Army Boys on the Firing Line | Page 9

same minute I was thinking that my life wasn't worth a plugged nickel."
"Wonder how the fellow made out that you left in the shell hole," chuckled Billy.
"Oh, he was all right," replied Frank. "I shouldn't wonder if he was rather chilly during the night, but no doubt they hauled him out in the morning."
"He got off lucky, though," put in Bart. "It's the sentry who got the hot end of the poker. I wonder what he thought when he heard that watchword."
"He didn't have much time to think," guessed Billy, "and to tell the truth, I don't think he's done much thinking since. That revolver must have hit him a fearful crack."
"It's safe to say that it gave him a headache anyway," remarked Bart drily.
"Speaking of the revolver," said Frank, rising to his feet, "I'm going to take a look for it. It was just over near that tree that I plugged the sentry and it's probably there yet."
He searched industriously among the welter of debris and after a few minutes arose with a shout.
"Here's it is," he said, as he held up his recovered treasure, which had his initials scratched upon the butt. "Same old trusty and as good as ever. It's saved my life many a time through the muzzle, but last night was the first time it saved it through the butt."
He fondled the weapon lovingly for a moment, carefully cleaned and reloaded it, and thrust it in his belt.
Just then a French colonel passed by, accompanied by two orderlies. The French had been holding a section of the line at the right of the Americans and their uniform was a familiar sight, so that the boys only gave the group a passing glance. But Frank's eyes lighted with pleasure when the colonel detached himself from the others and came over with extended hand.
Frank wrung the hand heartily.
"Why, Colonel Pavet!" he exclaimed. "This is a great pleasure! I didn't know that you were in this locality."
"My regiment is only two miles from here," replied the colonel, his face beaming. "I need not say how glad I always am to see the brave young soldier who saved my life."
"What I did any one else would have done," responded Frank lightly.
"But no one else did," laughed the colonel. "And from what I hear from your commander you've been doing similar things ever since. I just heard of your daring escape last night. It was gallantly done, mon ami."
"Luck was with me," replied Frank.
"It usually is in such exploits," was the visitor's reply. "You know the old saying that 'fortune favors the brave.' But I'll spare your blushes and come down to something that will probably interest you more. Did you get that letter from Andre, my brother, about your mother's property?"
"Why, no, I didn't," answered Frank. "When was it written?"
"That's strange," said the colonel, a puzzled look coming over his face. "I received a letter from Andre day before yesterday and he said that he had written to you by the same mail."
"Well, you know the mail is rather irregular just now," replied Frank. "No doubt it will get to me before long. Perhaps your brother told you something of what was in the letter he wrote to me."
"Not in detail. He just mentioned that he was very anxious to get hold of a former butler in your grandfather's family who is now in the ranks. They had his testimony in part before he was called into service, but he had not been cross-examined. Andre seems to feel sure that he can extract information from him that will aid your mother to come into possession of the estate. Andre's judgment is good, and as you know, he is one of the leading lawyers of Paris."
"He is too good, and you also, to take all this trouble in our behalf," said Frank warmly. "My mother and I can never thank you enough."
"The debt will be always on our side," responded the colonel with a wave of the hand. "By the way, how is your mother? I hope she is well."
"She was well when I last heard from her," replied Frank, "and happy--that is as happy as she can be while we are separated from each other."
"She is a true daughter of France," said the colonel, "and she should be happy to have so brave a son. Please remember me to her when you write. Au revoir," and with a friendly smile he passed on.
"Still hobnobbing with the swells, I see," remarked Billy, as Frank rejoined his chums.
"He was telling me of a letter that his brother had written me about my mother's property," explained Frank. "Queer that it hasn't reached me. Did any of you fellows get any mail yesterday?"
"I got a couple of letters," replied Billy. "Tom handed them