The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-01-17

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one where that big church with all the
shell holes In Il was right ON the cor
ner where we turned to the left to
take the road at st. A----T
We all remembered It and turned In
quiring giances In Curly's direction.
"WeIl, this morning. when / went
down with the quarter (Qunrtermaster
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.
'sThIs bloke, through modesty, and
to cover up his own good work. tried
TO make me believe that 1t was only
through a lucky chance that he STUN
bled over the clue which lead TO the
spies arrest. but Tn a-thinkin'. and I
know you'll all agree with me, that 1t
was not 80 much luck as 1t was clever
thinking. I'm not much at telling a
story, but I'm going to try,and give It,
az far as l can remember, just the
way he handed II TO me.
1T 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 az he reeled
IN on TO me;
About three kilos behind division
headquarters was the old French VIII
lage OF Be-. One OF our important
roads ran through IL. This road was
greatly used by our troops for bringing
IN supplies and ammunition for the
front line. II 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, 1t
could only be used at night; other
wise the enemy airmen and OBSERVE
tIon balloons would get wise and 1t
would only he a 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 a cer-
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, IL
any but II a battalion or brigade hap
pened 20 come this way they suffered
from heavy shell fire.
Upon receipt of the first two or
three OF these reports we put It down
ms strange coincidence, but when the
fifth report OF this nature reached us
X was evident to us that 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 IL seemed an impossible
job, as there We're no clues to work
upon. As is usual, our general, "Old
Pepper" called us In. and said:
"'"There Is spy working In the
village Of b.; so get him."
'Foollshly, I butted in and asked
for further information. got II, all
right. With a lowering look which
made me tremble he roared:
""Go and dig up your own clues.
What are you with the intelligence de.
nartment for? Intelligence department.
Il ought TO be called the 'bralnless de-
pertment' II you two are a sample Of
the rest"
Somehow or other we didn't stop
to argue with "old Pepper"
At this point Sailor Bin butted in:
"Blime me, he's Just like an admiral
we had In our navy. this old Pepper"
A chorus OF. ooh, shut up, you're In
The army now" cut Off Bins story. We
Snew Sailor BIZ, II he ever got start
I'd talking navy, nothing short Of gas
attack could stop him.
Sailor BIN, with an indignant glance
around the circle, relapsed into silence.
Curly Wallace exclaimed:
10 ell with your admiral; do you
want 20 hear this story7 II you do,
shut up and let me tell t."
go on. Curly, never mind; he's
calculated Happy Hough.
ton.
Curly carried on, with:
Getting our packs and drawing
three days ratlons. we started hiking