“I suppose Siddons is still on top,” McGee said, somewhat bitterly. “His kind never get it.”
A troubled look spread over Larkin’s face. “You know,” he began slowly, “none of us can figure out that fellow. He didn’t get back to the squadron that day until just at dark. The news of Hampden’s death seemed to daze him, but he didn’t say a word. Two days later he left the squadron, and we thought he was gone for good–grounded for keeps or sent home. But yesterday he turned up again, big as life. If Cowan is displeased, he doesn’t show it. We can’t figure it out.”
“I can!” McGee flared, then suddenly remembered that Cowan had charged him with absolute secrecy concerning the discoveries he had made.
“Well then, what’s the dope?” Larkin asked.
“Oh, he’s got a heavy drag somewhere,” Red replied, remembering that he had passed his word to Major Cowan. “What about Hank Porter?” he asked, to shift the subject.
210Larkin shook his head, dismally. “Another one of Herzmann’s Circus filled him full of lead, but he tooled his ship back home before he fainted from loss of blood. He’s in a hospital for the rest of the war. May never walk again.”
McGee decided to do no more roll calling for the day. It was altogether too depressing. For a while they talked of lighter, commonplace things and then fell into that understanding silence that is possible only with those whose friendship is so firmly fixed that words add little to their communion.
Watching the swans that moved around the central fountain in stately procession, McGee fell to thinking how little those lovely creatures knew of tragedy and sorrow. Theirs was a world secure in beauty, unmarred by the things which man brings upon himself, and this was true because they knew nothing of avarice or grasping greed. Could it be that man, in all his pride, was one of the least sensible of God’s creatures?
3
The day following, Major Cowan called, and in his elation over the success of American arms at the recent battle of Chateau-Thierry, told McGee more in a short half hour than Red had been able to worm from all others with whom he talked.