Part 20 (2/2)

”Go!” said the General, and in a moment the boy who had caused such bitter trouble and sovictim were on their way to the Anderson quarters at Aviation Field The General fussed for a moment, then went outside to the fateful telephone and called Major Anderson

The others could hear what he said

”Anderson,” he co

You have a hard and trying interview before you I want you to meet it with _mercy_, Anderson; _mercy_ rather than justice Justice has already been done I could recall so in your past, Anderson, that met with mercy, and which saved your whole career I ask you to remember this What? No, I won't explain--the explanation will reach you shortly--You will do as I suggest? Thank you, Anderson Tell your hat I have said Good- up the receiver and returned to the house A round wicker table stood in the center of the living-room near Ernest's couch A snowy cloth covered it, and it was spread with thethe General's assurances that he had eaten hours ago he sat down, unable to withstand the delicious whiffs rising fro in the electric toaster

Grapefruit and eggs and commissary bacon (which is by all odds the best on earth) and that sae ined the ti breakfast with a real General, was nevertheless so hungry and so happy that he forgot rank and everything else The General did too, it seemed, because he sat and sipped, and ate, and ate, and questioned the boys and finally wanted the story of the flight fro it tail-end first in little pieces

Bill told his side of the flight, and Ernest told his, and together they told about the landing in the far-headed” and trustworthy one

And then the General and Major sh there were no dispatches for the General to read and no classes waiting for the Major--in fact, as though there was no military discipline at all But as the General said, as the use of being a General, anyway, if it didn't give you soled away, happy and quite full up with delicious coffee and things, and thinking Major Sher anyhow to have that little wife and fine boy Before he left he gave an order for a guard for the airplane standing so calmly in the small field

Close on his departure came the ambulance, and Major Sherman went off with Ernest to the Hospital for an X-ray of his broken arether they hustled the dishes into the kitchen and cleared up the living-room Then Mrs Sherman sat down in her favorite corner on the couch and Bill threw himself beside her with his tousled head in her lap

”Goodness, Billy, you certainly _have_ grown!” she said ”Your legs trail way off the end, and when you went to school you didn't reach to the edge”

”Oh, corown about an inch”

”More than that,” insisted Mrs Sherman ”You are taller than I a you around now that you are so big”

”You never _did_ boss me,” boasted Bill ”You just twisted er”

”I won't be slandered!” said Mrs Sher his hair ”You are tired now and I should think you would like a nice hot bath and a good long sleep”

”That does sound good, Mummy We will have to stay here for awhile, you know, because of the quarantine But ill get rested up in, a few hours”

”Yes, you _et rested,” said Mrs Sherht, I want you to take me for a ride in that nice, lovely airplane”

Bill sat up ”_What!_” he cried ”You--fly!”

Mrs Sher ”Yes, _me_--fly!” she mimicked ”Bill, I am converted!”

THE END