The Boy Allies at Verdun Part 33

Now go on away from here."

Again Chester stepped forward, and this time the lad was treated to an unpleasant surprise. Instead of moving backward, Stubbs suddenly lowered his head and charged Chester.

Taken by surprise, the lad was unable to get out of the way and the top of Stubbs' head rammed him squarely in the stomach. Chester doubled up and fell to the ground with a cry of pain.

Stubbs turned and started to run; but before he had taken half a dozen steps, Hal had reached him and taken him by the arm. In vain the little man struggled to shake off the lad's grasp.

"Hey, Stubbs!" cried Hal, laughing at the predicament in which Chester found himself, "what's the matter that you've turned so pugnacious all of a sudden? Getting to be a regular fighter, aren't you?"

"Well, he was just about to swat me," declared Stubbs.

Chester had now picked himself up and advanced upon Stubbs, threateningly.

"Say!" he exclaimed; "what do you mean by using your head as a battering ram on me?"

"I told you to keep away," returned Stubbs.

"I know you did; but that's no sign you should try to kill me. I wasn't going to hurt you."

"Maybe not," said Stubbs, "but I wasn't going to take any more chances.

Now you keep away from me."

"Oh, Chester won't hurt you," said Hal, with a laugh. "You treated him just right, Stubbs. He's got no kick coming."

"No, that's right, Stubbs," said Chester, with a grin. "No hard feelings, I'm sure. You're all right. Put her there."

The lad extended a hand. Stubbs advanced doubtfully, but at last grasped Chester's hand.

Immediately he began to dance about wildly, shouting:

"Leggo! Leggo my hand! Ouch!"

At last Chester relaxed his grip.

"That makes it square all around, Stubbs," he said with a grin.

For a moment Stubbs gazed at him angrily, the while he worked his fingers back and fro to chase away the stiffness. Then he smiled.

"All right," he said. "Now we're square."

"Where you bound, Stubbs?" asked Hal.

"Hunting news," returned Stubbs.

"By Jove!" said Chester. "Why not take him along with us, Hal?"

"Suits me," was Hal's answer, "if he wants to go."

"Where you going?" demanded Stubbs.

"Sailing," returned Chester. "Sailing over the German lines. Want to go along?"

"Not me," said Stubbs, briefly.

"Come now, Stubbs, don't be afraid. Nothing is going to hurt you, and we might need you."

"That's what I thought," said Stubbs. "I knew there was some reason you wanted me to go along. I knew you didn't just want to take me along to show me the sights. Want me to stand in the gap when the trouble comes up. I know you."

"I a.s.sure you I had no such thoughts."

"Well, maybe you didn't have them, but that is what would happen all the same."

"Stubbs," said Hal, quietly. "It's my belief that you're afraid."

"Hal," said Stubbs, "you can bet your life I'm afraid to go up in the air with you two."

"Come on, Stubbs," said Chester, seriously. "Honestly, we would be glad of your company. We haven't seen much of you for some time."

"I know you haven't," returned Stubbs, "and that's why my health happens to be so good right now. But what are you going to do over the German lines?"

"Get the lay of the land," said Hal. "Find out the German strength and a few other things, if possible."

"Hm-m-m," muttered Stubbs. "Ought to be some news for the _Gazette_ over there, don't you think?"

"Lots of it, Stubbs," replied Chester.

"The only trouble," said Stubbs, "is that if I go after it, will I be able to come back and tell the _Gazette_ about it?"

"If you don't mind, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal, "one of us will take it upon himself to see that the _Gazette_ gets the news."

"After my job, are you?" said Stubbs, with a smile.

"Well, not exactly. We just offered to help you out."

"I can't see where that would do me any good. However, I guess I'll take you up on this bet. I might be able to learn something of importance. The next thing would be to get it by the censor."

"Why, Stubbs," said Chester, "with your pull with General Petain, I can't see that you should have any trouble."

"My pull, eh?" said Stubbs, with rather a sickly grin. "You two went and smashed my pull all to smithereens."

"Oh, well," said Hal, "a newspaper man always finds a way."

Stubbs looked at Hal, suspiciously.

"If you're making fun of me--" he began.

"Far from it, Mr. Stubbs," replied Hal. "I was just stating a fact. Why, you've told us that yourself."

"Come, come, Stubbs," said Chester. "Are you going along or not? It's time to be moving."