Findlay High School - Trojan Yearbook (Findlay, OH)

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Page Seven 1918 ANNUAL and his father in the center. All were armed. Now, get ready to draw back the portiers, boys, breathed Constable Quest. All ready, go. The three occupants of the room arose from their chairs, wide-eyed and open- mouthed. Mr. Quest and the boys leveled their revolvers at the three spies. You are placed under arrest as suspected spies of the German government, said Mr. Quest, and are to do as I tell you. You three must be taken to the jail here tonight to await the Federal authorities tomorrow. Von Erson stammered some incoherent reply and his right hand moved toward his hip. Back up, Fritzie, laughed Bob, you can't do that with us, you know. Apparently totally subdued, the German workers left the house, followed by the Con- stable and the two boys. Once Mimi began to weep and naturally her steps were re- tarded. jack, suspecting some ruse, quickly forced her arms apart. A crash of glass was heard and she screamed melodramatically that she had dropped something. But the scheme did not work. The plotters were unable to escape and were landed in the county jail without further trouble. The boys returned the next day to the spot where Mimi Von Erson had dropped the glass vessel, which proved to be a test tube containing some gelatinous substance. Of course the whole town was out and a doctor happened to be in the crowd near the boys at the time this was noticed. He de- cided to make an analysis of the substance and discovered that it was a breeding tube of typhoid fever germs. All precautions were taken with the boys and the people who had passed near the spot of the acci- dent, so no deaths resulted. The boys and Mr. Quest were inoculated for the fever. The German spies, including Frau Von Erson, were sentenced to three years in the Federal prison and fined 320,000 each, after a trial at which Bob, whose testimony caused their conviction, was the chief wit- ness for the State. THE WARNING L. S. Staples '18. It happened on the American battle line in France. In one of the dugouts a group of soldiers was gathered smoking their pipes and discussing interesting events in the war with which they had personally come in con- tact. One of the French Poilus detailed as instructors to accompany the green troops in their baptism of Hre, was recounting an incident relating to a soldier who was stand- ing guard for the Hrst time in the front-line trenches. This soldier believed that he had been divinely strengthened to perform his duty. He had been nervous when he went on duty, as time went on his eyes seemed to discern all sorts of demons approaching him and he started at the scream of every passing shell. He became almost panic- stricken. He should not be judged harshly for this since he was only a lad of eighteen. He had almost decided to slip back to the trench and remain there until time for the relief. Suddenly the clouds overhead seemed to open. He saw ,above him the figure of a young and beautiful girl in shining armor. She held her arms stretched out towards him in a pleading manner, He saw her lips move. He heard a whisper as in his ear say- ing Have courage, comrade, for the sake of France. Remember that God and Heaven are with you. He then knew that she was Joan of Arc. The young sentinel, yielding to the inspiration of the shining vision, stood his ground and gave warning of a surprise attack, which but for his steadfastness would have broken the line. Among those who listened were James Surrey and Charles Hilton. As the gath- ering broke up and each took his own way to his post James said, While I can't say that I doubt that 1l1ZlI'l,S veracity, I believe that the sentinel must have imagined he saw the image. You know he admitted that the boy was nervous and panickyf' It surely must have been that or else he fell asleep from sheer exhaustion and dreamed that he saw the vision. I frankly believe that a man in full possession of his hve senses would never have been visited by such an apparition, added Charles as they sepa- rated. That very night he was destined to change his opinions concerning supernatural agencies. As he sat in the lonely listening post he wondered sadly whether another comrade, Stanley Fulton, had been taken prisoner or had perished early that evening when a patrol had been annihilated in No Man's Land . It was about 2 A. M. when he began to feel strange inexplicable influences about him. The night was wonderfully clear ang. starry. A gentle breeze was blowing from the east. The air was cool and it seemed to snap and tingle. Involuntarily Charles began to strain his ears for the slightest sound. His body became tense, his muscles rigid and his mind surprisingly active. He heard a faint murmur which grew louder until gradually he distinguished the voice of his lost friend, Stanley Fulton. It occa- sioned no surprise. It was as if he expected

