Part 19 (1/2)

As Josh afterwards ree”; that is, he hastened to ”square hi curiously, perhaps a bit suspiciously, toward hi that it was these brave young es to the enelibly, ”and I hasten to offer theh me they have been put to such needless trouble

I hereby withdraw et it has ever been made, Monsieur le Colonel”

This was said in French, which Rod alone of the three boys could fully understand, but Josh guessed the tenor of the re his words, Hanky, don't you see?” he observed behind his hand to his other chuet in out of the rain when the deluge comes Jules has wasted some more hard cash, seems like”

Now Rod understood that he could make it pretty hard for the Secret Service man of the French Government if he chose to tell what he knew about Jules, and the profit that would accrue to the sche that paper on tiood policy, however, to er thethely Rod only shot hiestive look that doubtless the other could easily analyze It meant that the boys were not disposed to be vindictive--that in fact they were ready to take it for granted he did not know the true condition of affairs when he entered into his agree to let the ratitude and appreciation for this kindly and generous spirit; the future would show that, Rod thought

As the colonel had been so much interested in their story, Rod considered it only fair that he relate a few ladly showed hieon at the field hospital, telling how the A him take care of the numerous cases he had been compelled to handle with such inadequate facilities at his command Yes, there were still other doculance over, after which he sly remarked:

”I suppose now, M le Colonel, there will be no necessity for taking us out before a file of your soldiers and blindfolding our eyes while they perform their melancholy duty?”

The officer for answer threw his arave hi him on both cheeks

”If I had a son,” he said fervently, ”which, alas! Heaven has not allowed me to retain in this world, I should be proud indeed were he built in your io back to your splendid country tell theo, that France sees her duty by the world, and will not flinch, no matter what the cost When this war is over there will never be a despotic ain The victory on the Marne has settled all that, though it nize the fiat”

The three boys parted from the worthy colonel with mutual expressions of esteem They would often recall his fineface and its white imperial, trimmed after the style of the later Napoleon

Even Hanky Panky could laugh now, once they were on the road again

”That agent of the Govern Albertas near to for a bunch as was safe for motorcyclists

”Yes, and I reckon he felt pretty cheap when he had to own up about leto send signals to the eneame, wasn't it?”

”No question about it,” he was told by the other, Rod being in the van, as usual, ”but it was another experience for us, you know And besides, I ed to pick up a little inforard to the regierly, for to tell the honest truth he was hoping that the end of the trail was near at hand, when they could follow their other chums across the sea to their far-distant homes

”Yes,” said Rod over his shoulder, ”it's ahead of us, and we ought to reach it some time to-day; but the chances are we'll find it neck deep in action, because it for of the Geriment survives the battle it may be Andre”

CHAPTER XXI

THE HAUNTED WELL

The boys did not atte the road Many reasons united to make conversation a weariness to the flesh when carried on under the prevailing conditions

In the first place they had to keep a certain distance apart, which would in itself necessitate shouting Then the ru steadily heavier the further they advanced, deadening most other sounds pretty aps in the road, springing up most unexpectedly, where enemy shells had struck in the endeavor to destroy asFrench troops as possible

Both arh which Rod and his friends weretheir tedious way It can well be understood that the ress abounded on all sides

Even where no particular action had occurred a thousand reminders of the huh were to be discovered on every side Often Hanky Panky's heart seemed to feel a chill hand rest upon it as he marked the inevitable evidences of ”es were burned or ruined in soardens tras torn down tohosts--in fact the land looked as though a hurricanescars that it would take a long time indeed to heal