Part 27 (1/2)
Stubbs snapped his fingers at them.
”You can do what you please when you get free,” he declared. ”But I'm going to make it a point to see that you don't get free on this side of the English Channel. Now, good-night.”
The little man turned, ordered his men out ahead of him and disappeared from the tent.
For some moments Hal and Chester lay silent without a word. Then Hal said:
”Chester, if you can tell me what's at the bottom of all this, I'll give you a million dollars.”
”If you had the million, Hal, you'd lose.”
”You don't mean to tell me--”
”Of course I know. I thought you did by this time. There are two things at the bottom of this and they are--two little black peas!”
”Well, by Jove!” said Hal, ”and to think I didn't get that through my head sooner. Then you think these peas--”
”Yes; there is some kind of a conspiracy brewing and Stubbs thinks we have a hand in it. Whatever it is, he's against it. You remember how he shut up in the middle of his tale that night when he first saw the peas in our possession?”
”By Jove! That's so!”
”Sure; but have you any idea what the conspiracy may be?”
”Not the slightest; but if we can get out of here we'll have a look. We know one of the band, I think.”
”You mean?”
”Jules Clemenceau. I don't suppose he ever missed the two peas. He probably had more. At the first opportunity we'll display our peas where he can see them and then maybe he will say something that will tip us off where to look next.”
”Not a bad idea; but he seems to be so young to be mixed up in such a thing.”
”He's no younger than we are; and we've been mixed up in a whole lot of things.”
”That's so, too. I would like to know, though, what this plot is. I don't believe it has anything to do with treachery.”
”Depends upon what you mean by treachery. I suppose you mean nothing that will aid the Germans to defeat us?”
”Exactly; then, too, don't you remember, when Stubbs was telling us about the conspiracy, that he said he had reason to believe there were plotters in the German ranks as well as the British and French?”
”He didn't say it just that way, I think, but I remember what you mean.
By Jove! I wonder what it can all be about?”
”Well, it's too deep for me; and unless something happens, I am half afraid Stubbs may be as good as his word and have us sent back to New York.”
”By George! We can't stand for that.”
”I should say not. See if you can wiggle your hands loose.”