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

was a rich harvest to be reaped from
the sale Of farm produce, beer and
wines to the troops billeted all around
| Two estaminets (Frencn saloons)
were stin open and did thriving bust
ness.
/ Occasionally a shell would burst
in the village, but the civilians did not
seem to mind it; just carried on with
their farming and business as usual.
"'We decided to make a thorough
search of all houses, barns and build
ings for concealed wires, and did so,
but with barren results. Nothing sus-
| picious was found. This search vast
ed five days, and we were in despera-
ton. Watch and question as we would,
not single clue came to light.
During this time two large bodies
Of troops had passed through and each
time they were heavily shelled, with
dire results.
"'On the sixth night of our assign
ment, utterly disguised, I, being in
charge, had decided to chuck up the
whole business and report back to
Old Pepper that we had made a mess
out of the investigation. My partner
| pleaded with me to stick it out a cou-
| pie of days more, and after he gave
me vivid description of what Old
Pepper would hand out to us decid-
ed to stick it out for six months, if
necessary. To celebrate this decision
my side-kicker offered to blow to sew
eral rounds of drinks. Now, this fell
low had never, during my acquaint-
ance with him, offered to spend ha'-
penny, so quickly accepted his offer
and we went to the nearest estaminet.
"'Sitting around long table, drink
| ing French beer and smoking cigar
cites, was a crowd of soldiers, laugh
ing, joking, arguing and telling stories.
ave sat down at the end of the
| table, and in low tone tried to work
impossible theories as to how the spy,
| if there was one-by this time we
were doubtful-could get the informa-
ton back to the German batteries.
fright across from us were two
soldiers arguing about farming. Sud-
denly my side-kicker pinched me on
the knee and whispered:
"'"Listen to what those two fellows
across the table from us are saying. 1t
sounds good"
"I listened for about a minute and
then paid no further attention. At
that time farming in no way interested
me. I wanted to catch that spy, and
| started devising impossible theories as
| to the ways and means of doing so.
| At last gave up in disgust. My part
ner was still attentively listening to
the two across the table from us. An
other poke in the knee from my part
| ner and was all attention. One Of the
| fellows across the way was talking:
"'"Well, don't see why this French
Brighter should change horses in his
| pillow every afternoon. I've watched
him for several days. Now, in the
| morning he uses two grays, and then,
about two in the afternoon he either
| hooks up two blacks or a gray and
black. French ways may be different,
but this frog-eater is very partial to
| the colors of his team. He works the
grays all morning and then changes
them in the afternoon. Now, figure it
out for yourself. He starts work with
the two grays about six o'clock in the
| morning; works the two beggars up
till noon. That's six hours straight.
Then he sticks them in the stable, lays
off for two hours, and in the afternoon
about two o'clock the new relay of
animals comes on and works up till
four. Now, anybody with any brains
in their nappers knows that is no way
to keep horses in condition, working
one team over six hours and the other
team only two hours. I know, because
we have been farmers in our family
back in Blighty for generations"
I was all excitement, and a great
hope surged through me that at last
we had fallen on the clue that we were
looking for. Restraining my eager
ness as much as possible I addressed
the fellow who had just spoken:
"'"Well, mate, don't like to intrude
into your conversation, but I've also
been a farmer all my life and I don't
see anything queer in the actions of
this French farmer"
"'He answered: "Well, blime me,
there might be a reason for this
blighter doing this, but I can't figure
it out at all. If you can explain it, go
ahead"
az answered: "Well, perhaps IL
you can give little more details about
it, it would be easy enough to explain.
Who is the farmer, and where is his
farm located?
"'He swallowed the bait, all right,
and informed me that the farmer was
blowing a field on a hill about five
hundred yards west of the church at
point where our troops were being
shelled.
Buying a round Of drinks,
nudged my partner and he came in on
the conversation. The two Of US, by
a6roit questioning. got the exact loca-
ton of the field and a description Of
the farmer.
"T pretended to be sleepy, and, |