Army Boys on the Firing Line | Page 9

contrary."
"I wonder if this is really the beginning of the big drive that the Huns
have been boasting about?" hazarded Billy.
"I hardly think so," replied Frank. "There's no doubt that that's coming
before long, but the fighting yesterday and today was probably to pinch
us out of the salient we're holding. That would straighten out their line
and then they'd be all ready for the big push. When that comes there
will be some doings."
"The longer they wait the harder the job will be," said Billy. "They say
that our boys are coming over so fast that they're fairly blocking the
roads."
"They can't come too many or too fast," replied Bart. "And they'll sure
be some busy bees after they get here."
"Well, we're not worrying," observed Billy. "We're getting along pretty
well, thank you. By the way, Frank," he went on with a grin, "are you
feeling any different on this ground today than you felt last night?"
"Bet your life," laughed Frank. "It's just about here that I was calling a
Heinie a jackass. And at that same minute I was thinking that my life
wasn't worth a plugged nickel."
"Wonder how the fellow made out that you left in the shell hole,"

chuckled Billy.
"Oh, he was all right," replied Frank. "I shouldn't wonder if he was
rather chilly during the night, but no doubt they hauled him out in the
morning."
"He got off lucky, though," put in Bart. "It's the sentry who got the hot
end of the poker. I wonder what he thought when he heard that
watchword."
"He didn't have much time to think," guessed Billy, "and to tell the
truth, I don't think he's done much thinking since. That revolver must
have hit him a fearful crack."
"It's safe to say that it gave him a headache anyway," remarked Bart
drily.
"Speaking of the revolver," said Frank, rising to his feet, "I'm going to
take a look for it. It was just over near that tree that I plugged the sentry
and it's probably there yet."
He searched industriously among the welter of debris and after a few
minutes arose with a shout.
"Here's it is," he said, as he held up his recovered treasure, which had
his initials scratched upon the butt. "Same old trusty and as good as
ever. It's saved my life many a time through the muzzle, but last night
was the first time it saved it through the butt."
He fondled the weapon lovingly for a moment, carefully cleaned and
reloaded it, and thrust it in his belt.
Just then a French colonel passed by, accompanied by two orderlies.
The French had been holding a section of the line at the right of the
Americans and their uniform was a familiar sight, so that the boys only
gave the group a passing glance. But Frank's eyes lighted with pleasure
when the colonel detached himself from the others and came over with
extended hand.

Frank wrung the hand heartily.
"Why, Colonel Pavet!" he exclaimed. "This is a great pleasure! I didn't
know that you were in this locality."
"My regiment is only two miles from here," replied the colonel, his
face beaming. "I need not say how glad I always am to see the brave
young soldier who saved my life."
"What I did any one else would have done," responded Frank lightly.
"But no one else did," laughed the colonel. "And from what I hear from
your commander you've been doing similar things ever since. I just
heard of your daring escape last night. It was gallantly done, mon ami."
"Luck was with me," replied Frank.
"It usually is in such exploits," was the visitor's reply. "You know the
old saying that 'fortune favors the brave.' But I'll spare your blushes and
come down to something that will probably interest you more. Did you
get that letter from Andre, my brother, about your mother's property?"
"Why, no, I didn't," answered Frank. "When was it written?"
"That's strange," said the colonel, a puzzled look coming over his face.
"I received a letter from Andre day before yesterday and he said that he
had written to you by the same mail."
"Well, you know the mail is rather irregular just now," replied Frank.
"No doubt it will get to me before long. Perhaps your brother told you
something of what was in the letter he wrote to me."
"Not in detail. He just mentioned that he was very anxious to get hold
of a former butler in your grandfather's family who is now in the ranks.
They had his testimony in part before he was called into service, but he
had not been cross-examined. Andre seems to feel sure that he can
extract information from him that