The Washington times., 1937-11-12


tated. then slipped a hand under
the inert figures arm-pit, STUN
bled, dragging it down the trench
"Cripes," he painted, "those
Heinies got the range dead. We
gotta scram tres vite-" he tripped
over a loose duck board, catapulteo
through a gas curtain, bumped
down rude steps to the bottom OF a
spacious dug-out.
He loosened himself from his
burden, lay breathing hard on the
earth floor, presently he sat up,
flashed his torch.
The dug-out was empty, bare, ex'
cept for a camp table with rem
nantS of a hastily eaten meal.
"Musta got orders to move UP in a
hurry" he muttered, "this head
quarters outfit"
He shifted the cone Of light.
How bad you hurt?" The yellow
rays revealed the unconscious fig
ure. Boyle's eyes bulged. "Cripes,
he piped, look what I drug in!"
The unconscious soldier wore a
field-gray uniform, a gray cap to
match, round, with tiny Prussian
blue disk.
"And this guy asks for an Ameri-
can trench" he growled 1ndlg-
nantly.
First, answer darkened Boyle's
fat face, then he smiled.
"Heinie," he said addressing the
inert figure, you're my alibi kid.
Let's see any fresh Second Looie
bawl me out now for gold-brickin!
Me wit a prisoner!"
The gray uniformed mans eyes
flickered; he sat up.
"Was fur" he breathed, put.
ting both hands to his temples.
Zach, mein kopf! Yah, cine"
He became abruptly silent, fixed
placating eyes on Boyle, grinned.
Buddy" he said, without trace OF
accent, chow far to headquarters?
It's important that" He broke
off, catching sight of Boyle's sneer.
FLUENT AMERICAN
"That you see General Pershing
personal" said the bass drummer
derisively. He paused, relishing
his sarcasm. "How come, Heinie.
you talks United States so slick?"
"I was born in Cincinnati"
"Oh yeah" drawled Boyle in q
cat.and.mouse mood, "is that SOP"
Then he said with a frown,
Maybe, then, you can name me
some Cincinnati Reds ball players,
hey?"
"Sure," the nervous alert eyes
sparkled in the yellow light cone.
"Groh, Magee. Wingo. Chase;
First base"
"Cripes, If you don't know the
team like I dol" exploded Boyle.
"An' you in a Heinie uniform!"
His pudgy body Quivered. "Why,
you dirty spy" He drew his
pistol out of its holster.
"Du dunn koph! Fool!" shouted
the German, leaping like a fright.
ened cat at Boyle's throat. Gable
Steeled arms twined about Boyle's
fat body, he dropped his torch.
All was instantly dark.
He felt a hand searching along
his pistol arm. Desperately he
pulled the trigger. As the shot
blasted the dug.out walls, a fist,
adamant as a gun-butt, smashed
the bridge Of Boyle's nose. He
dropped unconscious.
Coming out Of his coma, Boyle
sat up. He heard the buzz of a
field telephone, the clicking of
portable typewriters, voices in
English swapping low orders. His
eyes widened taking in the group
Of staff officer in A. e. F. uniform,
"Cripes," he breathed, ''if Divi.
sion headquarters amt moved in
while I was out!" He was aware
OF a dull pain along the ridge Of
his nose, he touched it lightly, let
ting his eyes perceive the orderlies,
runners, feverishly busy staff.
His eyes focused sharply. Seated
behind a candle lit table, whisper.
ing over map with a staff major
was his prisoner! Boyle
scrambled to his feet.
Say, who's that talkin' to my
prisoner" he demanded of a pass.
ing sergeant.
80 you come TOP" smiled the
sergeant.
yeah, yeah," said Boyle i'm
patiently, ''but answer me, who
is that guy?" He pointed.
Division Chief of Intelligence, >
answered the sergeant, Major
Then tell him right off, thai
Heinie's no ordinary prisoner, he'
a spy" babbled Boyle excitedly
HE knows all about the Cincin
natl Reds, and everythin'. He's ,
spy sure"
The sergeant studied the stat
major and the man in German
uniform as they pored over tn
map together.
YEAH" he agreed graphically
hes a spy okay.'
THE END