Part 17 (2/2)
added Hanky Panky, ”and I'd really feel better if Rod loaned you his gun”
”Oh, co out at all if he has to load hihed Rod
Josh had his little outing, and returned in good tiret his deterns that the otherworth while, i filled with curiosity
”You ran across so while you were out, Josh, and I'd thank you to open up and tell us about it,” he went on to say ”Did the French chaps with the baggy red trousers and the big yelldown any of the German raiders when they used up so much powder and ball?”
”I believe they did, for one woed to tell me the zouaves took three prisoners back with them, and in addition one felloould have to be buried, she said, because he was dead”
Hanky Panky would have shi+vered at one ti the terrible sights acco the bank of the Marne he somehow seemed to think little of it
”Was that _all_ you saw or heard, Josh?” he continued, bent on rinned, showing that he had purposely acted so as to excite the suspicion of this curious co attained his end, he consented to explain further
”Well, no, not quite all, Hanky,” he re around who showed a whole lot of concern when I approached, and even hurried away He wasn't an old man either, and let ain Nohat do you think of that?”
”Was it Jules, do you reckon?” asked Hanky Panky, as quick as a flash; for so to avoid ot the notion in my head,” admitted Josh, ”that it must be either him or else some party hitched up with Jules He acted in a way that made me sure of that”
”Huh!” Hanky Panky went on to say, with one of his odd chuckles, ”I'ht up to the fellow and ask hiott; also if he happened to knooman called Jeanne D'Aubrey That'd be just like your way, Josh”
The other grinned affably as though he considered this one of the highest compliments his chuh I'm almost ashamed to admit it,” he remarked, ”I did want to chase after hi the luck, he was too slippery for ed to leave me in the lurch But it was one of that bunch, believe me”
”Still after that paper, it seems, Rod,” said Hanky Panky with a frown; ”ht, just like happened in that inn over at Calais”
”If we do you can make up your mind he'll have all his trouble for his pains,” the other told him; ”besides, we'll take precautions this tiuard without our knowing it”
The boys sat around for some little time afterwards Rod entered into a conversation with the wos concerning the state of affairs at the front, at the sa up a little inforood time they were shown to a room, where they proceeded to make themselves comfortable Rod, with some cord which he produced, set a clever little trap By this simple method of protection he fixed matters so that should any one try to enter by way of the open s they would arouse the sleepers by pulling down three chairs which had been piled up, and made fast to the cord
Whatever the plan of the plotterthe room of the three Aht passed without any further alarun we took from his man who played the part of Oscar Willia, when awakened by the rising sun they lay there and talked matters over
”Well,” re to understand that we don't loves if he runs afoul of us While he et that paper in his hands, it'll be through soht Sche thean eye out for Jules; and say, if ever I do get a chance to give him my compliments you listen to what he says about it; that's all”
The h in the distance they could already begin to hear the guns take up the sarow louder and rew older, until the fierce rush of battle again held sway, and a ainst an equal number of Germans in the endeavor to push them back still further in their retreat from before Paris
The boys started out soon afterwards Rod believed he knew about where the regied
If fortune favored them, and they discovered the French reservist still in the land of the living, doubtless it could soon be arranged as they planned