66 OVER By An American Artliisir Giay Empey SoldlrlIlO WIlt Machine Gunner, Serving in France CHAPTER XXVI Continued. The presence of tho It A. M. C. men 'did not seem to disturb tho raiders, be cause many n joke made In an under- Itone, was passed along tho winding column, ns to who would be tlrst to take n ride on one of the stretchers. 'This was generally followed by a wish that. If you were to be the one, the wound would be a "cushy mighty one." The stretcher bearers, no doubt hoping that. If they did have to carry anyone to tho rear, he would be small and light. Perhaps they looked at me when wishing, because I could feel an uncomfortable, boring sensation he tween my shoulder blades. They got their wish all right. Going up this trench, about every sixty yards or so we would pass a lone jly sentry, who in a whisper would , wish us "the best o' luck, mates." Wo i would blind nt him under our breaths; that Jonah phrase to us sounded very ominous. ' Without any casualties the minstrel troop arrived nt Suicide ditch, tho : front-line trench. Previously, a wiring party of the Royal Engineers had cut a lane through our barbed wire to en :able us to get out Into No Man's Land. Crawling through this lane, our party of twenty took up an extended order formation about one yard apart We had a tap code arranged for our movements while In No Sinn's Land, because for various reasons It Is not safe to carry on a heated conversation a few yards In front of Fritz' lines. The officer was on the right of the line, while I was on the extreme left. Two taps from tho right would be .passed down the line until I received them, then I would send back one tap. The officer, In receiving this one tap, would know that his order had gone .down the whole line, had been under stood, and that the party was ready to obey the two-tap signal. Two taps 'meant that we were to crawl forward slowly and believe me, very slowly- for Ave yards, and then halt to await further Instructions. Three taps meant, when you arrived within striking dis tance of the German trench, rush It and Inflict ns many casualties as pos . sible, secure a couple of prisoners, and then back to your own lines with the speed clutch open. Four taps meant, I have gotten you into a. position from which It Is Impossible for me to extri cate you, so you are on your own." After getting Tommy into n mess on ,the western front he Is generally told , that he Is "on his own." This means, "Save your skin In any way possible." Tommy loves to be "on bis own" behind the Hues, but not during a trench raid . The star shells from the German lines were falling in front of us, there fore we were safe. After about twen ty minutes we entered the star, shell ,zone. A star shell from the German jllnes fell about five yards In the rear ;and to tie right of me; we hugged the ground and held our breath until It burned out. The smoke from tho star i shell traveled along tho ground and crossed over the middle of our line. ISome Tommy sneezed. The smoke had gotten up his nose. We crouched on the ground, cursing the offender under our breath, and wulted the v6lley that generally ensues when tho Germans have heard a noise In No Man's Land. Nothing happened. We received two taps nnd crawled forward slowly for Ave yards; no doubt the ofllcer be lieved what Old Pepper had said, "Per sonally I believe that that part of tho German trench Is unoccupied." By be ing careful and remaining motionless when tho star shells fell behind us, we reached the German barbed wlro with out mishap. Then the fun began. I was scared stiff ns It Is ticklish work cutting your wuy through wire when about thirty feet In front of you there Is a line of Bodies looking out Into No Man's Land with their rifles lying ncross the parapet, straining every sense to seo or hear what Is going on in No Man's Land; because at night, Fritz never knows when n bomb with his name and number on It will come hurtling through the air aimed In the direction of Berlin. Tho man on the right, one man In tho center and ray self on the extreme left