CHAPTER VI
THE DIE IS CAST
"That's it, Mother," cried Frank, his whole soul responding to thekindling spirit in her eyes. "For America and France, the two greatestrepublics in the world. It won't be the first time they've foughttogether."
"No," replied his mother proudly. "Lafayette and other brave sons ofFrance helped this country to win its independence, and it is onlyright that now when France is hard pressed and pouring out her bloodlike water, Americans should fight side by side with her to make theworld safe for democracy."
"You're a true daughter of France, Mother," said Frank, admiringly.
"Ah, _la belle_ France," sighed his mother. "I love her with all myheart and soul. How many times I have longed to go back and see hersunny vineyards and her beautiful cities."
"You and father were planning to go over there just before the warbroke out, weren't you, Mother?" asked Frank.
"Yes," replied Mrs. Sheldon. "And for two reasons. I was wild to seethe dear homeland again, and then, too, I felt I ought to go to seeabout the property my father, your grandfather, left me. But then yourdear father died, and after that I had no heart to go. Nor could Ihave gone anyway, had I wished, for the war would have made it almostimpossible."
"Well, we don't care much for the property, Mother," said Frank."While I've got two strong arms I'll support you. And yet," he added,a little more thoughtfully, "it wouldn't have been a bad thing if wehad been able to sell it so that you could have the money now when I amliable to be called away. We've got only this house and the littlemoney that dad left us, and I'm afraid you will have all you can do toget along."
"Don't worry about me," replied the mother in a tone that strove to becheerful. "You know I have the true French thrift--you've saidyourself that I am a wonderful manager--I can make a little money go along way. The only reason I ever cared for the property was for yoursake, so that you could get a good start in the world. I don't knownow that we can ever get it. It was tangled up in a lawsuit and thatwas one of the reasons why I ought to have been there in person whenthe estate was being settled."
"Never mind, little Mother," cried Frank gaily, "I'm the richest fellowin the world this minute with such a mother as you are."
He gave her a quick embrace and kiss and hurried out of the house, forhe had been away from the office considerably longer than usual. Butquick as was the time he made in getting downtown, the news of hisexploit had preceded him and he found the place buzzing with excitement.
Bart, who had let the story lose nothing in the telling, gave him aresounding thump on the back as he came in.
"Here's the fellow that made the Hun eat crow," he cried, jubilantly.
"And from all accounts it didn't agree with him," grinned Tom. "It wasa dandy bit of work, Frank. I only wish I'd been there to see you makethe Hun kiss the flag."
"Bully for you, old scout!" cried Hal. "There's a lot of other fellowsin this town that ought to get the same treatment. I know some of themthat had a regular party the day the news came that the _Lusitania_ wassunk."
"I heard of that, too," said Frank. "But we want to remember, fellows,that not all Germans felt that way. Some of them felt just as shockedand outraged over it as we did ourselves. There are lots of fellowswith German blood in their veins that are just as good Americans as weare."
"I suppose there are," conceded Bart, a little grudgingly. "Not all ofthem are tarred with the same brush. But there are too many of themwho regard Germany as their father and America as their father-in-law,and you know which one of the two a fellow is apt to like better."
Just then Rabig passed through the room on his way to another part ofthe building. He cast a sour look upon the group, and there wasspecial malignity in his gaze as it rested for a moment on Frank.
"You're about as popular with Rabig as a rattlesnake is with a picnicparty," laughed Bart, as Rabig went on. "If looks could kill you'd bea dead man this minute. He hated you before, but he hates you worsenow since he's heard of that little fracas. Gee, how I'd like to seehim have to kneel and kiss the flag!"
"He'd try to bite it," put in Reddy.
At this moment a group of newsboys passed outside, shouting theirextras.
"I guess that means the President's gone and done it," cried Frank."Here, Reddy, take this dime and go out and get one of those papers.If you're back in half a minute you can keep the change."
"Whoop-ee!" cried Reddy, and was off like a bullet from a gun. Soon hewas back with the coveted paper, still damp from the press.
Across the top in screaming headlines was the phrase:
_President Declares War on Germany!_
"That settles it," said Frank. "We're in for it, now."
"Up to the neck," put in Reddy, whose small frame held an unlimitedamount of patriotism. "Gee, I wish I was old enough to get in it. Iwouldn't wait for no draft!"
"And now that we're in, we're in for keeps. That's America's way,"said Bart.
"She's put her hand to the plow and she won't turn back," said oldPeterson, solemnly, and into his dim eyes came the light that had shonethere when, in his youth, he had stormed with his regiment the heightsof Lookout Mountain.
There was little more work done in the office that day. Business, forthe time, seemed a trivial thing. Something far greater and noblerfilled the hearts of these ardent young Americans.
They heard the tramp of marching multitudes, they saw their country'sflag unfurled, those glorious Stars and Stripes, that had never beensmirched with dishonor, or gone down in defeat. And in their heartsthey swore that what had been true in the past should be true, too, inthe future, though they might shed their blood and lose their lives inmaking it true.
A great mass meeting was organized that night and Bart and Frankattended it. The hall was thronged, and eloquent speakers voiced thefeeling that filled the hearts of all. But nothing stirred them sostrongly as when the final orator closed his speech with a scathingdenunciation of the Prussian foe, quoted from one of America's noblestsons:
"They have gone forth to battle in the spirit of their ancestral Huns.Wreckers of cathedrals, destroyers of libraries, despoilers ofcemeteries, slayers of old men and women and children, barbarians byinstinct, pirates and incendiaries by practice, terrorists by training,slaves by habit and bullies by profession--maiming, poisoning, burning,suffocating, deporting, enslaving, murderers of the very souls of apeople so far as it is in their power--the rest of the world can liveon terms of peace and good will with them only after they have drainedto the dregs the bitter cup of military defeat!"
Thunders of applause swept through the hall as the speaker finished.
"Say, but that was a rattling speech," remarked Bart, as the two chumswalked home together.
"Yes," agreed Frank, "it was magnificent. But after all, Bart, it willtake more than words to win this war. It's up to us to turn thosewords into deeds. It's bullets and bayonets that count!"
Army Boys in France; or, From Training Camp to Trenches Page 6