The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-01-31


We were machine gunners OF the
British army stationed Somewhere In
frnnce" md had Just arrived ut cur
rest billets, after weary march from
she front-ilne sector.
The stable we had to steep IN wns
an old. ramahnrkie affair, absolutely
eycrrun with rats. big. black fellows,
who uaed % chew w our leather equip
ment; cat our rnflona. and run over
eur bodies az night German gns had
no effect on these rodents; In fact,
they seeFned 30 thrive on II. Tho floor
space would comfortably accommodate
about twenty men lying down, but
when fhirty-three. including equip.
ment. were crowded Into It. Ii was
nearly unbearable.
The roof aud walls were fun or shell
holes. When II ralned constant drip.
drip. drip was ia order. We were so
crowded that II fellow was uniucky
enough land nearly an Of us In this
Instance we're unlucky) 10 sleep under
hole. he had 70 grin and bear II.
u Was like sleeping beneath shower
bath.
Al ore end OF the billet, with lad
der leading up % II. was sort Of
grain bin. with door Ia 1t. This
place was the headquarters OF our
quests, the rats Many stormy cab
iret meeting was held there by them.
Many boot WIS thrown az II during
the night 10 let them know that Tom.
my Atkins objected 30 the matter un-
der discussion Sometimes one OF
these missiles would ricoehet. and land
on the upturned eountenanee OF o
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 la our wet clothes. and were
soon asleep. A. was usual, No. guns
crew were together.
The last time we had rested Ia this
particular village. II was inhabited by
civilians but now IL was deserted. An
order had been issued. two days pre-
vious - eur arrival that all civilians
should move farther back OF the line.
l had been asleep about two hours
when | was awakened BY Sailor Bill
shaking me BY the shoulder. He was
tfeiabllng IKE lear, and whispered
60 me;
-wake up. Yank. this ships haunt
ed There's someone nloft who's been
moaning for the lasf hour. Sounds
like the wind Ia the rigging. / ain't
scared of humans or Germans, hut
when II comes TO messln' 10 with spir-
iss IT'S time for me 70 10 below. Lend
your ear and cast your headlights on
that grain locker, and ilsten."
l listened sleeplly for minute or
~ hut could hear nothing. Coming
g. the conclusion that Sailor Bin was
dreaming things WAS again soon
asleep.
perhaps fifteen minutes had elapsed
when was rudcly awakened.
''Yank. for Gods sake. come aboard
aud ilstent" l listened. and sure
enough. right cut % that grain bin
overhead came a moaning and within
periaG, and then scratching against
the floor Aiy hair stood on end.
blended with the drip. drip Of the
rain. aud the occasional scurrying OF
tnt overhead, that noise had So
pfnatural sound. 1 was really fright
eped; perhaps my nerves were a trstie
urtrung from eur reeent tour In the
tltHchea
awakened fkcy Honney, while Sail.
or Bili reused Happy Houghten and
Hungry Foxeroff
HunEry's FIRST words were, what's
the matter, breakfast readyf*
Ia as few words as possible We told
them what had happened by the
iight ~ q eandle had lighted their
faces appeared as white as chalk. Just
then the Whispering started again. and
we we're frozen with terror. Tho ten
siau was rrlieyed b. Keys yelee
"a admit I'm afraid ~ ghosts but
thar sounds Ike n dog to me- Who's
r9iHg up she ladder 60 investigator
No oue volunteered.
/ had "a old deck II cards IN my
pGesef Taking them cuf ! suggested
cutting ire low man e. 40 np the Had
der They aEreed. 1 sas the last 20
cut l Eot the ace 81 clubs. sailor
hlil was stuck with the i've Of Ola.
nsenas Upon this, he insisted that II
should ~ the best two cat % three
cuts, baf We overruled him. and be Was
nnsnlHpusiy elected for the job.
VIII Il $50 inag mates. I'm going
nloft b. started toward the ladder,
with tbs candle IN his hand. stumbling
over the sleeping forms 81 many. sun
dIJ Erants means. aud curses follow
"a Ia his wake.
Al soon ~ be started 70 ascend the
Indder. '.iap-thp-tap7 could BE- heard
from the graln bin. We Visited III fear
and trembling The result 81 his mis-
sion. Hungry vas encouraging him
sifh "o,beero. Wate. the worst Il set
70 come