CHAPTER III.A WARNING.
Now, Frank, attired in his German uniform, made a handsome picture of a young officer and many eyes were turned his way as he strode across the floor. Particularly did the young German officer with whom the singer had refused to dance eye him, but his was not a gaze of admiration—it was anger.
Lord Hastings called Jack’s attention to this.
“Oh, I’ve noticed it,” said Jack. “I’ll keep an eye on him. Now I wonder what that girl wants with Frank?”
Lord Hastings shrugged his shoulders.
“You have as much an idea as I have,” was his reply.
The girl arose from her seat as Frank approached. She extended a hand, and, with the air of a true cavalier, Frank bent low over it. Then, as the music struck up, the girl smiled and would have spoken, but Frank forestalled her.
“Will you dance?” he asked.
She nodded; and a moment later they were whirling about the floor in an old-fashioned waltz.
Thus among the crowd there was a certain privacy and Frank was moved to ask:
“And now will you not tell me why you signalled me?”
Instantly the girl became serious, although she continued to smile.
“I must be brief,” she said, “so listen closely. In the first place you are not German. Oh, I knew it the moment you came in,” she said hurriedly, as Frank gave a start. “I wouldn’t have mentioned it, but the young German officer whom I refused to dance with also suspects. He said as much when he noticed me looking at you. He said he would catch you off your guard and force you to betray yourself.”
“But——” Frank started to protest.
“Oh, there is no use trying to fool me,” said the girl. “I know you are not a German—an Englishman perhaps, eh?”
Frank smiled at her.
“No; not an Englishman,” he replied.
“You are not French,” said the girl, looking up at him. “Even though you speak German without accent, I know you are not French, for I myself am French and I would detect it.”
“No; I am not French,” said Frank with another smile.
“Then what?” asked the girl.
“Well,” said Frank, “what would you say to an American.”
“An American!” exclaimed the girl. “Are you, really? I am glad, for I have wanted to meet an American.”
Suddenly Frank gave another start.
“Great Scott!” he thought. “Suppose this girl is fooling me? Suppose she has taken this means of finding out who we are?”
He looked at her suspiciously. But the girl evidently read his thoughts, for she looked at him steadily and said:
“No, I will not betray you. You need have no fear.”
“But if you are French,” said Frank, “what are you doing here?”
“It’s a long story,” said the girl, “and some day I may tell you. But now I have not time. The music will stop in a moment or two now, and you must return to your friends. But I had to warn you, for I know that Lieutenant Holzen is bent on mischief. It would be well for you and your friends to leave at once.”
“Thanks,” said Frank, “but we are able to take care of ourselves.”
“Oh, I know that,” responded the girl. “But I know also that you would not be here except upon some desperate mission and that you cannot afford to jeopardize for the sake of a quarrel.”
“You are right, of course,” said Frank quietly. “But tell me, what is my mission to you?”
“Nothing,” said the girl slowly, “only that—that I would do anything for France.”
She said it gravely and there could be no mistaking her earnestness. Frank bowed his head in reply; for there was nothing he could say.
Several times more they whirled about the room; and then Frank bethought himself to ask the girl who she was.
“Will you tell me your name?” he asked. “I am Lieutenant Chadwick of His British Majesty’s service.”
The girl smiled and would have replied, but at that moment the music ceased. Frank offered her his arm and led her back to her seat and there was no further opportunity for the girl to reply to the lad’s last question. As she resumed her seat, Frank bowed once more, then turned on his heel and strode back to his own table, where Lord Hastings and Jack were awaiting him eagerly.
“Well, fair charmer,” Jack greeted him. “How——”
Frank silenced his chum with a gesture.
“This is a serious business,” he said quietly and told the others what the girl had said.
“And you admitted it?” exclaimed Jack in a subdued voice. “She’ll tell every German in forty miles.”
“No, she won’t,” declared Frank. “She was telling the truth.”
Jack laughed aloud.
“Of all the credulous——” he began.
“Look here. I tell you she was telling the truth,” declared Frank angrily.
Again Jack laughed and Frank was about to make another angry remark when Lord Hastings interfered.
“Perhaps Frank is right,” he said quietly. “At all events, it is nothing for you two to fight about.”
