Part 27 (2/2)

”I shouldn't wonder if he did not know something,” said Tom, ”for he seemed to have something on his mind. He told me one time that his imprisonment and sickness happened as a judgment on him.”

”If we could only have had his testimony before he died,” mourned Frank.

”I got it,” declared Tom triumphantly.

CHAPTER XXIII

CUTTING THEIR WAY OUT

Frank sprang to his feet.

”What do you mean?” he cried.

”Just this,” replied Tom, taking the confession from his pocket. ”He told me the whole story and there it is in black and white, names of witnesses and all.”

Frank read the confession with growing excitement, while his comrades cl.u.s.tered closely around him.

”Tom, old scout!” Frank exclaimed, as the whole significance of the confession dawned upon him, ”you've done me a service that I'll never forget. Now we can see our way clear, and my mother will come into her rights.”

”I'm mighty glad, old boy,” replied Tom with a happy smile. ”I've held on to that paper through thick and thin, because I knew what it would mean to you and your mother. But now,” he went on, ”I've been answering the questions of all this bunch and turn about is fair play.

Tell me how our boys are doing. How is the big drive going on? Have we stopped the Germans yet?”

”They're slowing up,” said Bart.

”We're whipping them,” declared Billy.

”I wouldn't quite say that,” objected Frank. ”We haven't whipped them yet except in spots. Of course we're going to lick them. The whole world knows that now except the Germans themselves, and I shouldn't wonder if they were beginning to believe it in their hearts. But they'll stand a whole lot of beating yet, and we don't want to kid ourselves that it's going to be an easy job. But we're holding them back, and pretty soon we'll be driving them back.”

”I'll bet the old Thirty-seventh has been doing its full share,” said Tom proudly.

”You bet it has,” crowed Billy. ”Tom, old man, you've missed some lovely fighting.”

”You fellows have had all the luck,” refilled Tom wistfully.

”Don't grouch, Tom,” laughed Frank. ”There's plenty of it yet to come.

And I'll bet you'll fight harder than ever now, when you think of all you've been through. You've got a personal score to settle with the Huns now, as well as to get in licks for Uncle Sam.”

”You're right there,” replied Tom, as his eyes blazed. ”I can't wait to get at them. My fingers fairly itch to get hold of a rifle.”

”But you ought to have a little rest and get your strength back before you get in the ranks again,” suggested Bart.

”None of that rest stuff for me,” declared Tom. ”When you boys get in I'm going to be right alongside of you.”

His wish was not to be gratified that day, however, for there was a lull in the fighting just then while the hostile armies manoeuvred for position. But the pause was only temporary, and the next day the storm broke in all its fury.

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