"
"Eh? The nice what? What are you talkin' about, Babbie?"
Babbie, now somewhat abashed and ashamed of her involuntary
outburst, turned red and hesitated.
"I mean," she stammered, "I mean he--he's the--officer one that--
that was nice to us that day."
"That day? What day? . . . Just excuse the little girl, won't
you?" he added, apologetically, turning to the caller. "She's made
a mistake; she thinks she knows you, I guess."
"But I DO, Uncle Jed. Don't you remember? Over at the flying
place?"
The officer himself took a step forward.
"Why, of course," he said, pleasantly. "She is quite right. I
thought your faces were familiar. You and she were over at the
camp that day when one of our construction plans was lost. She
found it for us. And Lieutenant Rayburn and I have been grateful
many times since," he added.
Jed recognized him then.
"Well, I snum!" he exclaimed. "Of course! Sartin! If it hadn't
been for you I'd have lost my life and Babbie'd have lost her clam
chowder. That carpenter feller would have had me hung for a spy in
ten minutes more. I'm real glad to see you, Colonel--Colonel Wood.
That's your name, if I recollect right."
"Not exactly. My name is Grover, and I'm not a colonel, worse
luck, only a major."
"Sho! Grover, eh? Now how in the nation did I get it Wood? Oh,
yes, I cal'late 'twas mixin' up groves and woods.
Pages:
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259