During the days spent in the base hospital our hero had received several letters from home, all of which had given him more or less satisfaction. First had come a communication from his father, giving him many particulars of how matters were going both in business and at home, and stating that he and Dave’s Uncle Dunston were once more active in Liberty Loan work and that Mr. Wadsworth had doubled his previous subscription to the loan.
Then had come a brief communication from his sister Laura, stating that she had heard he was wounded, but was glad to know that it was not serious. She added that she was writing a longer letter to Roger and that Jessie was also sending him a communication which would probably tell him all the things he cared most to know. She added that old Professor Potts had recovered somewhat from his recent indisposition and was again around, spending, as before, most of his time in the Wadsworth library, poring over his precious volumes.
And then two days later had come the long-looked-for letter from Jessie. Still weak from his wounds, Dave’s hands had trembled not a little when he tore this communication open to peruse it.
The heart of the girl whom the young engineer adored was in that letter, and Dave read it over many times. In it Jessie spoke of the shock she had received when the casualty lists in the daily newspapers had contained the information that Dave had been wounded. Then she told how a cablegram from Roger had been received, stating that it was not serious.
“You cannot imagine, dear Dave, how much relieved we were to receive that cablegram,” Jessie continued. “We had not slept at all during the night. It was dreadful to think that you had been shot down by those awful Germans. Oh, Dave, when you get around again do be careful! If anything happened to you I do not know what I would do. I don’t think I would care to live any longer.”
“Dear, dear Jessie!” murmured Dave, as he read this paragraph several times. “The best girl that ever lived!”
Jessie then went on to relate about how she had missed some letters from Dave which had since arrived in a bunch, and she added that she herself had forwarded several letters to him which for some reason he could not have received.
“After this I am going to number the letters,” she added; “so you will know exactly what is missing, if any.
“Of course you have seen Laura’s letters to Roger, so you know all about the success of our entertainments here for the local charities. Although it called for a good deal of hard work, there was not a little fun attached to it, too, and I am sure we all enjoyed it. There was only one cloud for me, Dave; and now that it has passed I hardly think it is worth mentioning. Still, as some day or other you may meet Lieutenant Gebauer, or possibly Nat Poole, who knows of what occurred, perhaps it would be best for me to let you know just how things stand.
“Lieutenant Gebauer, as you are aware, is connected with the Gebauer jewelry concern of Philadelphia, and he and Papa transact quite a good deal of business. He often visits Crumville, and when Papa heard he had joined the army and got a commission, he was so pleased that he asked Gebauer to our house.