The few urgent words written on the card had the desired effect, for the sergeant immediately asked Frank to follow him.
“Major Nixon told me to say that he would see you, sir,” was the message he gave the boy.
Presently Frank entered the soldier’s room. He found the Major impatiently awaiting his coming, and with an extended hand in the bargain.
“My word! but you’ve given me a beastly shock by what you write,” he was saying as he shook hands. “‘Plans threatened with disaster—must see you at once!’ Now be good enough to tell me what it all means, for I’m shivering with dread. If anything happened to upset all those splendidly arranged plans for the raid, we’d be broken-hearted, you know.”
“Before I say a single word, Major Nixon, I want you to give me your promise to agree to a certain stipulation I shall make. It simply concerns a man’s life; and will not interfere the least bit with your ideas of military rules.”
“That’s a singular request to make, Frank, but I think I know you well enough to feel sure you will not bind me to anything that would touch upon my honor. I promise you then that you shall have your way; for I imagine you want to have the disposal of this unknown man in your own hands.”
“That is just what I want, Major,” returned the other quickly. “And now listen while I tell you of a remarkable thing that happened after you left us this morning.”
“At your hangar, do you mean?” asked the soldier, looking startled.
“Yes.”
“I hope you don’t intend to tell me any of our men have proven false to their trust and betrayed you, Frank; because I happen to know that the aviator corps expects great things of that invention of Dr. Perkins’, should it eventually become the property of the French Government.”