Part 5 (2/2)
”A story?” repeated Chester.
”Yes. A 'story' is a newspaper man's way of expressing something big.”
”Something to do with the battle?” asked Hal.
”It may have and it may not,” declared Stubbs. ”It may have something to do with the whole war--and it may not. I don't know.”
”What is it, Stubbs?” asked Chester.
Stubbs winked one eye at him.
”As I happened to stumble across this while I was snooping,” he said, ”and as you don't think much of snooping, I am going to keep this to myself.”
”Come, Mr. Stubbs,” said Chester, ”you know I was just fooling.”
”Well, I may be just fooling now, for all you know,” said Stubbs.
In vain did the lads plead to know what he was talking about. Stubbs was obdurate and took his departure, announcing that he was going to do some more ”snooping,” without enlightening them.
Hardly had he gone when the lads received a caller. It was none other than the young French boy whom Hal had rescued from the hands of his tormentors the night before.
”They told me you came to my aid,” he said to Hal, ”so I have come to thank you.”
”Who are they?” asked Hal.
”Some of the men. It was true that I was ill last night. Jules Clemenceau will not forget.”
The young French boy had stood with one hand in his pocket, and now withdrew the hand and extended it to Hal. As he did so, two small objects fell from his pocket. Apparently Jules did not notice them. Hal shook hands with the boy and the Frenchman took his departure.
Chester, in the meantime, had picked up the two little objects and now he called to Jules, but the young Frenchman did not hear him.
”Oh, I guess he doesn't want these things, anyhow,” the lad muttered.
”What things?” asked Hal, who had not seen the objects drop from Jules' pocket.
Chester pa.s.sed one of the objects to him.
”Know what it is?” he asked.
”Sure,” returned Hal, ”don't you?”
”No. What is it?”
”A pea.”
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