morethoroughly. Aggie said afterward that she herself had felt at that timethat peculiar itching in the palms of her hands which always with herpresages bad news.
"If he asks about those grenades, Lizzie, you can reply. Say you don'tknow anything about them. That's the truth."
"I know where they are," I said with some acidity. "And what's more, Iknow I'm not going to ride a foot in that ambulance with thatconcentrated extract of hell under my feet."
"Lizzie----"
She began sternly, but just then the two men came back, and theofficer's face was uncomfortable.
"I--from your demeanor," he said, "and--er--the fact that you haven'tmentioned it I rather gather that you have not heard the er--the news,Miss Carberry."
"I didn't see the morning papers," Tish said with the dry wit socharacteristic of her.
"You have a nephew, I understand, at the Front?"
Tish's face suddenly grew set and stern.
"Have--or had?" she asked in a terrible voice.
"Oh, it's not so bad as all that. In fact, he's a lot safer just nowthan you are, for instance. But it's rather unfortunate in a way too. Hehas been captured by the enemy."
Aggie ran to her then with the blackberry cordial, but Tish waved heraway.
"A prisoner!" she said. "A nephew of mine has allowed himself to becaptured by the Germans? It is incredible!"
"Lots of us are doing it," he said. "It's no disgrace. In fact, it's amark of courage. A fellow goes farther than he ought to, and the firstthing he knows he's got a belt of bayonet points, and it is a time fordiscretion."
"Leave me, please," Tish said majestically. "I am ashamed. I am humbled.I must think."
Shortly after that she called us back and said: "I have come to thisconclusion: The situation is unbearable and must be rectified. Do youknow where he is enduring this shameful captivity?"
"I wouldn't take it too hard, Miss Tish," said the officer. "He's verycomfortable, as we happen to know. One of our runners got back at dawnthis morning. He said he left your nephew in the church at V----,playing pinochle with the German C. O. The runner was hidden in thecellar under the church, and he said the C. O. had lost all his moneyand his Iron Cross, and was going to hold Captain Sands until he couldwin them back."
He then urged her, the moment night fell, to retire from our dangerousposition, and to feel no anxiety whatever.
"If I know him," were his parting words, "he'll pick that German asclean as a chicken. Pinochle will win the war," he added and rode away.
During the remainder of the afternoon Tish sat by herself, knitting andthinking. It was undoubtedly then that she formed the plan which in itsexecution has brought us so much hateful publicity, yet without whichthe town of V----might still be in German hands.
II
We knew, of course, that Tish's fine brain was working on the problem ofrescuing Charlie Sands; and Mr. Burton was on the whole rather keenabout it.
"I've got to get a German officer some way," he said. "She's probablyplanning now to see Von Hindenburg about Sands. She generally aims high,I've discovered. And in that case I rather fancy myself taking the oldchap back to Hilda as a souvenir." He then reflected and scowled. "Butshe'd be flirting with him in ten minutes, damn her!" he added.
Tish refused both sympathy and conversation during the afternoon.
On Aggie's offering her both she merely said: "Go away and leave mealone, for Heaven's sake. He is perfectly safe. I only hope he took histoothbrush, that's all."
It is a proof of Tish's gift of concentration that she thought out herplan so thoroughly under the circumstances, for the valley was shelledall that afternoon. We found an abandoned battery position and the threeof us took refuge in it, leaving Tish outside knitting calmly. It was apoor place, but by taking in our folding table and chairs we made itfairly comfortable, and Mr. Burton taught us a most interesting game ofcards, in which one formed pairs and various combinations, and countedwith coffee beans. If one had four of any one kind one took all thebeans.
It was dusk when Tish appeared in the doorway, and we noticed that shewore a look of grim determination.
"I have been to the top of the hill," she said, "and I believe that Iknow now the terrain thoroughly. In case my first plan fails we may becompelled to desperate measures--but I find my present situationintolerable. Never before has a member of my family been taken by anenemy. We die, but we do not surrender."
"You can speak for your own family, then," Aggie said. "I've got afamily, too, but it's got sense enough to surrender when necessary. Andif you think Libby Prison was any treat to my grandfather----"
Tish ignored her.
"It is my intention," she went on, "to appeal to the general of hisdivision to rescue my nephew and thus wipe out the stain on the familyhonor. Failing that, I am prepared to go to any length." Here she eyedAggie coldly. "It is no time for craven spirits," she said. "We may bearrested and court-martialed for being so near the Front, to say nothingof what may eventuate in case of a refusal. I intend to leave no stoneunturned, but I think it only fair to ask for a vote of confidence.Those in the affirmative will please signify by saying 'aye.'"
"Aye," I said stoutly. I would not fail my dear Tish in such a crisis.Aggie followed me a moment later, but feebly, and Mr. Burton said: "Idon't like the idea any more than I do my right eye. Why bother with thegeneral? I'm for going to V---- and breaking up the pinochle game, andbringing home the bacon in the shape of a Hun or two."
However, I have reason to think that he was joking, and that subsequentevents startled him considerably, for I remember that when it was allover and we were in safety once again he kept saying over and over in adazed voice: "Well, can you beat it? Can you beat it?"
In some way Tish had heard, from a battery on the hill, I think, thatheadquarters was at the foot of the hill on the other side. She made herplans accordingly.
"As soon as darkness has fallen," she said to Mr. Burton, "we threewomen shall visit the commanding officer and there make ourplea--without you, as it will be necessary to use all the softeningfeminine influence possible. One of two things will then occur: Eitherhe will rescue my nephew or--I shall."
"Now see here, Miss Tish," he protested, "you're not going to leave meout of it altogether, are you? You wouldn't break my heart, would you?Besides, you'll need me. I'm a specialist at rescuing nephews. I--I'verescued thousands of nephews in my time."
Well, she'd marked out a place that would have been a crossroads if theGerman shells had left any road, and she said if she failed with theC. O. he was to meet us there, with two baskets of cigarettes for the menin the trenches.
"Cigarettes!" he said. "What help will they be against the enemy? Unlessyou mean to wait until they've smoked themselves to death."
"Underneath the cigarettes," Tish went on calmly, "you will have anumber of grenades. If only we could repair that machine gun!" shereflected. "I dare say I can salvage an automatic rifle or two," shefinished; "though large-sized firecrackers would do. The real thing isto make a noise."
"We might get some paper bags and burst them," suggested Mr. Burton;"and if you feel that music would add to the martial effect I can playfairly well on a comb."
It was perhaps nine o'clock when we reached the crest of the hill, andhad Tish not thoughtfully brought her wire cutters along I do notbelieve we would have succeeded in reaching headquarters. We got therefinally, however, and it was in a cellar and--though I do not care toreflect on our gallant army--not as tidy as it should have been. Mr.Burton having remained behind temporarily the three of us made our wayto the entrance, and Tish was almost bayoneted by a sentry there, whowas nervous because of a number of shells falling in the vicinity.
"Take that thing away!" she said with superb scorn, pointing to thebayonet. "I don't want a hole in the only uniform I've got, young man.Watch your head, Lizzie!"
"The saints protect us!" said the sentry. "Women! Three women!"
Tish and I went down the muddy incline into the cellar, and two o
fficerswho were sitting there playing cribbage looked at us and then stood upwith a surprised expression.
Tish had assumed a most lofty attitude, and picking out the general withan unfailing eye she saluted and said: "Only the most urgent matterswould excuse my intrusion, sir. I----"
Unfortunately at that moment Aggie slipped and slid into the room feetfirst in a sitting posture. She brought up rather dazed against thetable, and for a moment both officers were too surprised to offer