“We’re not fighting, sir,” said Jack. “But the idea——”
“The idea nothing!” Frank broke in. “I guess I know what I am talking about. I danced with her, didn’t I? You didn’t.”
“Ha! ha!” said Jack. “You see, sir, he brags about it. She’s fooled him, all right.”
“Don’t you believe it, sir,” declared Frank. “I tell you, sir, the girl was telling me the truth. Why, sir, you have only to look at her——”
“Now we have it, sir,” exclaimed Jack. “That’s it. You have only to look at her. Ha! ha!”
“I tell you——” Frank began angrily again.
Jack made his chum a bow across the table.
“You are right,” he said with a superior air that only angered Frank the more. “She told you the truth.”
“Enough of this,” interposed Lord Hastings. “No matter whether she told the truth or not, we are in danger. If she didn’t tell the truth we are likely to be set upon at any moment and if she did the German officer probably will make trouble. The best thing we can do is get out of here.”
He signaled the waiter and paid the check.
“Come,” he said and got to his feet.
The waiter brought their hats and cloaks and Lord Hastings moved toward the door. Jack followed him and Frank came last.
On the way to the door it was necessary to pass the table at which the German officer and his companions were seated. Lord Hastings walked by without a glance, as did Jack. Frank would have followed, but the German suddenly jumped to his feet and confronted him with an imprecation.
“Stand aside,” said Frank quietly.
The German made no move to comply. At first Frank thought of pushing the man away; then changed his mind, for he realized that such an act would draw all eyes to them. The best plan was to get by quietly if possible.
“What is it?” he asked.
“It is my belief that you are a spy,” declared the German.
“Yes?” said Frank inquiringly. “Well, sir, every man has a right to his own opinion; you as well as another.”
“Smart, aren’t you?” sneered the German. He raised his hand suddenly and, before Frank could realize his intention, slapped the lad smartly across the face.
Frank took a step forward and his hands clenched. His face turned red and he was about to return the blow. A second time his better judgment prevailed and he stepped back, remarking quietly:
“You shall answer for that, Lieutenant Holzen!”
“What! you know my name?” exclaimed the German. “So I shall answer, eh? Yes, so I shall, at any time and place that suits your convenience.”
“I am no duelist,” said Frank quietly.
“No; you are a coward,” was the retort.
Again Frank’s face turned red and his hands clenched; but he restrained himself.
“For that you shall answer also,” he said. “Now, stand aside. I would pass.”
“Not much!” said Lieutenant Holzen. “First you must tell me the time and place of meeting.”
“Look here, I’m getting tired of this foolishness,” said Frank. “Get out of my way.”
“What do you mean by speaking like that to me?” demanded the German angrily. “You shall pass when I allow you to pass, not before.”
“If you don’t get out of my way immediately, I shall have to throw you out,” said Frank very quietly, which was a sure sign that his anger was reaching the bursting point.
“So?” said the German with a laugh. “Now, I say——”
“You’ve said enough,” cried Frank suddenly.
He struck out suddenly with his right fist. The blow went true. Struck upon the point of the jaw, the German reeled back. Frank straightened him up again with a left-handed hook to the stomach and then sent his right fist to the jaw a second time. The German officer sprawled across the table.
Before any of the others could interfere Frank dashed toward the door where Lord Hastings and Jack stood, having watched developments with the assurance that Frank could take care of himself.
All dashed out together.
“This way!” cried Lord Hastings.
The others followed close on his heels.
Behind, as they darted round a corner, they could hear the hue and cry of the pursuers.
“We’ll have to do some sprinting,” declared Lord Hastings.
For perhaps fifteen minutes they ran, turning corner after corner, and at last, when Lord Hastings felt they were safe from pursuit, he drew up for a much needed breath.
“Can’t tell whether they’ll follow us or not,” he said. “If they take any stock in the officer’s story that we are spies, they will. If they think it is just a private quarrel, the chances are they won’t. However, we can do no particular good here. We’ll have to go back and see.”
“Anything you say, sir,” agreed Frank. “I suppose I shouldn’t have hit that fellow, but he wouldn’t let me by.”
“Don’t worry about that. You did exactly right,” declared Lord Hastings. “Come on.”
He led the way in the direction from which they had come.