CHAPTER XVIIIA PERPLEXING QUESTION
“Why, nothing,” stammered Billy, a trifle embarrassed. “I didn’t know that you had ever been in Germany.”
“Didn’t mother tell you?” asked Helen. “We lived in Coblenz for years.”
Here Mrs. Edsall intervened.
“I didn’t mention it,” she said quietly, “because it is a matter of no importance. Yes, we did live in Germany for some years before the war broke out. My father had come over from America to take charge of a branch importing house at Coblenz. My husband had died, and we came with my father. When the war started, or rather when we saw that it was about to begin, we left Germany and came here, where we have lived ever since.”
She changed the subject then and the conversation went on, but it was now constrained and formal. From time to time the boys shot a glance at each other that was full of interrogation. And as soon as the meal was finished, they excusedthemselves and went to Frank’s room where they were soon in earnest conversation.
“What do you think of it?” asked Tom in much perplexity.
“I don’t know what to think,” confessed Frank. “It may be all right and it may be all wrong. But one thing’s certain, and that is that we’ve got to be on our guard. Those infernal Germans have spies everywhere and we may be in a nest of them. We want to keep as mum as oysters about all military affairs.”
“It doesn’t seem as though a nice girl like that Helen could be a spy,” said Billy regretfully.
“Nor Alice,” put in Tom.
“Maybe they’re not,” admitted Frank. “In fact, I’m pretty sure they’re not, or Helen wouldn’t have made that break about living in Coblenz. It’s the last thing they’d have wanted us to know. But I’m not so sure of the mother. I caught her sending a warning to Helen with her eyes, but it was too late.”
“That may have been simply because she knew that it might make us suspicious and she wanted to avoid that,” defended Tom. “That would be natural enough for anyone to do. But it doesn’t say that there is any ground for the suspicion.”
“What do you think of the old man?” asked Frank thoughtfully.
“Oh, he’s just crazy,” said Tom carelessly. “He’s touched in the upper story.”
“That might be just camouflage though, to make us think that we could talk freely without paying any attention to him,” objected Frank. “He may be as crazy as a fox.”
“I don’t think so,” said Billy. “He’s pretty old and his mind is failing. I heard him half a dozen times muttering something about ‘the cellar, the cellar.’ It got on my nerves after a while.”
“Well, don’t let’s trouble trouble till trouble troubles us,” counseled Frank. “There may be nothing in it at all. I wouldn’t hang a yellow dog on all the evidence we’ve got. In the meantime, that bed looks inviting and I’m going to tumble in early.”
“I’m with you there,” said Tom. “It’s so long since I’ve slept between sheets that I’m anxious to see how it feels.”
It was indeed a delightful contrast to their experiences for months past, and they slept soundly until they were called to breakfast the next morning.
“What are we going to do with our leave today?” asked Frank, as they were hurriedly dressing.
“Just loaf and invite our souls,” replied Tom, as he put down his military brushes and took a last look in the glass, with the fair Alice in mind.
“Luxemburg’s a tidy little city,” put in Billy, “and there ought to be lots to see. Wouldn’t do, I suppose, to take the girls along.”
“Not on your young life,” said Frank emphatically. “You’d get in the guardhouse so soon it would make your head swim. What’s the matter with you fellows, anyway? You’ve both been primping up like a couple of dudes. Are you so badly smitten?”
“Not at all,” denied Tom stoutly, though a deeper flush on his bronzed face might have given rise to doubt.
“They’re certainly nice girls though,” said Billy, feebly, “especially Helen.”
“She hasn’t anything on Alice,” remarked Tom.
“Lucky you haven’t picked out the same one,” laughed Frank, “or I’d have my hands full in keeping the peace. Come along now if you’re ready.”
At the breakfast table they received the same pleasant greeting as on the night before, but there was a certain lack of freedom in the conversation that all felt. The little element of suspicion that had been aroused by Helen’s remark still persisted. The boys kept a guard on their lips as regarded all military matters, and as just at that time there was little to talk about except the war, the remarks made were few and far between and they felt relieved when the meal was finished. Perhaps Billy and Tom were exceptions, for although they did not say much with their lips, theireyes were eloquent in the glances they stole at the girls.
It was necessary for the Army Boys to report at the quarters of the regiment, but after that formality was through with they had no difficulty in getting leave and started off in high feather to enjoy their unaccustomed freedom.
There was a host of places that well repaid their visit, museums, picture galleries, the quaint old world buildings, the great cathedral, and others equally noteworthy. It was such a relief to be among scenes of peace after the horrors and bloodshed of so many months that they enjoyed it doubly. They took their dinner at a hotel, where though the prices were high the food was surprisingly good, and toward evening returned to the home where they had been billeted.
As they neared the house, they saw a man loitering near it who seemed to have no special business in the vicinity, but kept sauntering to and fro smoking a cigar. As he saw them coming, he hesitated a moment as though half inclined to turn and go in the other direction, but seemed to think better of it, giving them a quick, sharp look as he passed them.
He was in civilian dress and at first they thought he was a native of the place, but his face showed that he was unmistakably an Englishman or an American, they were not sure which.
“Wonder what that fellow is hanging around here for?” Tom remarked, as they went up the steps of the house.
“Oh the streets are free—that is to every one but a German, and that chap isn’t that,” remarked Billy.
“Perhaps it’s some lovelorn suitor of one of the girls,” suggested Frank mischievously.
“I don’t like his face,” said Tom sourly.
“He has a villainous look,” added Billy.
“Jealous already, eh?” laughed Frank. “I surely got your goat that time. He looks all right to me. I’d better get you fellows into the house before there’s murder done.”