Part 37 (1/2)
”It seems awfully uncertain.”
”It is uncertain. Even if she got the cable she might not be able to send a reply. Everything is uncertain about it. At the same time if we _could_ get an answer it would be a comfort to Fraulein even if the message said he had died.”
”I believe that's so. It's not knowing that's hardest to bear.”
”Don't you think Mademoiselle would have sent word to Fraulein if he had died?”
”I don't believe she knew they were engaged. No one knew until after the war had been going on for several weeks. If ever she wrote to any one in Rosemont she might mention having seen him, but I don't believe it would occur to her to send any special word to Fraulein.”
”She might be put under suspicion if she addressed a letter to any one with a German name even if she lived in the United States.”
”No one but Ethel Blue has had a letter from Mademoiselle since, she left,” said Helen. ”We should have heard of it, I'm sure.”
”Well, what do you say to the plan? Can't we send a cable signed by the 'Secretary of the United Service Club'?”
”I think it would be a good use to put the Club money to,” approved James, the treasurer.
”If you say so I'll send it when I get back to New York this afternoon.
How shall we word it?”
”Mademoiselle Justine Millerand, Care Monsieur Millerand, Minister of War, Bordeaux, France,” said Roger, slowly.
”Cut out 'Mademoiselle' and 'Monsieur,'” suggested Margaret. ”We must remember that our remarks cost about a quarter a word in times of peace and war prices may be higher.”
”Cut out 'of War,'” said Ethel Brown.
”There's only one 'Bordeaux,'” added Margaret.
”A dollar and a quarter saved already,” said James thoughtfully. ”Now let's have the message.”
”What's the matter with Tom's original suggestion--'Is Schuler dead'?”
asked Ethel Blue. ”I suppose we must leave out the 'Mr.' if we are going to be economical.”
”Sign it 'Morton, Secretary United Service Club, Rosemont.' I'll file Ethel Blue's address--at the cable office so the answer will be sent to her if one comes.”
Ethel Blue looked somewhat agitated at the prospect of receiving a cable almost from the battlefield, but she said nothing.
”The United Service Club was the last group of people she saw in America, you see,” Tom went on, ”so Edward thinks she'll know at once whom the message comes from and she'll guess that the high school scholars want to know about their former teacher.”
”I have a feeling in my bones that she'll get the message and that she'll answer,” said Ethel Blue.
”If she doesn't get it we shan't have done any harm,” mused Ethel Brown, ”and if she does get it and answers then we shall have done a lot of good by getting the information for Fraulein.”
”We needn't tell anybody about it outside of our families and then there won't be any expectations to be disappointed.”
”It certainly would be best not to tell Fraulein.”
”That's settled, then,” said Tom, ”and I'll send the message the moment I reach town this afternoon.”