“From that time on the lieutenant—for what reason I know not, because I gave him no encouragement—became very attentive to me. He, of course, knew how matters stood between you and me, but that seemed to have no effect on him. He insisted upon pressing his attentions on me, until I was forced to give him the cold shoulder. Through Papa he gave me a very handsome Red Cross pin, one which their concern has something to do with manufacturing. But I am not going to wear it. I have a pin which I purchased myself. He was quite put out when I finally dropped him, and went off in anything but a good humor.
“During his stay here in Crumville in some manner or other he became acquainted with the Pooles; and when Nat was home on leave of absence from the training camp the two became quite chummy. Both of them are now in France, and it is possible that you may meet them, and for that reason, as I said before, I think you ought to know how matters stand. Lieutenant Gebauer may try to make you believe that we are very friendly, but it is not true. I simply tolerated him because I didn’t wish to do anything which might interfere with Papa’s business connections with the Philadelphia concern.”
There was more of this, Jessie going into some of the details of what had taken place between her and the lieutenant during the entertainments and for a week or two following. She did not say outright, but Dave could read between the lines, and he felt certain that Max Gebauer had in the end made himself quite obnoxious, even though outwardly he had acted the part of a gentleman.
“He must be a regular pill,” was Dave’s mental comment, as he put the letter away. “If he’s that sort, he’d better not come around where I am. He certainly can’t amount to much if he trains with such a chap as Nat Poole.”
Dave was quite curious to know whether Lieutenant Gebauer and Nat Poole had really come over to France. But there was no way of finding out. He questioned a number with whom he came in contact, who had been at various American camps throughout France, but not one could give him a word concerning the pair.
During those days came another cause for gratitude. Buster Beggs had recovered from the gas attack which had laid him low, and had once more joined the engineers at the front. His eyes were a trifle weak as yet, and he had to be careful of what he ate for fear of getting sick at the stomach, but otherwise he was as well as ever. Shadow was also around again.
It was a great day for Dave when he was allowed to get up and put on his clothes once more and go out into the sunshine. He felt quite shaky, and he was glad enough to rest after walking but a short distance. The base hospital had once been a château, and in the garden was a beautiful fountain surrounded by flowers, and here the convalescent soldiers gathered on benches to regain their health and to talk over the war.
“I think the war will end in another three or four months,” said one of the convalescents.
“That’s right; they must be pretty close to the end of their resources,” put in another.
“Don’t you believe that, Jack,” came from a third. “They must have been close to the end of their resources before, but now you must remember they are plundering the Russians of everything of use in that country. They’ll be able to get immense quantities of food and war material that were meant for the Russian army, and that will keep them going for a long while.”