And at last it came. It read like this.
"Your error made us ridiculous. Sending man to relieve you. In meantime, depend upon you to keep us posted."
"Oh, I'll keep them posted, all right," said Stubbs, "but it won't do me any good now."
It was late in the afternoon when Stubbs ran into Hal and Chester, who had recently left Marshal Foch after reporting to the latter on their return from Hirson, where the armistice had been signed.
"Why, hello, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in Versailles."
"I was," said Stubbs, "but I didn't stay very long."
"What's the reason for your return here?" demanded Hal. "I thought you wanted to be where you could save time when you got word of the signing of the armistice."
"I did," said Stubbs, "and that's the trouble. I got word two days ago that the armistice had been signed."
"But it hadn't," said Chester.
"Oh, I know that now," said Stubbs sorrowfully, "but it would have saved me a lot of worry had I known it then."