"Good Lord! it's Von Darem!" muttered the startled officer.
"Wha, sir?" inquired Killem.
"Oh, the late Military Attaché in London," was the off-hand reply of the officer.
"Here's his papers."
"Thanks," said the major, walking to the lamp. Opening out the note-book, he quickly read the contents. He was as fascinated as he was surprised.
[pg 251] "Well, sergeant, this is a good night's work. Who caught him?"
"Me, sir," chirped Spud, clicking his heels and giving a smart salute.
"You know your job. I'll see the General about you. You ought to be a sergeant. Good-night all."
"Good-night, sir."
Next morning Private Spud Tamson had a paragraph of praise in Divisional Orders, and at night the colonel of the Glesca Mileeshy informed him that he was pleased to promote him to sergeant. The examining guard had brought Spud Tamson fame. A few days later the newly-promoted sergeant was also given the job of taking out a standing night patrol towards the enemy's lines. For this purpose he was allowed to select his men. Muldoon and Micky Cameron were, of course, in the band. It was a dangerous job, yet Spud was not alarmed. It suited his nature and whetted his ardour for the all-precious D.C.M.