“And I sent you—”
“I have it! I have it!” cried the colonel springing up and grasping both of Grace Harlowe’s hands in his. “Know you? I should say I do, and now that I am face to face with you, young woman, you are going to get a grilling that I have had in store for you ever since near the close of the World War.”
CHAPTER IX
ROBBERS LEAVE A TRAIL
The Overland Riders looked at Grace, then at the colonel, not understanding. Colonel Scott first introduced Grace to his companions.
“This young woman with an assistant was transporting wounded men from a base hospital to Paris,” said the colonel. “Their train was wrecked and the men were suffering in a cold railroad station to which Mrs. Gray had had them removed. They were without food, and the line was blocked for fifty miles ahead. She wired me for relief for the wounded men. Of course I couldn’t give it and so wired her. Then I got a sizzling message from her, saying that she was about to complain to the commanding officer of the American forces.”
“And she did, eh?” chuckled one of the colonel’s companions.
“I’ll say she did. That was not all. Less than half an hour later I received another message, this time from the commanding general, assuring me that if I could not handle the transportation of the Northern he would appoint a man who could.” The colonel laughed heartily, and his friends regarded Grace’s flushed face with new interest.
“I apologize,” said Grace. “It was not a graceful thing to do, but I think you will admit that my action on that occasion was justified.”
“You got results, didn’t you?” demanded Colonel Scott with some brusqueness.