Part 2 (2/2)
”Oh, no, it's not. It's just a plain case--”
”I tell you it is my business. It's the business of the New York _Gazette_. The people in the United States want to know what is going on over here.”
”I'm afraid General Petain wouldn't agree with you, Stubbs,” interposed Hal. ”He doesn't care what the people in the United States want. All he cares about right now is to lick the Germans.”
”Well, maybe you're right,” Stubbs admitted, ”but just the same--I want you fellows to know that hunting news is not snooping.”
”Stubbs,” said Chester, ”I've got to give you credit. In my opinion you're a first cla.s.s snooper.”
”What?” exclaimed the little man, fairly dancing with rage. ”Snooper? Me a snooper? What do you mean?”
”Of course you are,” replied Chester; ”and a good one. Why, I can remember once or twice that if you hadn't been a good snooper Hal and I wouldn't be here now. Remember?”
”Well, yes,” said Stubbs, somewhat mollified, ”but I don't know whether that's what you meant or not.”
”Why, Stubbs,” said Chester, ”what else could I have meant?”
Stubbs looked at Chester coldly; then turned and walked to the far end of the tent.
”Now see what you've done, Chester,” said Hal, in a whisper meant for Stubbs to overhear. ”You've made him mad.”
Stubbs whirled about angrily.
”You bet you've made me mad,” he declared. ”You can bet, too, that I won't ever do any more snooping on behalf of either of you. The next time you get in trouble you'll have to depend on someone besides Anthony Stubbs to get you out of it.”
”See,” said Hal. ”I told you not to do it, Chester. He's liable to let us both get killed. He--”
Stubbs could stand no more. He turned on his heel and made his way from the tent. But even as he would have moved away he became involved in more trouble.
With head down and not looking where he was going, he collided with another figure and was pushed violently backwards. Stubbs looked up angrily and was about to say something when he glanced at the other. It was General Petain. The latter spoke before Stubbs could apologize.
”What's the matter with you?” he demanded. ”Can't you see where you're going? What were you doing in my tent, anyhow? Who are you? What's your business here?”
The questions, came so fast that Stubbs was confused.
”I--why--I--” he stuttered.
”Come inside here,” said the general.
He stretched forth a hand, seized Stubbs by the collar and pushed him in the tent. Stubbs, caught off his balance, went stumbling and almost fell into Hal's arms. General Petain entered the tent immediately behind him.
When his eyes fell upon Hal and Chester he gave a start of surprise.
Evidently he had forgotten all about them. Then he remembered.
”So you're still here?” he said. ”I had forgotten all about you.”
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