Part 31 (2/2)

”What! Don't you know me?” exclaimed Hal.

The other peered at him intently. Then he uttered an exclamation of pure astonishment.

”Hal Paine!” he cried. ”Is it really you? And what are you doing in that uniform?”

”I might ask you, major, what you are doing out of uniform?” laughed Hal, as he grasped his old friend's hand.

”Well, I'm here on business,” explained the major.

”And I'm here trying to get out of the German lines,” said Hal.

”And where is Chester?” asked the major.

”He's upstairs, waiting for me to bring up a candle that he may have light,” said Hal. ”By George! It's good to see you again. Let me see, it has been almost two years since I last saw you in France.”

”Yes, it's been all of that,” agreed the major.

”And what of our old friend Anderson? Do you know what has happened to him?”

”No,” said Hal, ”the last indirect word I had of him he had been sent to Mesopotamia. I have not seen him for many months. But, tell me, what are you doing here?”

”It isn't a very long story,” said Major Derevaux. ”As you perhaps know, General Byng's drive against the Germans has been one of the greatest successes since the Battle of the Marne.”

Hal nodded.

”Well,” the major continued, ”I have been stationed with General Pitain at Verdun, where I last saw you. Now we know that the Germans have drawn heavily from other fronts to make possible the Italian invasion.

Other fronts now will have to be weakened to hold back General Byng--even to launch a counter-offensive, for we all know that Hindenburg will strike back. That leaves the Verdun situation somewhat in the air.”

”I see,” said Hal. ”If you can make sure that the Verdun front of the enemy has been weakened, the French will strike there.”

”Exactly,” said the major. ”Then there is another possibility. It may be the plan of the German general staff to make a show of force here and then, when we are feeling secure before Verdun, to deliver a lightning-like blow there. Those are the things I am commissioned to learn.”

”I see,” said Hal again. ”But how does it happen I find you here?”

”It's very simple. This woman here is a distant relative of mine. She is a patriot to the soul. Under the gruff exterior which you have seen she is the most kindly soul in the world. She is risking her life every minute she remains here, for she is accounted one of the most successful of French spies.”

”Great Scott!” exclaimed Hal. ”You don't mean it. Why, her very actions toward us, if used toward other Germans, it strikes me, would mean a firing squad for her.”

”That,” laughed Major Derevaux, ”has been her greatest a.s.set. The Germans are not particularly fond of her, that's a fact. She attacks them with a sharp tongue, but for that very reason she is looked upon as harmless. Come, I'll introduce you.”

Major Derevaux led the way across the room to where the woman had been eyeing the two in the utmost astonishment.

”Lieutenant Paine,” said the Major, ”I take pleasure in presenting you to Mademoiselle Vaubaun. Mademoiselle, this is Lieutenant Paine, of His British Majesty's service.”

”I must correct you, major,” said Hal, smiling and acknowledging the introduction. ”Lieutenant Paine, U.S.A.”

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