Mr. Conne rested his hand on Tom’s shoulder and smiled very pleasantly at him. He seemed to be going out of his way these days to befriend him and to understand him.
“It’s about how you get to know people and get to like them, kind of, and then don’t see them any more. That feller, Archibald Archer, that worked on the other ship I was on—I’d like to know where he is if he’s alive. I liked that feller.”
“It’s a big world, Tom.”
“Maybe I might see him again some time—same as I met my—my brother.”
“Perhaps,” said Mr. Conne, cheerily. “It’s always the unexpected that happens, you know.”
“I saw you again, anyway.”
“Yes, you can’t get away from me.”
“And Frenchy—maybe I’ll never see him any more. He’s got people that live in Alsace; he told me all about them. He hasn’t heard from them since the war first began.—Gee, I hope Germany has to give Alsace back to France—just for his sake!”
Mr. Conne laughed.
“Most of the people there stick up for France in their hearts, only they dasn’t show it. He gave me this button; it’s made out of a cannon, and it means the French people there got to help you.”