“Another thought comes to me,” observed the colonel, about the time they drew near the spot where their car stood, with Bumpus occupying the whole rear seat, upon which he was sprawled in perfect contentment. “You may meet with trouble on the way. Some officious patriot might even think of taking your car from you, always in the interest of France, which just now is in sore need of every such conveyance. I can arrange it so that you will avoid all such inconvenience.”
“And depend on it, M’sieu,” Thad assured him, “we do mean to turn the car over to the military authorities just as soon as we have reached the city. That was a part of our agreement when we accepted the loan of it from the owner.”
“Wait for me, then,” he was told.
They saw him vanish within the small house where General Joffre held forth, with the whole extended battle line in his single grip. One minute, two passed; then their friend reappeared again. He was smiling encouragingly, as though his mission had not been in vain.
“Look! he’s got a paper of some kind in his hand!” exclaimed the observant Giraffe. “Now, I bet you it’s a pass that’ll give us the right of way.”
Well, Giraffe had guessed truly, for that was exactly what it turned out to be, a brief pass in French, and bearing the magical name of General Joffre himself in the bargain. No wonder Thad received it with more or less delight, while Bumpus and Giraffe and Allan surveyed that signature with awe.
“General Joffre was only too pleased to sign the pass I wrote and presented to him,” announced the officer, proudly. “He said it was a small thing to do for such brave boys who had shown their sympathy for the great cause. You should have no trouble in getting to Paris. In a way, I wish I could go with you, for it would take me nearer my dear ones; but there is a stern duty that holds me here. Some day, when we have really saved France, and driven the enemy from her border, I may be allowed to see them again. And now adieu, my young friends. Heaven preserve you, and take you all safely back to your own country.”
He turned and left them hastily after shaking hands. Thad thought there were signs of emotion on the soldier’s face, which he did not wish them to see. Undoubtedly he had his own fine boy in mind much while in the company of these intrepid American lads.
“Get aboard, the rest of you!” urged the impatient Bumpus, making room for Giraffe alongside him on the rear seat; but they could excuse his eagerness to be off, remembering that he yearned to see his invalid mother again.
Giraffe gave a last look toward the small house that would go down in history as a famous place, since between those four plain walls had been planned all the wonderful moves that had given the French the victory of the Marne. In days to come that spot would ever be a holy shrine to which untold thousands of patriotic citizens would journey, to feast their eyes on the “Headquarters of Joffre.”