Montana oil and mining journal., 1938-11-12

ability 70 get safely back to camp
without discovery.
The problem was a tough one, but
! Tracy Bennett solved Il with a flash
! OF pure inspiration Getting back amt
/ going 70 be so tough" he announced
I suddenly. Here's a whole fleet Of COW
cred trucks carrying supplies from the
camp 70 the docks. and running all
/ night long"
asO-whatP" the sergeant major
said.
"So-easy." responded Tracy. "All
we need TO do is to watch our chance,
grab one Of those trucks, crawl over
I the tallbOard. get under the tarpaulin
and the truck will 60 sailing right
through the gates. and no sentry will
bother to make an inspection"
What do you think all those NJ p S
Is going TO be doin' while we're hookin'
rides on trucks? Can't you see them?
There's one under every street lamp"
That's the best part OF my scheme"
answered Tracy. Wen wait till the
one in each end OF the block has his
back turned 70 us. You watch the one
40 the south corner. Each OF us nudges
the other If the cop isn't looking when
a truck goes by. If only one Of us
nudgeS, that means that the other cop
is still looking and We pass up that
truck. but when we both nudge at
once, then the coast is clear and Wen
hightail it,"
Wen. it's better than nothing"
agreed the Sergeant Major. Il don't
suppose It'll work, but We can try. I
ought to have had more sense anyhow.
The last time I was busted was when
that dame in the Philippines"
"Sh-h-" hisSed Tracy. here comes
a truck"
Then began a half hour Of anxious
waiting. Finally their vigilance was
rewarded-they both nudged at oncel
Now" whispered Tracy
Now, echoed the sergeant major.
Tracy made one wild dive for the
passing tail-board and the sergeant
major was at his heels. They swarmed
up the rear OF the big covered vehicle
like flies. They piled over the tall
board.
Tracy was in front and he was half
way aboard the truck before he real
lied the amazing truth. The vehicle
was full Of men.
One Of them reached out a friendly
hand to help haul the newcomers
aboard. Then a sleepy voice barked
Where the hell were you guys? We
thought we'd missed you"
Tracy was too dazed TO reply and
before he could collect his scattered /
thoughts. the same voice continued:
There's seats up front"
Still in a daze, Tracy crowded his /
way forward between two rows of seat !
ed soldiers. He could feel the sergeant I
major stumbling at his heels Speech \
less, he dropped into a vacant place /
and the veteran followed.
Tracy leaned back and wrested with
the problem at hand. II was enshroud-
ed with mystery. He racked his brain
for an explanation Why should this
truck full Of men be rumbling through
the night in the darkened city? Why
should the arrival Of himself and his
comrade have been accepted as a
matter Of fact? Why had the officer.
of whose Sam Browne Belt he had
caught a glimpse, not demanded their
passes?
Why Why-Why-?
Suddenly smitten by a sharp pain
IN the side, Tracy gave little gasp.
Then he caught himself, realizing that
ne had been prodded by the sergeant
MAJORS elbow Angrily. he turned
around but the old soldiers hand had
allen to his knee and was gripping 1t
;avagely. Then the old man leaned
Onward and placed his lips near
rracy's ear.
LOOK at thelr cOildr BaDS, ne
whispered. There at the end Of the
ruck-under the next street light"
Tracy looked obediently-and, when
he truck rumbled beneath the street
lights at the next corner, he gasped
n aStonishment. For an instant the
nen at the tailboard were Illuminated
n q flash Of light and in that flash
Tracy saw that each of them sported
crimson tab beneath his collar orna-
nent and under the button on his
ver-seas cap. Each Of them wore a red
rm band The truth was unmistak-
BILE.
The truck was full Of M. P.'s.
Tracy's heart sank at the prospect.
Ie reminded himself of a crippled
house In a cageful of lions. All the ex-
ilaration of the day faded away. AS
he truck rolled onward, Tracy became
S pessimistic as the sergeant major.
There was a furry Of excitement at
ne main gate. Tracy heard the SEN
nels challenge and the rattle Of