wero equipped with wire cutters. These ure Insulated with soft rubber not becnuso tho Ger raun wires are charged with electricity, but to prevent tho cutters rubbing ngulnst the barbed wiro stakes, which are of Iron, nnd making u nolso which may warn the Inmutcs of tho trench that somcono Is getting fresh In their front yard. Thero Is only ono way to cut n bnrbed wlro without nolso mid through costly experience Tommy Jin s become nil expert In doing Mil, You jniist gruHi Hi" wlro nbout two ma Copyright tPIT, Atlhur Ouy Ktupr Inches from tho stako In your riirht hand nnd cut between the stake nnd your hand. If you cut n wlro Improperly, n loud twnng will ring out on the nlghl air llko the snapping of a banjo string. Perhnps this nolso can be heard only for fifty or seventy-llvo yards, but In Tommy's mind It makes u loud nolso In Berlin. Wo had cut n lnno about halfway through the wire when, down tho ecu ter of our line, twnng I went nn Im properly cut wire. We crouched down, cursing under our breath, trembling nil over, our knees lacerated from tho strands of tho cut barbed wlro on tho ground, waiting for n challenge nnd tho Inevitable volley of rltle lire. Noth ing happened. I suppose tho fellow who cut tho barbed wire Improperly was the one who had sneezed nbout half nn hour previously. What wo wished him would never tunke his new year a happy one. Tho otllcer, In my opinion, nt tho noise of tho wire should have given tho four-tap signal, which meant, "On your own, get back to your trenches ns quickly ns possible," but ognln he must have relied on the spiel that Old Pep per had given us In tho dugout, "Per sonally i believe that that part of tho German trench Is unoccupied." Any wny, we got careless, but not so care less that we sang pntrlotlc songs or made any unnecessary noise. During the Intervals of falling star shells we carried on with our wire cut ting until at Inst wc succeeded In get' ting through the German bnrbed wire, At this point we were only ten feet from the Germnn trenches. If we were discovered, we were llko rats In a trap, Our wny was cut off unless we ran along the wire to the narrow lane we had cut through. With our hearts In our mouths we waited for the three- tap slgnnl to rush the German trench. Three taps had gotten nbout halfway down the line when suddenly about ten to twenty German star shells were flred all along the trench nnd landed In the barbed wire In rear of us, turn ing night Into day and silhouetting us against the wall of light made by the flares. In tho glaring light we were confronted by the following unplcnsant scene. All nlong the German trench, nt about three-foot Intervals, stood a big Prussian gunrdsman with his rifle nt the aim, and then wo found out why we had not been challenged when the man sneezed nnd the bnrbed wire had been Improperly cut. About three feet In front of the trench they had con structed a single fence of bnrbed wire and we knew our chances were ono thousand to one of returning alive. We could not rush their trench on nc count of this second defense. Then in front of me the challenge, "Halt," given In English rang out, and oup of the finest things I have ever heard on the western front took place. From the middle of our line some Tommy answered the challenge with, "Aw, go to h 1." It must have been the man who had sneezed or who had Improperly out the barbed wlro; ho wanted to show Fritz that ho could die game. Then came the vol toy. Ma chine guns were turned looso and sev eral linmlin wr thrown In our roar. The Boche In front of me was looking down his sight. This fellow might have, under ordinary circumstances, been hnndsorae, but when I viewed him from the front of his rifle ho had tho goblins of childhood Imagination rele gated to the shade. Then came n flash In front of me, tho flare of his rifle and my head seemed to burst. A bullet had hit me on the left side of my faco about half un Inch from my eye smashing tho cheek bones. I put my hand to my face and fell forward, biting tho ground and kicking my feet I thought I was dy ing, but, do