“What are you going for?”
“For my country’s good, I hope.”
“I mean what are you going to do?”
“Dearest, it would take too long to explain, and you couldn’t altogether understand it, anyway, but in a few words, it’s to look after some mining operations. You see, my plans for investigating a certain coal mine district in France have been approved by the Powers That Be. It seems that there has been a ghastly destruction of the mines by the enemy and the coal supply for the railroads is imperilled and all sorts of troubles are toward. So re-construction is necessary, if they are to get coal for the Allies’ use in the Northeast part of Fair France. My experience in re-building wrecked mines in Colorado counts for a lot, and so I’m picked for duty.”
“You wonderful man!” and Patty’s eyes gleamed with admiration as she looked at the eager, fine face, full of efficiency and enthusiasm. “Oh, and Billee, dear, that reminds me, Lieutenant Herron said to tell you to watch out for a certain wire-puller in Washington——”
“Wait a minute, Patty, can we be overheard?”
“No; but I’ll close this door.”
“I’ll close it, but remember, dear, you must never tell secrets where any servant or any one at all can by chance learn of them.”
“All right. Well, Mr. Herron said to watch out for this person, for he is trying to sidetrack you into the Searchlight gang,—whatever that is.”
“Herron said this? Did he tell you the name?”