.
They flung themselves to the ground.
aud proceeded 10 wriggle forward. un-
der his directions, pushing the stretch
or ms nolselessly as possible across
the rough ground. Suddenly the man
with Mark uttered an exclamation.
"what the DEVILS he sent us on this
Job forf" he demanded truculently.
"Shut up, you fool !" whispered the
corporal hoarsely.
"That amt the man. He's been
there these past three days. Dutch
man he is; every listening post party
knows him. What's the good OF bring
ing him in2 He ain't got no head TO
him."
"What you talking aboutf" snarled
the corporal. -"rhnt's the man the MA
jor said. and there amt no other In
sight. Tcht"
They hnttencd themselves as
rocket burst into the air above the
German lines.
Then the machine guns burst forth.
"Rat-tat-tnt-tat !" sang the bullets over
head.
They swished through the grass and
pattcred on the ground. No answer
came from the section of the Ameri-
can line Immediately behind the de-
tenders. but on each side there came
answering volleys, making, the air an
inferno OF cracking death. Then.
gradually, the alarm subsidized. The
rocket showers died down.
"Now, boys" whispered the corpo-
raj.
form came into clear view. The body
seemed 10 be already blending with
the earth. melting into formlessness;
and there was no need to wonder
whether this was OF dead or wounded
man.
The corporal swore.
IL told you sol" mumble1 Mnrk's
companion. 81 told you 80. Whats he
sent us here for, the foolf"
His words ended In gurglc From
behind the shelter of the corpse leaped
five men. Nolsclessly they flung them
selves upon the party Of three. Mark
felt II pistol at his temple.
"Surrcnder!" hIssed n voice In his
ear.
In flash he realized the trap. The
three were unarncd, nOnc0mbatants
II was n counter-rnld-nnd Kellermnn
had known that the enemy were abroad
thnt night and suspected their rendez-
vous.
lie saw his two companions being
dragged, unreslstlng, toward the Ger
man lines. Three men were with
them; besides his immediate antago-
Mist there was only one other figure
IN The immediate vicinity, and that one
iind hnlf turned away.
And the thought Of the Internal trap
gondod Mark 70 madness. Az his cap
tor, never suspecting resistance on his
mart. let the muzzle of the pistol droop.
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