yon know, my past llfo did not unfold before me tho way It docs In novels. Tho blood was streaming down my tunic, and tho pain was awful. When I came to I said to myself, "Emp, old boy, you belong In Jersey City, nnd you'd better get back thero as quickly as possible." Tho bullets were cracking overhead. I crawled a fow feet back to tho Ger man barbed wlro, und In a stooping po sition, guiding myself by tho wire, I went down tho lino looking for tho lano wo had cut through. IleforoJ reaching this lano I enmo to n limn form which seemed llko a bag of oats hanging over tho wlro. In the dim light I could see that Its hands wero blackened, nnd knew It was tho body of ono of my mutes, I put my hand on his howl, tWo top of which hud been blown off by u bomb, My Angers sunk Into Iho liolo, I pulled my bund buck TOP" full of blood nnd brnlns, then I went crazy with fear and horror and rushed nlong tho wlro until I rnmo to our lane. I hnd Just turned down this lano when something Inside of mo seemed to say, "Look nrouml." 1 did so ; n bul let caught mo on the left shoulder. It did not hurt much. Just felt ns If some- ono hnd punched mo In tho back, nnd then my left side wont numb. My nrm was dangling like a rng. I fell fonvnrd In n sitting position. But nil tho fear had left mo nnd 1 was consumed with rage and cursed tho German trenches. With my right hand I felt In my tunic for my flrst-nld or shell dressing. In feeling over my tunic my bund enmo In contact with one of tho bombs which I carried. Gripping It, I pulled tho pin out with my teeth and blindly throw It townrds tho German trench. I must have boon out of my head, becnuso I wus only U n feet from the trench nnd took n chuiico of being mangled. If the bomb had failed to go Into tho trench I would hnvo been blown to bits by tho explosion of my own bomb. By tho flare of the explosion of the bomb, which lit klly landed In their trench, I saw one big Boche throw up his arms and full backwards, while his rifle, flew Into tlu nlr. Another ono wilted and fell forward across tho sandbags then blackness. Itctillzlng what a foolhardy nnd risky thing I hnd done, I was again seized with n horrible fear. I dragged myself to my feet nnd run mndly down tho lano through the barbed wire, stum' tiling over cut wires, tearing my uni form, nnd 'Incerntlng my hands nnd legs. Just as I was nbout to reach No Man's Land ngaln, that samo voice In "Blighty." seemed to sny, "Turn around." I did so, when, "crack," another bullet caught me, this tlmo In tho left shoul der about one-half Inch away from tho other wound. Then It was taps for me. Tho lights went out. When I camo to I was crouching In n holo In No Man's Land. This shell hole was about three feet deep, so that It brought my head a fow Inches below tho level of the ground. How I reached this hole I will never know. German "typewriters" wero traversing bnck and forth In No Mnn's Land, tho bul lets biting tho edge of my shell holo and throwing dirt nil over me. Overhead shrapnel was bursting. I could hear tho fragments slap tho ground. Then I went out onco more. When I came to everything was sllcnco nnd darkness In No Man's Land. I was soaked with blood and n big flnp from tho wound In my cheek was hang ing over my mouth. The blood run ning from this flap choked mo. Out of tho corner of my mouth I would try and blow It bnck, but It would not move. I reached for my shell dressing nnd tried, with ono hand, to bundage my face to provent tho flow. I hnd an nwful horror of bleeding to death and was getting very faint. You would hnvo laughed If you hod seen my ludicrous attempts at bandaging with ono hand. Tho pains In my wounded shoulder were awful nnd I was getting sick at tho stomach. I gavo up tho bandaging stunt ns a bad Job, and then fainted. When I enmo to, hell was let loose. .An Intetiso bombardment was on, nnd on mo wnoio my position was acciuuu ly impJensunt. Then, suddenly, our barrugo censed. Tho nllenoo utmost hurt, but not for long, because Fritz turned looso with shrapnel, iniichlno guns, nnd rlflo fire. Then