A PERPLEXING QUESTION
“Why, nothing,” stammered Billy, a trifle embarrassed. “I didn’t know
that you had ever been in Germany.”
“Didn’t mother tell you?” asked Helen. “We lived in Coblenz for years.”
Here Mrs. Edsall intervened.
“I didn’t mention it,” she said quietly, “because it is a matter of
no importance. Yes, we did live in Germany for some years before the
war broke out. My father had come over from America to take charge of
a branch importing house at Coblenz. My husband had died, and we came
with my father. When the war started, or rather when we saw that it was
about to begin, we left Germany and came here, where we have lived ever
since.”
She changed the subject then and the conversation went on, but it was
now constrained and formal. From time to time the boys shot a glance at
each other that was full of interrogation. And as soon as the meal was
finished, they excused themselves and went to Frank’s room where they
were soon in earnest conversation.
“What do you think of it?” asked Tom in much perplexity.
“I don’t know what to think,” confessed Frank. “It may be all right and
it may be all wrong. But one thing’s certain, and that is that we’ve
got to be on our guard. Those infernal Germans have spies everywhere
and we may be in a nest of them. We want to keep as mum as oysters
about all military affairs.”
“It doesn’t seem as though a nice girl like that Helen could be a spy,”
said Billy regretfully.
“Nor Alice,” put in Tom.
“Maybe they’re not,” admitted Frank. “In fact, I’m pretty sure they’re
not, or Helen wouldn’t have made that break about living in Coblenz.
It’s the last thing they’d have wanted us to know. But I’m not so sure
of the mother. I caught her sending a warning to Helen with her eyes,
but it was too late.”
“That may have been simply because she knew that it might make us
suspicious and she wanted to avoid that,” defended Tom. “That would be
natural enough for anyone to do. But it doesn’t say that there is any
ground for the suspicion.”
“What do you think of the old man?” asked Frank thoughtfully.
“Oh, he’s just crazy,” said Tom carelessly. “He’s touched in the upper
story.”
“That might be just camouflage though, to make us think that we could
talk freely without paying any attention to him,” objected Frank. “He
may be as crazy as a fox.”
“I don’t think so,” said Billy. “He’s pretty old and his mind is
failing. I heard him half a dozen times muttering something about ‘the
cellar, the cellar.’ It got on my nerves after a while.”
“Well, don’t let’s trouble trouble till trouble troubles us,” counseled
Frank. “There may be nothing in it at all. I wouldn’t hang a yellow dog
on all the evidence we’ve got. In the meantime, that bed looks inviting
and I’m going to tumble in early.”
“I’m with you there,” said Tom. “It’s so long since I’ve slept between
sheets that I’m anxious to see how it feels.”
It was indeed a delightful contrast to their experiences for months
past, and they slept soundly until they were called to breakfast the
next morning.
“What are we going to do with our leave today?” asked Frank, as they
were hurriedly dressing.
“Just loaf and invite our souls,” replied Tom, as he put down his
military brushes and took a last look in the glass, with the fair Alice
in mind.
“Luxemburg’s a tidy little city,” put in Billy, “and there ought to be
lots to see. Wouldn’t do, I suppose, to take the girls along.”
“Not on your young life,” said Frank emphatically. “You’d get in the
guardhouse so soon it would make your head swim. What’s the matter with
you fellows, anyway? You’ve both been primping up like a couple of
dudes. Are you so badly smitten?”
“Not at all,” denied Tom stoutly, though a deeper flush on his bronzed
face might have given rise to doubt.
“They’re certainly nice girls though,” said Billy, feebly, “especially
Helen.”
“She hasn’t anything on Alice,” remarked Tom.
“Lucky you haven’t picked out the same one,” laughed Frank, “or I’d
have my hands full in keeping the peace. Come along now if you’re
ready.”
At the breakfast table they received the same pleasant greeting as
on the night before, but there was a certain lack of freedom in the
conversation that all felt. The little element of suspicion that had
been aroused by Helen’s remark still persisted. The boys kept a guard
on their lips as regarded all military matters, and as just at that
time there was little to talk about except the war, the remarks made
were few and far between and they felt relieved when the meal was
finished. Perhaps Billy and Tom were exceptions, for although they did
not say much with their lips, their eyes were eloquent in the glances
they stole at the girls.
It was necessary for the Army Boys to report at the quarters of the
regiment, but after that formality was through with they had no
difficulty in getting leave and started off in high feather to enjoy
their unaccustomed freedom.
There was a host of places that well repaid their visit, museums,
picture galleries, the quaint old world buildings, the great cathedral,
and others equally noteworthy. It was such a relief to be among scenes
of peace after the horrors and bloodshed of so many months that they
enjoyed it doubly. They took their dinner at a hotel, where though the
prices were high the food was surprisingly good, and toward evening
returned to the home where they had been billeted.
As they neared the house, they saw a man loitering near it who seemed
to have no special business in the vicinity, but kept sauntering to and
fro smoking a cigar. As he saw them coming, he hesitated a moment as
though half inclined to turn and go in the other direction, but seemed
to think better of it, giving them a quick, sharp look as he passed
them.
He was in civilian dress and at first they thought he was a native of
the place, but his face showed that he was unmistakably an Englishman
or an American, they were not sure which.
“Wonder what that fellow is hanging around here for?” Tom remarked, as
they went up the steps of the house.
“Oh the streets are free--that is to every one but a German, and that
chap isn’t that,” remarked Billy.
“Perhaps it’s some lovelorn suitor of one of the girls,” suggested
Frank mischievously.
“I don’t like his face,” said Tom sourly.
“He has a villainous look,” added Billy.
“Jealous already, eh?” laughed Frank. “I surely got your goat that
time. He looks all right to me. I’d better get you fellows into the
house before there’s murder done.”