*CHAPTER XVII*
*STUBBS AGAIN*
General Pershing greeted the lads cordially.
"Glad to see you again," he said. "General Rhodes informs me that youhave been up to your old tricks and have again been cited for gallantryin action. However, it is no more than I would have expected of you."
The lads bowed in response to this praise, but neither spoke.
"It is fortunate that General Rhodes brought you with him," GeneralPershing continued. "Still, it may not be so fortunate for him, for Iam about to deprive him of your services. I take it that you willsurvive the separation, though," and the commander-in-chief smiled.
"We are always glad to serve in whatever way we may, sir," said Hal.
"Good!" said General Pershing. "Then I shall avail myself of yourservices. Several hours ago I was in communication with Marshal Foch,who is now in Soissons. General Rhodes informs me that he has made youacquainted with the facts that seem to indicate an early cessation ofhostilities, so I need not amplify here. Now, Marshal Foch,anticipating that Germany may really sue for peace, has asked my advicein the matter of armistice terms pending a final treaty of peace. TheseI have written out. As you will readily recognize, they are not to betrusted to careless hands. I have confidence in you, however,gentlemen, so I shall ask you to carry this paper to Marshal Foch."
"We shall be glad to do it, sir," said Chester.
"Very well. Then I intrust this paper to you, and I need not warn youto guard it carefully and keep the matter secret."
General Pershing extended a document to Hal. The lad took it and put itcarefully in his inside coat pocket.
"It will be safe there, your excellency," he said quietly.
"Now," said the commander-in-chief, "it is my wish that that paper beplaced in Marshal Foch's hands at the earliest possible moment. The carin which you drove General Rhodes is at your disposal."
"We shall make all possible haste, sir," said Chester.
Both lads saluted their commander and left the room.
"By Jove!" said Hal, as he sprang into the car, "there is no usetalking, important developments are pending. It begins to look likepeace to me."
"And to me," Chester agreed. "Well, the sooner the better. Four yearsof war is enough to satisfy Mars himself."
Soon the car was speeding westward.
It was a long drive to Soissons and it was after nightfall when Hal sawthe lights of the city in the distance. A few moments later theyentered the town.
Hal had no difficulty ascertaining where Marshal Foch made hisheadquarters and he drove there at once. A few words to a guard beforethe building brought forth a member of Marshal Foch's staff and the ladsexplained their mission to him briefly.
"You are expected," said the French officer. "Follow me."
He led the way into the house and through a long hall. At the far endhe tapped on a door.
"Who's there?" came a voice, that Hal at once recognized as belonging tothe French commander-in-chief.
"Colonel Murrat," said the lads' guide. "The messengers from GeneralPershing have arrived."
"Show them in at once," said Marshal Foch.
A moment later Hal and Chester were in the presence of the generalissimoof all the allied forces. They saluted him respectfully.
"I may be mistaken," said Marshal Foch, eyeing them searchingly, "butI'll wager you are Majors Paine and Crawford. Am I right?"
"Yes, your excellency," said Hal. "We are honored that you rememberus."
"I never forget a face," replied Marshal Foch; "and seldom a name. Thenyou bring me a communication from General Pershing?"
For answer Hal produced the document given him by the Americancommander-in-chief earlier in the day. He passed it to Marshal Fochwithout a word. The French commander took it and laid it carefully onhis desk.
"That will be all for to-night, gentlemen," he said. "I shall be pleasedif you will avail yourself of our hospitality. Colonel Murrat will findquarters for you. Will you report to me in the morning at 8 o'clock? Imay have a reply for your commander-in-chief."
The lads saluted again and withdrew. Colonel Murrat showed them toexcellent quarters in a house next to the one in which the Frenchcommander had his headquarters and left them.
"Well," said Chester, after he had gone, "looks like we are right inamong things, doesn't it?"
"It certainly does," Hal agreed. "But say, I'm hungry. Let's step outand round up something to eat."
"Suits me," declared Chester, "I'm half starved myself."
At a little restaurant only three or four blocks away they were sooncomfortably filled. Hal was on the point of suggesting that they turnin for the night when a figure entering the door caught his eye.
"By all that's wonderful," he exclaimed, "here comes Anthony Stubbs."
Hal was right. The little war correspondent espied the lads at the samemoment and hurried toward them with outstretched hand.