nil along our lino camo a cheer nnd our boys emtio over llio lop In n dmrgo, Thu first wnvo wus romposcd of "Jocks, 'iliey wero n tnngntflcent sight, kilts, flapping In tho wind, bare knees showing, und their bayonets glistening. In tho first wnvo that passed my shell hole, ono (if thu "Jocks," nn Innuendo fellow, nbout six fect two Inches In height Jumped right over me. On tho right nnd tuft of inu several soldiers In colored kilts wero huddled on tho ground, then over camo tho second wnvo, nlso "Jocks." Ono young Hcottlo, when hn ' ciiinu nbrenst of my shell hole, leaped Into tho nlr, bin rlflo shooting out of his hniulsniidliig about six foot In front of him, bayonet first, and stuck In Iho ground, the butt trembling. This Im pressed mo greatly. TO I IK CONTINUED.) COMPARES MEN WITH TIRES Phlloiopher Atierta That tho Impor tant Auto Fixture It Not Unlike Some of Human Race. "Tho more I hnvo to do with nuto mobile tires," snld Philosopher Jim, "tho hotter I understand men, Thero Is no limit to tho comparisons that might bo made, but let mo nsk your at tention for Just ono of them. It turns upon tho way thoy come to mi cud, men and tires hllko. "On my little roadster I may hnvo at ono nnd the sumo tlmo two tires of such dirfcrent character ns this: "Ono has served long and well. It seems sound ns ever, mid still looks good for n lot of work. But Its healthy nppearanco Is deceptive: It bus n vnst number of well hidden decayed colls. "They began to go separately, not In masses. No ono part of that tiro woro out all by Itself. Tho wholo thing has been slowly, subtly honeycombed with wear. "Tho limit Is reached suddenly. Tho end, prepared for slowly nnd In tho dnrk, comes swiftly; and It Is a very complete end. The tiro la a goner, tho doctor can do nothing for It. "Some men end llko that; seemingly vigorous ono day; nnd tho next day, on the scrap heap. "And then thero aro tires nnd men thnt go tho other way. They soem worn nnd weakened, but thoy nro sound Inside. Tho shell goes first, tho Inner tube retains Its usefulness. You know they nro going, but they always seem good for another day's work, an other hundred miles. They will stand u lot of patching. 'Tires nro mighty human, and that's why I really jnjoy fussing with them." Why Orldes Love June. The tlrst people to adopt tho month of Juno ns sacred to Hymen, tho god of marriage, wero tho ancient Ilomnns, who considered Juno tho most propi tious season of tho year for entering upon mntrlmonlnl relations. Tho Horn ana held that Juno weddings wero like ly to bo happier than alliances con tracted In any other months of tho year, especially If tho day chosen wero that of tho full moon. They also held thnt of all months Mny was to bo avoided, as In that month newlyweds would comn under tho Influence of spirits adverse to happy households. These ancient marriage superstitions wero related by tho Christians In tho mlddlo ages, and even today Juno Is considered by many to bo pre-eminently the month of marriages. Tho word "wedding" Is derived from tho ancient Anglo-Saxon "wed" custom. Royal Needlewomen. Most of tho European queens noted In history's pages wero oxpert needle women. Mnry Queen of Scots Is snld to hnvo been particularly clover with tho neodle, Hardwlck hall being adorned with many of her tapestries. Appllquo was popular In tho mlddlo nges, not only on quilts, but on wear ing nppnrel. A peculiar court custom sprang up In the rolgn uf Charles T, thnt known as "drizzling," according to an old text This term was applied to tho ripping out of tho gold threads of wonderful Chlneso embroideries to obtain tho braid for tbolr gowns. Ono ' noblewomnn wroto thnt "all the ladles who do not play cards pick gold. It Is tho most general fashion I cvor nnw, nnd they all carry bags containing tho necessary tools." Exchange Reliable Workers. trlnHtna nt nnrvnum nml nttini Ilia . . t . I snouiu iieep um hi uiu mr uuu nun shine, get nil tho cxorclso posslhlo, nnd then go to bed "with tho chickens." This "formula" will woo sleep whon all other helps fall ; hut lato bourn -post poned rotlrlng will only add to these persons' woes. Early rising and early retiring always go hand In hand. Hence, tho business girl or woman should, If sho has her own best Inter ests nt heart, taboo lato rotlrlng. 