For a moment General Joffre stared after him, and his eyes became dim. Quickly he passed his hand over his eyes; then, motioning for Hal and Chester to follow him, turned slowly toward his car.
“A good man—and an excellent officer,” he muttered to himself, “if he had but gone straight.”
The car sped away. That evening, while Hal and Chester stood beside General Joffre, back again in his headquarters, an orderly rushed into the tent, and forgetting the formality of a salute in his haste, went up to the general and thrust a paper into his hand.
Silently the general read it, passed it to Hal, and turned his head away. Chester, leaning over his friend’s shoulder, read the words the message contained:
“The body of General Emil Tromp was found in his quarters at the front this afternoon. He had shot himself through the head.”
“Evidently came by field wireless,” said Chester.
“Yes,” replied Hal.
General Joffre turned again to his desk, picked up a pen and wrote. Then he read aloud to Hal and Chester:
“General Emil Tromp was struck down by a German shell at the front this afternoon. He died almost instantly.”
“I am sure I may depend upon you to say nothing of what you have heard to-day,” he said quietly.