Arsenal Technical High School - Arsenal Cannon Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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There was a celebration in the quarters that night, for the arrival of the patrols removed a great deal of responsibility. Jimmie, the only child there, was petted royally. One of his favor- ites, a young lieutenant, said to him, Hlimmie, where are you all the time? You never come around and see me anymorefi MI play over to Billthf, uvlfho is uBill?77 ul-le means Hertwig's. What do you do over there, Jimmie?,, HPlay with paperth, with lineth on iem, like those in your dethkfv The officers exchanged glances. HWhat,s the kid talking about, Majorfw MI donlt know. What kind of papers do you mean, son?7' 46Wait a minute, Major Pop. llll thhow you.'7 He trotted out, and came back, with a piece of bluish paper. This was a map of the camp, the explanations printed on the margin,-in German. On the back was, MPatrols arrive fifth. Execute plans before dawn of same. Strike surely. W. Hfi It was plainly a carbon copy. They stared blankly at one another. The Major said slowly, 64Men the original of this has been sent to the enemyf' Jimmie was plied with numerous questions, which bewildered him, but it was plain to be seen that Hertwig did not know his map had been disturbed. For the remainder of the night, and the next day, the camp whirled with activity. Hertwig was detained out of sight and hear- ing of the preparations. Among his possessions were several maps from which it was clear that the camp would be struck from the air. '4We are powerless, the Major said, ufor with our three little Hanti-air, we cannot hope to either disable or bluff an enemy machine. Unless the government heeds my message, the only thing for us to do is to waitf' Out of the blackness of the night came the whirr of a motor. The Major, in his unlighted oflice, expelled a short, sharp sigh. 'cl-lere they aref' he said grimly. They sat in tense silence, waiting the report of the first missile. Instead, the motor passed over them, continuing northward. HGetting his bearingf' snapped the lieutenant. The sound was soon heard again from the east, then from the west. The plane was circling the camp. fContinued on Page 545

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........................ ....................... HMajor Barthal, he said, udo you realize what an immense duty is yours? Do you know that if these supplies should be destroyed, we Britains would be on our knees?,7 I believe I realize, sir. I have a special detachment of trained men, and the stores are guarded, day and nightfi uHave you any protection against air raids?? NGeneral, I have petitioned, pleaded, and demanded patrol planes from the government. Their only reply is that they are doing their bestf, . uSuppose you telegraph them, now. State that the need is imperative? Major Barthal turned to the orderly. 'GSend Hertwig in here. He is one of my guards, General. One of the finest men that ever wore a uniform. I would trust him anywhere.'7 The Major scratched a few lines on a telegraph blank, placed it in an envelope and seal it. The man Hertwig soon strode in, Jimmie Barthal on his shoulder. He set the lad down and stood at attention. He was tall, with a heavy pinkish face, light hair, and furtive blue eyes. On first glance he did not inspire confidence. The Major handed him the message. Wfake it over to the ofiice immediately, sir-Jimmie, have you been down to the soldier's quarters again? Jimmie saluted. HYeth, thir, Major Pop, I've been playing in Billth tent. An, I'm goin back, now, thirf' The Major laughed. UAII right, run along. Some lad, eh General? That night at dinner Jimmie said, HMajor Pop, what did you tell Bill to do 'ith your letter? uTake it to the man that does the telegraphing, son. '6He didnit do it. He took it to hith quarterth, and opened the emvelop with thomething out of a bottle. He copied the insideth, too, only it didn't look the thamef' KI-Immf' He sent for Hertwig. When the man came, he said. udid you deliver my message immediately, Hertwig? 6cSir? I+oh, yes, Major? uThat is all,-the boy was mistaken, he mused, and dropped the matter, tho it troubled him vaguely. On the third of June, the Major received a message from the government, stating that the patrol planes would arrive on the after- noon of the fifth. Hertwig was standing nearby, and the Major flashed one of his rare smiles at him. We get our long-sought patrols day after to-marrow! Hertwiglw The man's eyelids narrowed, but he merely inclined his head respectfully. '

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I5 If lBy Anna Geranfl 6'Cot permission to go home on a furlough next week, ,loefi said Earl Dickson, my tentmate as we were leaving the mess hall. C'Goodl'7 I agreed. 4'Ten days and then aback to the grind', as our old German professor would say. By the way, that match in archery is to come off this afternoon, so hurry, because I wouldn't miss it for a little bit, I can tell youfl He started off and-I followed, smiling, for Earl's skill as an archer, and his propensity to win every match he entered was a standing joke. HNesbitt looks rather cdown at the mouth' eh? indi- cating a hrst lieutenant who was standing by the target, watching the arrows as they dodged the mark. 4'Yes,,' I assented, Mwatching that target as if he had a grudge against it. Something rare for him, toof' It was Earlls turn at the bow and our attention was diverted from Nesbitt. Earl aimed carefully and pulled the string, slowly and steadily. At the same moment, Nesbitt reached across the target, to take and examine an arrow that had been shot a moment before. uEook outli' we shouted. I grasped Earlis arm, but both warn- ings came too latel The arrow, already loosed from the bow grazed Nesf3itt's arm. He turned angrily. HHere, youlw he shouted to Earl, uyou owe me an apologyf' HO, thats all right, Lieut,'7 said Earl somewhat annoyed, Honly you know it was absolutely unintentional, and a pure accidentf' Mit was nothing of the sortf' roared Nesbitt. 44 Do you think I'll allow an attempt on my life pass? We stared aghast. At any other time Nesbitt would have laughed it off, but today he uhad a grouch onf' Earlls astonishment was slowly turning to anger. Striding up to Nesbitt he said tensely, alt is you who owes me an apologyf' The Lieut. laughed scornfully. The laugh seemed to goad Earl to madness. He deliberately threw his quiver of arrows full in the Lieutenant's face, and with a jeering laugh he turned on his heel. Nesbitt stared a moment and then with a muttered oath he turned and walked in the opposite direction. Next day Earl was put in the guard house until the case could be looked into. He was furious, threatening to ubreak loose and swore to avenge himself on Nesbitt uwhen his time was up. It was useless to reason with him. He was all the more angry because the plan for his furlough had been fustrated. Nesbitt went around with a new and unapproachable dignity.