01 h erwlso It in out of tho question to ex pect that sho can report nt her desk or In tho workroom with calm cool nerves, or feeling physically able to dlsposo of tier day's tasks whntover thoy mny bo. Remember This. Overwork Just beforo serving of nieiilH, inoro limn nuy other thing, has kept women from being recognized by men ns equal thinkers, A WW olbbinnlfig i;ppanilu heals and lights lliu room at llio snmo llmu. Cure for Hiccoughs. To stop hiccoughs, rIvo tho patient n tonnpoonful of granulated nugnr find vinegar. It this does not afford relief nt onco, repent tho done. Nltro-Starch Possibilities. Nltro starch, inuro compact than, thu allied nitrocellulose or guncottoii, soonis to promlsn great offleluncy nn u bliiHtlng explosive. One Advantage. Tho follow who tolls nil ho known linn ono good point- ho will never do nnythliig wrong If ho tolls nbout it beforo and nftttr. Farm Llfo. LISTEN TO THIS! SAYS CORNS LIFT RIGHT OUT NOW You coru-puatorod men and woman need auffor no longor. Wear tho shoes that nearly killed you before, saya tills Cincinnati authority, bocauso a fow drops of froczono applied directly on a tondor, aching com or callous stops sorenoaa at onco and noon tho corn or hardened callous loosens so It can bo lifted out, root and all, with out pain. A small bottle of froeiono coata vory llttlo at nuy drug atoro, but till positively tako off ovory hard or soft corn or callous. This should bo trlod as It la Inoxponslvo and la said not to Irrltato tho surrounding akin. If your druggist hasn't any frooiono toll him to got a email bottio for you from hla wholoaalo drug houao. It la flno atuff and nota llko a charm ovory time. AdT. Testing Pineapples. Tho rlponoss of n plnonpplo mny bo touted by pulling Its loaves. If thoy do not pluck readily tho plnonpplo In not ready to bo uaod. Look and Feel Clean, Sweet and Fresh Every Day Drink b glaas of real hot water before breakfast to waih out poisons. Llfo is not merely to live, but to Ilvo well, cat woll, digest well, work well, sloop woll, look woll. What n glorious condition to attain, and yot how vory easy It la If ono will only adopt tho morning Insldo bath. Folks who aro accustomed to fool dull and heavy when thoy arlso, split ting headache, stuffy from a cold, foul tonguo, nasty brcnlh, ncld stomach, can, lustond, fcol as fresh ns n daisy by opening tho sluices of tho syotom each morning nnd flushing out tho wholo of tho Internal poisonous stag nant mattor. Everyone, whether ailing, sick or well, should, each morning, boforo breakfast, drink n glass of rent hot water with a toaspoonful of llmostono phosphato In it, to wash from tho stomach, llvor, kidneys nnd bowols tho previous day's lndlgostlblo waste sour bllo nnd poisonous toxins. Tho action of hot wntor and llmostono phosphato on an empty stomach Is woudorfully Invigorating. It cleans out nil tho sour fcrmontatlons, gases, wnsto nnd acidity nnd gives ono a splendid nppotlto for breakfast Tho millions of pooplo who aro bothered with constipation, bilious spoils, stomach trouble, rheumatism; others who hnvo Ballow skins, blood disorders nnd sickly complexions, nro urged to got a quarter pound of llmo stono phosphnto from tho drug store, which will cost vory llttlo, but Is suf ficient to mnko nnyono n prnnouncod crank on tho subjoct of internal san itation. Concrete Telegraph Poles. Tho Now Zealand govornmont Is re placing Its woodon telegraph polos and lettor box posts with others of rein forced concroto. STOP LOSING CALVES You can Stamp Abortion Out op Youn iieud und Keep It Out By tho uso of Dr. David Robert' "ANTI-ABORTION" Small Expense, Easily Applied. Sure Knulli, Utcd ucmfully for.'IOycart. II anlinal !lmi.;il, IriforinHtluii fri-o, Html for PllJCIScouyor '"III Calllf HwtUW vrllli full Information on Aborllun In Cuwi, Dr.Otittfitorlt' M Co, CrOi0., WwtuU Wl,