He became aware that the colonel was eying him. Then he felt the colonel’s hand on his arm.
“Are you going to do it, son?” asked the C. O. quietly.
Billy did not stop to wonder how Jennie’s father knew. It seemed to him that his thoughts must have screamed aloud to every ear on Langstrom.
He gulped, trying to force an answer from his parched throat.
While he hesitated an orderly drew the colonel aside and spoke some urgent message. The face of Jennie’s father was a gray mask when he turned back to Billy Cobb.
Billy made his decision.
“I’ll go, sir. I’ve got to. But Jennie mustn’t⸺”
“I think,” said the colonel gravely, “Jennie will not know.”
“I told her I’d drop in tonight. You’ll fix up some excuse?”
“Yes—if she—asks for you—son.”