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THE BLUE AND GOLD Page Six ran all the way home. He opened the door and rushed upstairs to his room. Grabbing an old six-shooter, which his grandfather had used, he softly closed the door and en- tered the upper hall. Hearing footsteps be- low, he carefully picked his way along the hall and down the steps, until he was safely outside. Bob, came a cautious whisper, where are you going? I want in on this, too, and Bob's sister jane stepped up from the swing where she had been sitting when he had rushed into the house. Sure, breathed the boy, it's about Professor Gauss, but are you sure you're not afraid P Am I afraid of the Germans? No! jane cried excitedly throwing up both arms. All right, then, let's hurry. I'm mighty anxious about it, whispered Bob and they started on the run. Panting heavily, but too excited to stop for a rest, they halted just for an instant in the shadow of the old eln1 in front of the professor's house. You go around the east side of the house and if a curtain is up, look in, and I'll go around the west side. Report here by this tree and if I see anything suspicious going on, which I don't want to miss, and am not back in five minutes, hurry back for Dad and jack Bryant, ordered Bob as he disap- peared behind the shrubbery on the east side of the building. Jane went around to the back of the house, but seeing nothing sus- picious returned to the elm to wait for Bob. After she had waited for some time, she decided to return for her father and Jack. As Bob rounded the corner of the veranda, on account of the darkness, he collided with a rose vine climbing up the side of the build- ing. XNhile trying to disengage himself from the rose branches, he seemed to become more and more entangled in a small wire which was fastened in the rose vine. As he was unable to unloosen the wire from the hold it had around his right leg, he searched his pockets and finally found a small pair of pliers. Quickly cutting the wire, which flew back against the building with a slight snap, Bob hastily moved over to a large window which was open about a foot, but the cur- tain of which was drawn almost to the sill. His mind was working rapidly. I be- lieve that was the ground wire of their wire- less apparatus that I just cut. Now, I am really in for it, grinned Bob as he leaned against the wall. Bob noticed that several people were in that room. The voices of the occupants were now and then raised, so that they could be heard outside. Here's the message, Gauss, and we'll wait while you put it through, said the foreign gentleman as he handed Professor Gauss a yellow paper. Professor Gauss took the note and made his exit, with an All right, Von Ersonf' The two German spies set about enjoying themselves in his absence by partaking of wines and food from a buffet at the right side of the room. just as the gentleman held a glass to his lips, the professor burst into the room, causing Von Erson to drop the glass with a tinkling crash. Mein Gott, Von Erson, are you trying to show me up? The note cannot be sent. My wireless has been tampered with. We are found out. Gott in l-limmel, may he deliver us from the American atrocities. The Kaiser will account for us, Mimi, come with me. We will go to this inner room for protection, excitedly cried Gauss, pull- ing at Mimi Von Erson's arm. Stop! cried Von Erson. No one has tampered with your wireless. W'e suspected you were a traitor and came here tonight to expose you. Come with me now and l'll send this message. The two men left the room, but returned in a few minutes. Von Erson could not understand the situation at all. He had to concede that Gauss had not tried to spoil the Kaiser's system for obtaining news of American movements at home. I feel that perhaps we may be under suspicion now, professor, and we'll have to conduct ourselves pretty cautiously after this. You have extra room here? Then we shall try as soon as possible to set up a new outfit, if we cannot find the trouble with the old one. It's a good thing your servants are off today. VVe shall, however, make a thorough investigation of this in the morn- ing, thoughtfully remarked Von Erson. Bob saw the three men move into the inner room and quietly moved back into the shrubbery. VVhile he was listening to the faint sound of the voices inside he heard his father and Jack approaching. Here we are, Bob, Mr. Quest said in a subdued voice. Let us go out into the shadow of the old elm and hear your tale. After Bob had completed the story of his eavesdropping and the cutting of the ground wire of the wireless, his father said, We can go ahead and arrest them now, as I am the constable of this town, and have a warrant. The boys approved of immediate action, so they all crept carefully close to the shrub- bery, until they reached the window of Bob's experience. In cautious whispers the trio planned to make the attack. The curtains to the inner room were closed, so they en- tered the room through the window without being seen. They moved softly to the cur- tained entrance and arranged themselves for the surprise attack on the German spies. Bob was on the right and jack at the left

