Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1919-01-31

about two weeks ago you know, the
one where that big church with oil the
shell holes in it was right on the cor
ner where we turned to the left to
take the road at st. Al"
We ali remembered it and turned in
quiring glances in Curly's direction.
"Well, this morning, when / went
down with the quarter (quartermaster
sergeant), to draw coal, met fellow
at division headquarters who told me
a mighty interesting story of how he
and another fellow rounded up a cou-
pie Of spies.
'"This bloke, through modesty, and
to cover up his own good work, tried
| to make me believe that it was only
through lucky chance that he stum-
bled over the clue which lead to the
spies arrest, but I'm a-thinkin', and ]
know you'll all agree with me, that 1t
was not so much luck as it was clever
thinking. I'm not much at telling a
story, but I'm going to try and give it,
as far as I can remember, just the
way he handed it to me.
SIT seems that this fellow, who told
me the story, and another chap, had
been detailed to the divisional intelli-
gence department, and were hanging
around division headquarters waiting
for something to happen.
"Now, here's the story as he reeled
it off to me:
"'About three kilos behind division
headquarters was the old French viii
lage of B. One of our important
roads ran through it. This road was
greatly used by our troops for bringing
up supplies and ammunition for the
front line. 1t was also used by large
numbers Of troops when relieving bat
talions in the fire sector.
"'Of course, on account Of this road
being in range of the German guns, it
could only be used at night; other
wise the enemy airmen and observa-
ton balloons would get wise and it
would only be short time before the
road would be shelled, thus causing
many casualties.
"'For the last ten days reports had
been received at division headquarters
that every time troops passed GER
tain point<on this road, marked by an
old church, they were sure to click
heavy shell fire from the Boches. On
nights when no troops passed through
there would be very little Smelling, if
any, but if a battalion or brigade hap
pened to come this way they suffered
from heavy shell fire.
"'Upon receipt of the first two or
three of these reports we put it down
as a strange coincidence, but when the
ffth report of this nature reached us
Fit was evident to us that a spy was
at work, and that in some mysterious
way the information Of the movements
of our troops were communicated by
him to the enemy.
"'Myself and another bloke, who
had been working with me for the last
two weeks, were assigned to the task
of discovering and experimenting this
spy. To us it seemed an impossible
upon. AS is usual, our general, sold
Pepper" called us in, and said:
"'"There is a spy working in the
village of B; go get him."
'Foolishly, butted in and asked
for further information. I got it, all
right. With lowering look which
made me tremble, he roared:
"'"Go and dig up your own clues.
What are you with the intelligence de-
partment for? Intelligence department!
1t ought to be called the 'brainless de-
partment' if you two are a sample of
the rest"
"'Somehow or other we didn't stop
to argue with "Old Pepper."'"
At this point Sailor Bill butted in:
'Blime me, he's just like an admiral
we had in our navy, this odd Pepper"
A chorus of, "Oh, shut up, you're in
the army now" cut off Bills story. We
knew Sailor Bill. If he ever got start
ed talking navy, nothing short of gas
attack could stop him.
Sailor Bill, with an indignant glance
around the circle, relapsed into silence.
Curly Wallace exclaimed:
''To ell with your admiral; do you
want to hear this story? If you do,
shut up and let me tell it,"
go on, Curly, never mind; he's
harmless" calculated Happy Hough-
ton.
Curly carried on, with:
"'Getting our packs and drawing
three days rations, we started hiking
>sm@sY0 80