The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-05-09

was rich harvest to be reaped from
the sale OF farm produce, beer and
wines to the troops biilefed all around.
Two estaminets (Frcncn saloons)
were stin open and did thriving bust
ness.
"'OccI sionafly shell would burst
In the village, bat the civilians did not
seem 10 mind 1t, just carried on With
their farming and business as usual.
1--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, l, 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 1t out cou-
pie Of days more, and after he gave
me vivid description Of what Old
Pepper would hand out to ~ decid-
ed to stick 1t out for six months, II
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 a 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 crowd Of soldiers, laugh
ing, joking, arguing and telling stories.
ave sat down at the end Of the
table, and In a low tone tried to work
impossible theories as to how the spy.
II there was one-by this time we
were doubtful-could get the informa-
ton back to the German batteries.
"'Right 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. II
sounds good"
NJ listened for about minute and
then paid no further attention. Al
that time farming In no way interested
me. / wanted to catch that spy, and
started devising impossible theories as
: to the ways and means Of doing 30
! At last gave up in disgust. My part
, ner was still attentively listening tt
J the two across the table from US. An
J other poke In the knee from my part
J ner and l was all attention. One Of the
J fellows across the way was talking:
: ""Well, don't see why this French
blighter should change horses in his
, plow every afternoon. I've watched
/ him for several days. Now, in the
, morning he uses two grays, and ther
J about two In the afternoon he eithel
, hooks up two blacks or a gray and 6
( black. French ways may be different
but this frog-eater is very partial t
the colors Of his team. He works the
, grays all morning and then change!
them in the afternoon. Now, figure 4
] out for yourself. He starts work witt
| the two grays about six o'clock in tht
, morning; works the two beggars W
till noon. That's six hours straight
Then he sticks them In the stable, lay
of for two hours, and in the Afternoon
about two o'clock the new relay Of
animals comes on and works up I'll
{ four. Now. anybody with any brain.
In their nappers knows that Is no way
, to keep horses in condition, workins
one team over six hours and the othel
team only two hours. know, beeaus,
l we have been farmers in our famil.
back in Blighty for generations"
a "T was all excitement, and a grea
e hope surged through me that at las
: we had fallen on the clue that we wer'
s looking for. Restraining my eager
ness as much as possible l addressed
e the fellow who had just spoken:
}. ""Well, mate don't like to intrud'
into your conversation, but I've ais,
] been farmer all my life and l don
, ocS any tih1S queer III tuc dCtlOuS u
this French farmer"
a "'He answered: "Well, blime me
: there might be a reason for thi!
blighter doing this, but / can't figure
1t out at<all. II you can explain 1t, &
p ahead"
2 ~ answered: well, perhaps 4
you can give little more details abou
: 1t. 1t would be easy enough to explain
Who is the farmer, and where is hi
farm locatedT
"'He swallowed the bait, all right
and informed me that the farmer wa!
blowing a field ON a hill about fv,
/ hundred yards west of the church at {
; point where our troops were beipl
: shelled.
Buying q round Of drinks
nudged my partner and he came in OF
/. the conversation. The two Of us, b.
1 a0roit questioning. got the exact loca