Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-15
tcontinued Prom Yesterday,s star.l

Tor two parties to begin at 8 O'Clock
tonight-Corpl. Burt with two men
and Sergt. Smith with two. I want
them to strengthen the wire all alonq
the front. Every company leaves it fol-
the next one to do. There are great
holes blown out weeks ago. Then next
night well start putting a belt down
both sides of us"
What's that?" Osborne straightened
up suddenly. Down the sides?"
Yes. Wen wire ourselves right in.
II this attack comes. I'm not going to
trust the companies on our sides to
hold their ground. The colonel's been
round and he says a German prisoner
gave the day Of attack as the 21st."
That's Thursday"
yes. Todays Tuesday"
That means about dawn the day
after tomorrow. Then it'll come while
we're here"
Eyes. It'll come while we're here
And we shall be in the front row of the
stalls: The colonel said that when the
trouble begins we can't expect any helm
from behind. We're not to move from
here. We've got to stick it,
l see said Osborne. So that was
the meaning of this silence which had
impressed even Trotter and Hardy.
They were going to get it Gin the neck"
as Hardy had put it. I'm glad it's
coming at last he commented. I'm
sick of waiting"
The curtain of sacking which hung
over the entrance to the servants dug
out bulged, and Mason appeared.
Would you like a nice plate Of
sardines, sir?" he asked Stanhope.
Il should loathe it."
Very good, SIR; and Mason returned
TO his dugout to supervise Hammond's
washing up of the other breakfast
things.
ct told Trotter," stanhope went m
"and all that worried him was that
Fridays his birthday and parcels may
get held up. Odd to feel like that
agination'
"a bit dull, I should think"
1T must be, rather. suppose all his
nie Irotter feels like you and do when
Poor chap!"
II suppose If Trotter looks at that
wall he just sees q brown surface. He
doesn't see into the earth beyond-the
worms wandering about round the
stones and roots of trees. I wonder
now worm knows when it's going up
or down?"
When it's going down the blood rms
into its head and makes it throb."
Worms haven't got any blood"
Then I don't suppose it ever does
know" said Osborne conclusively.
Rotten If 1t didn't, and went on
going down when it thought it was
coming up"
Yes. 1 expect that's the one thing
worms dread"
Stanhope looked at Osborne suddenly.
"D'you think this life sharpens the
4magination?"
Osborne nodded. 1T must"
Whenever I look at anything now.
edays I see right through it. Looking
at you now, there's your uniform
your NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. beyond
that"
Let's talk about something else, :"
Osborne interrupted.
Sorry" said Stanhope. Its q habit
that's grown on me lately to look right
through things, and on and on, till I
get frightened and stop. You-you
don't think I'm going potty, do you?"
"Oh, Lord, mol" Osborne treasured
him.
stanhOpe threw back his head and
laughed.
Dear Old Unclel You don't really
know, do you? You just pretend YOU
do, to make me feel all right"
When people are going potty," the
other declared with a little of the
schoolmaster In his manner, they
never talk about 1t. They keep it to
themselves"
"Oh, wen, that's all right then"
Stanhope gave a little sigh of relief.
which suggested that he had been more
serious than his tone would have led
any one, except perhaps Osborne. to
believe. Hi, Masonl" he called. Bring
some mugs and a bottle of whisky"
so early In the morning." put In
Osborne.
Just a spot. It's damned cold in
here"
He took up an old magazine and be-
gan turning its pages
This show at the Hipprdromes been
running long time"
Whats that? 'Ziz-Zag,' with George
Robey?"
yes. Harper saw it on leave. SAYS
Robey's pricelessly funny in it. What
did you see, Uncle, when you went on
leave?"
It? saw nothing. rather wish.
now, that I had been to some show"
Oyou mean to say you never went
70 a single theaterP"
mo. I spent all the time In the
garden, making q rockery. In the
evenings I used to sit and smoke and
read, and my wife used to knit socks
and play the piano a bit. We pretended
there wasn't a war on at all-tin nv
two youngsters made me help in a tin
soldier battle on the floor. Moved them
down in fine style"
Poor old Uncle! You can't get away
from it, can you? Have a drink"
Not now, thanks
you 60 on duty at IL, don't youp"
Eyes. I relieve Trotter."
Raleigh had better 60 on duty at
O'Clock and stay with you for an hour.
Then he can stay on alone till e. when
HILBERT relieves him. What's he doing
now?"
Raleigh Finishing a letter"
Stanhopes voice suddenly went Ia-,.,.
did you tell him?"
About what?"
Censorship"
you don't mean that seriouslv?"
Mean It? Of course, I mean az"
But, hang it all, you can't do tn d"
Orncially I'm supposed to read all
your letters. Damn 1t all, Uncle! I'm
ag1ne yourself in my place "a letter
going away from here. from that
boy"
He'll say nothing rotten about Won )"
You think SOP" Stanhone paused.
and then went on in a dead, even voice
Last night when you'd gone on duty
got up TO have a drink I was feeling
bad. l forgot Raleigh was out there
with Trotter. I'd forgotten all about
him. just knew something beastlv
had happened. Then he came in, and
tOSNN0 O. His after coming IN out OF
the night air, this place must have
reeked of candle grease. and rats. and
whisky. One thing a boy like that can't
stand Is smell that isn't fresh. He
looked at me as If I'd hit him-as if
I'd spat on him "
you imagine things"
Imagine things No need to. +"
He broke of as Raleigh came into
the dugout his letter in his hand. There
was an awkward pause.
Just going up to inspect rifles. 1" said