Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-01-31
.tcopyrlsht, 1911, By The Mcclure Newspaper
Syndlcais)

France and had just arrived al oui
rest b.lIets. after weary march from
the front-llne sector.
The stable we had to sleep In was
an old. ramshaclle affair. absolutely
overrun with rats, big, black fellows
who used TO chew up our leather equip
nent eat our rations and run over
cur bodies at night. German gas had
NO effect on these rodents; in fact,
they seemed to thrive on 1t. The floor
space would comfortably accommodate
about twenty men lying down, but
when thirty-three. Including equip
ment were crowded into it, II was
nearly unbearable.
The roof and walls were full of shell
holes. When II rained constant drip,
drip. drip was in order. We were so
crowded that II a fellow was unlucky
enough land nearly all Of US in this
instance were unlucky) TO sleep under
hole he had to grin and bear It.
II was like sleeping beneath a shower
bath.
At ono end OF the billet, with lad
der leading up 10 1t. was sort of
grain bin. with a door IN 1t. This
place was the headquarters Of our
guests. the rats. Many a stormy cab
incl meeting was held there by them.
Many "a boot was thrown at 1t during
the night 20 LEI them know thnt Tom
my Atkins objected to the matter UNI
der discussion. Sometimes one Of
these missiles would ricochet. and land
On the upturned countenance of
snoring Tommy and for about half
an hour even the rats would pause In
admiration OF his flow of language.
ON the night in question we Topped
down in our wet clothes and were
soon asleep. As was usual, No. guns
crew were together.
The last time we had rested IN this
particular village, II was inhabited by
civilians. but now IT was desetted. An
order had been issued. two days pre-
sious to our arrival, that all civilians |
should move farther back Of the line.
/ hnd been asleep about two hours |
when | was awakened by Sailor BIN |
sinking me by the shoulder. He was |
trembling like leaf. and whispered |
to me:
awake up, Yank, this ships haunt |
ed. There's someone aloft who's been |
moaning FOR the last hour. Sounds |
IKE the wind In the rigging. amt |
scared OF humans or Germans, but /
shen Il comes to messin' In with splr-
rs it's titne for me TO go below. Lend |
your ear and cast your headlights on
that grain locker and listen"
/ listened sleepily for a minute or
So but could hear nothing. Coming
To the conclusion that Sailor Bin was
dreaming things | was again soon
asleep.
Perhaps fifteen minutes had elapsed
wheu | was rudely awakened.
s.Yank. for Gods sake, come aboard
and listen r. / listened, and sure
enough, right out OF that grain bin
overhead came a moaning and whlm-
pering, and then a scratching against
the aoor. My hair stood on end
Blended with the drip. drip OF the
rafR. and the occasional scurrying Of
, at overhead. that noise had SUI I
pcrnatural sound. | was really fright
rueil; perhaps my nerves were trifle
snstrung from our recent tour 10 the
1enches.
awakened key Honey. while Sail
'r RiB reused Happy Houghton and !
Hungry Foxcroft. u
Hungry's first words were. whats {
he matter breakfast ready?1
In as few words as possible we told /
flem what had happened. BY the '
light Of candle had lighted their O
aces appeared as white as chalk. Just
hen the whimpering started again. and /
~ we're frozen with terror The ten &
ion was relieved BY keys voice: b
Il admit fiA afraid OF ghosts, but
hat sounds Ike a dog 70 me. Who's a
Ding up the ladder to investigator il
No one volunteered. o
/ had an Old deck Of cards IN my G
ocket. Taxing them. cut. / suggested v
utilng, the low man TO go up the lad {,
er. They agreed / was the last to u
ut / got the ace Of clubs. Sailor
al was stuck with the Eve Of dla- Y
i0nds Upon this. he insisted that Il Il
7ouid be the best two out Of three "
ats, bit we ogerruled him. and he was a
1anin9nsly elected Tor the JOB. Il
With $50 long. mates. I'm going Il
oft" be started toward the ladder, Il
Irn the candle ia his hand. stumbling II
Ter the sleeping forms Of many. sun n
> grunts. means. and curses fellow
Ia his wake. "
As s0on as he started 70 ascend the .,
oder -'fap-taptnpT could be heard n
ON the grain bin. We waIted IN fear y
ID trembling the result 81 his mis- n
%. Hungry was eneouraglng him N
fh "cbeero. mate, the worst Is yet
come" ~