"I'm awfully glad to see you boys again," he exclaimed. "What bringsyou here, if I may ask?"
"Sit down, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal. "Have something to eat with us."
"Thanks: don't mind if I do. But I repeat, what are you doing here?"
"How long have you been in town, Mr. Stubbs?" asked Chester, ignoringthe little man's question.
"About fifteen minutes, more or less. But I say, what are you doinghere? This is the third time I've asked that question."
"Then don't ask it again, Mr. Stubbs," replied Chester.
"Oh, I see," smiled Stubbs. "Can't answer, eh? Well, I'll wager anotherhat with somebody that I can tell you why you're here."
"You'd lose this time, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal.
"Oh, no I wouldn't. You're here in connection with the signing of anarmistice by Germany and the allies."
Chester started to his feet.
"Sh-h-h! Not so loud, Stubbs," he exclaimed.
Stubbs smiled, but he lowered his voice when he spoke again.
"Well, would I lose the bet?" he asked.
"I can't say a thing, Mr. Stubbs," was Hal's response.
"Well, I'm bound by no such orders," said Stubbs, "so I can. First,however, I want you to understand that whatever I do say is inconfidence."
"Of course," said Hal.
"Certainly, Mr. Stubbs," agreed Chester.
"Well, then," said Stubbs, "I want to tell you I'm on the trail of thebiggest scoop in newspaper history. I'm going to be the first warcorrespondent to flash the news that the armistice is signed."
"You mean you think you are," said Chester.
"I'm dead sure of it. Now, I'm in close touch with a very influentialnaval officer. He has agreed to let me know the moment the armistice issigned; and the news will come to him over the only direct wire to theplace of meeting between Germans and allies, for it will be an officialwire."
"You're getting away ahead of the game, Mr. Stubbs," declared Chester.
"Certainly you have no information yet that an armistice is likely to besigned soon."
Stubbs smiled.
"But the trouble is I have," he replied quietly.
"Stubbs," said Hal with real admiration, "I don't know how you do it,but you certainly have a way of getting information when you start afterit."
"That's why the New York Gazette sent me over here," replied Stubbsmodestly.
"I see," said Hal. "Well, I wish you luck. But what are you doinghere?"
Stubbs was silent a moment. Then he said:
"I know you'll say nothing about this, or I would keep mum. Truth is Icame here to make these arrangements I've been telling you about."
"And how long will you stay, Mr. Stubbs?"
"Over night. I'm off for Versailles to-morrow."
"Versailles!" exclaimed Chester. "But you will be out of the fightingzone then, Mr. Stubbs, and it will take you longer to get word shouldyour news develop."
"But I'll be where I can get
it on the cables ahead of some of the restof 'em," said Stubbs with a grin. "Also, I'll get word in Versailles assoon as the fellows get it here, or wherever the thing is pulled off.I've seen to that."
"I get you, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal. "Now take my advice and wait untilyou are sure of your facts before you do anything rash."
"I wasn't born yesterday," said Stubbs with another grin. "I'll flashthe word when the time comes, not before."
"Sorry we can't help you a little bit, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester, "butyou know how it is."
"Oh, that's all right," said Stubbs. "I understand. I don't make ahabit of telling all I know either. Well, that was a pretty fair mealyou fellows set me up to. Now let's get out of here. Where are youputting up?"
Hal told him.
"Guess there's no objection to my coming along, is there?" asked Stubbs.
"I guess not," said Hal. "Come along."
So Stubbs accompanied the two lads back to their temporary home.
"I'm going to turn in on that second bed there," he said. "You twofellows can bunk together. If I'm gone when you get up in the morningyou'll know I'm on my way."
He threw his clothes off hastily, and crawled into bed.
"Good night," he said.
He was asleep and snoring loudly long before Hal and Chester turned infor the night.
"Let him snore," said Hal with a grin. "I'm not particularly fond ofsuch noises, but I'd hate to disturb him. Anyway, he won't bother melong, and not at all after I get to sleep."
"Nor me," agreed Chester. "Let him snore."
So the lads also crawled between the sheets.
"Guess we'd better get all the rest we can," said Chester. "Things areliable to happen from this time on."
Chester was right. Things did happen.
The Boy Allies with Marshal Foch; or, The Closing Days of the Great World War Page 17