“That surely was a good joke, Mrs. Gray,” observed the general, regarding her quizzically.
J. Elfreda Briggs had forgotten her own troubles in her delight at the trend of the conversation.
“Let us have the rest of the story. You will pardon us for reminiscing, Mrs. Smythe,” begged the general, observing the angry look on the face of the supervisor. “Listen, Captain. The worst is yet to come. I know Mrs. Gray.”
“There is not much more to relate,” continued Grace smilingly. “I had been driving in a way that did not please my supervisor and she was thoroughly angry with me on that account, and not wholly without reason, for I was going too fast for the crowded condition of the road. Well, the result of all this was that she made complaint against me and I was called before an officer for a hearing.”
“Eh? What’s that?” demanded the general.
“Yes, sir. I was accused of reckless driving and with intent to drown my superior officer.”
“The woman accused you of that?”
“Yes, sir.”
The two officers laughed heartily.
“Ridiculous!” exclaimed the general. “Was the woman suffering from shell shock or was it a chronic condition with her?”
“I’m sure I don’t know, sir,” answered Grace meekly. “As I have already said, I was called before a captain, who among other things questioned me sharply about the decorations I wore, the intimation being that I had no right to them. Of course I do not know who suggested the thought to him. I declined to discuss the matter, taking the liberty of saying to him that General Gordon was familiar with the circumstances of at least one of my decorations.”
“I should say so. Who was the officer?”
“Captain Rowland of the Forty-Ninth, sir.”
“Ah! Please proceed.”
“The captain was of the opinion that I should be punished and was for dismissing me from the army and sending me back to Paris, until I took the liberty of pointing out to him that he had no authority to do so, that he could make recommendations, but had not the power to enforce in this instance.”
“You were right. What were his recommendations?”
“That I be dismissed and sent back to my organization.”
“Thank you. I am glad you told me the story. It is most interesting, I assure you. Mrs. Gray, it was on my urgent recommendation that you were directed to join this march and go with us to the Rhine. Having done so I shall make it my business to see to it that a crazy woman and a misinformed officer do not interfere with my plans. I will discuss this matter with you further later on. Captain, do you mind ordering some men to place this car back in the road?”
CHAPTER V
GRACE WINS AND IS SORRY
THE general saluted and stepped away, and in a moment or so a squad of soldiers ran to the car.
“All hands out, please,” called Grace. “No need to have them lift us with the car.”
Up to this time J. Elfreda had not dared permit herself to catch Grace’s eye, knowing very well that were she to do so she would laugh. Perhaps “Captain” Grace was of the same opinion regarding her own emotions, so she avoided Elfreda’s eyes. The men quickly boosted the car back into the road.
“Take the wheel and make a fresh start, Elfreda,” directed Grace, after thanking the doughboys.
“I beg most respectfully to be excused. Mrs. Smythe, I ask to be relieved from driving. An empty road and a wide one is the only safe place for me to experiment. May I turn the wheel over to Mrs. Gray?”
The supervisor half nodded. She was dazed, at least she appeared to be so, and had not a word to say. At least two of her companions in the car found themselves wondering what her thoughts were at that moment. After a little Elfreda ventured to speak.
“How wide and expansive the morning is,” she observed.
“Very,” agreed Grace. “I don’t know what you are talking about, but I agree with you.”
A great silence hovered over the army automobile, so far as the rear seat was concerned, though eventually Grace and Elfreda fell to discussing army matters of a general nature. At noon they halted for mess, then proceeded on at slow speed, for they were close up to the engineers, who were following the advance column to examine roads for mines and repair them where necessary.
Thus far not a gun had been fired, though at any moment a blast was looked for by every one in the Third Army. Airplanes were constantly buzzing overhead, observation balloons were continuously on watch in the skies, and every precaution was being taken to guard against a surprise. That night their bedroom again was in a cellar, and once more Won Lue brought them fagots and water.
They had left Mrs. Chadsey Smythe at the cellar that had been assigned to her. Miss Cahill arrived at about the same time on an army truck and shared the cellar with Madame, Miss O’Leary and the maid, Marie Debussy.
“Grace Harlowe, I take off my hat to you,” Elfreda exclaimed, throwing off her cap and blouse. “Chad got her deserts that time, but, woman, look out for her. Revenge is as sweet to her as it is to you.”
“Revenge is not sweet to me,” objected Grace. “I am so sorry that I turned the tables on her as I did, but it was an opportunity that I could not miss. At least it served one useful purpose; Madame did not speak to me all the rest of the day. What a heavenly relief. Do you suppose the general knew who she was?”
“He may have known who she was, but I do not believe he understood that she was the woman to whom you referred. I hope the general doesn’t find out that he was abusing the woman to her face,” Elfreda chuckled.
“He will learn it the first time I see him. I feel that I did an inexcusable thing in drawing him into the muss as I did. I am always doing the wrong thing at the wrong time.”
“It is war,” reminded Elfreda. “Ah! Here comes our friend the Chinaman. Good evening, Won. What is it?”
“Plenty fline apple,” he answered, emptying out full two quarts of red apples from a gas mask bag.
“Oh, isn’t that fine,” glowed Elfreda. “I haven’t had an apple since I left America. Grace, what do you think of that?”
“I think Won must have found an orchard in a cellar somewhere. Thank you ever so much. Why do you do so many nice things for us?”
“Nicee lady, a-la. Missie see nicee birdie fly fly away?” Won accompanied the words with a wink and knowing smirk.
“What do you mean?” demanded Grace, regarding him narrowly.
For answer Won formed a spiral in the air with one hand, raising the hand a little higher with each circle, then sending the hand flitting through the air in imitation of a bird’s flight.
Grace caught the meaning instantly.
“Oh, you mean a bird?”
“Les. Plidgin bird. Him fly, a-la. Missie see plidgin fly.”
“Did you see it, Won?”
“Me savvy. Me see.”
“Do you know where they came from, where they were going or who sent them? Understand me?”
“Not know. Plenty blad man. Mebby Chinaman blad man.”
“Why do you tell me, then?”
“Missie no like blad man, no likee plidgin go so,” pointing to the east.
“Thank you. I understand. You must keep watch, Won, and let me know who is making the ‘plidgin fly-fly.’”
Won nodded and chuckled, then shaking hands with himself, trotted away without another word.
“What was that wild heathen talking about?” demanded Elfreda. “You appeared