"Anyhow," Carl continued, "Paul Genau says you are fair game. He swears he means to win you."
"Oh, indeed!" ejaculated Belinda hotly.
"Don't blame me, 'Linda," urged Carl. "I only repeat his own expression."
"And you evidently think me 'fair game,' too."
"Oh, I am in love with you, Cousin," declared Carl boldly. "Paul is never in love—not really—with anybody but himself."
Belinda made no audible comment upon this statement, but to herself she admitted Carl Baum was an apt reader of Paul's character.
There were other matters that caused her much more anxiety just then than Carl's boyish protestations of admiration. The flying machines of all kinds remained very active above this part of the field. Daily there were battles in the air—often several engagements between sunrise and dark. While at night the anti-aircraft guns, flare-bombs, and searchlights betrayed the fact that the French were making frequent raids into the territory occupied by the German forces.
She saw the successful attack upon the German observation balloons; but of course she did not know what part Sanderson had in the raid. Her thoughts were, however, upon him almost continually. She wondered if he had learned that she was within the enemy's lines; and, if so, what he thought about her and if he considered her peril.
Her expectation of the appearance of Doctor Herschall in her ward was likewise nerve-racking. A medical examiner came each morning to look at her patients and examine her charts. She had of course written these up in German instead of in French, and this physician had commended her work warmly.
"You are a credit to the profession, Nurse Genau," he said.