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THE BLUE AND GOLD Page Eight to hear it. The voice was calling him. Charles, it called, Charles, again more insistently. Yes, he answered, although if his life had depended on it he could not have told afterwards whether he spoke aloud or in his mind. Listen carefully, the voice said. At 4 :30 tonight there will be a surprise at Arra- court, at the point where the'Salins-Lunc- ville road crosses the French line. A feint attack will slightly precede this at Moncel. But the main attack will take place at Arra- court. The voice then grew indistinct. As Charles stood spellbound a starshell burst overhead and woke him to action. He hur- ried to report the message to the command- ing officer, who in turn reported it to his superior, also expressing some incredulity as to the value of the message. As no chances are taken in any circumstances when a warning is given preparations were made for receiving the attack. When the Huns rushed forward to the attack they were met by a terrible hail of shrapnel and bullets. -They fied in disorder leaving some 800 dead and 200 prisoners. Charles was awarded La Croix de Guerre for his timely warning and presence of mind. He declared, however, that it was through no virtue of his that he saved the line. Later he received a letter from Stanley stating that he was a prisoner at Helmholz, Bavaria, also stating that when he learned of the proposed attack and lacking other means of communication, he had half-con- sciously called out mentally across No Man's Land in his anxiety, never suspect- ing that his warning would be heard. The mental-telepathic warning was nevertheless felt and acted upon as related. I shall never again affirm disbelief in any miraculous story, such as the Poilu related, nor especially in any mental-telepathic mes- sages. I have become a believer in that wonderful fact of psychic communication, Charles said to james Surrey as they settled down to visit after the battle. THE TALE OF A SPY Rachel Hart, '18. The sick room was very hot, but john Stroebel was contented. The horrible wounds from which he had suffered and from which it was likely that he would recover, although they caused him consid- erable pain from time to time, he bore willingly. XVhy should he not? He, a young German officer, wounded in battle, had been picked up and brought to this hospital, where he knew that he would be well treated. Besides, he had a young French nurse, Jeane Paget, to care for and entertain him. Often she would read to him, other times they talked about the war. Today in that close room she told a long story of how an exploding shell had de- stroyed her home, at the same time killing her father and mother, how she had fied to Freules where she was now a nurse in a Red Cross hospital. Then her lips quivered, she could say no more. Her face showed no sign of trouble, but an iron band clamped her forehead above her burning eyes. Far away beyond that stuffy room, be- yond the din of the battle, she saw vividly a hot waste, hideous with holes and piles of destroyed homes and shapes of horror, and in the midst of it all lay, huddled up, prostrate figures with the sun bleaching their expressionless faces. Wl1at is the matter ? asked john Stroe- bel. You do not speak. When soldiers are wounded they need to be entertained. I'm sorry, monsieur, but today I feel sad. They became silent, but silence did not prevail. From far away came the booming of French seventy-fives and German how- itzers, the rattling staccato of machine guns, the intermittent cracking of infantry riiies, the deep rumbling of exploding shells. Presently Suzette came in, Ma'amselle Jeane, a British officer is downstairs, who wishes to speak to you. VVhat does he wish ? asked Jeane, wearily. He did not say. He just asked to see you. i Au revior, monsieur, said Jeane, turn- ing to Stroebel. I shall come again to- morrow. She went downstairs unconsciously grip- ping herself as if preparing to discuss mat- ters of gravest import. On the entrance of Jeane, the soldier sa- luted respectfully. Oh, gasped Jeane, it's you, Captain VVilkins. Suzette said it was some British ofiicer, but I never thought of it being you. It was good of you to come, she cried, and they shook hands instinctively, scarcely realizing that it was for the first time. But he was sensitive of the firm grip of her slender hand. VVe are going tomorrowg I come to bid you good-bye, broke in VVilkins after a pause.