ent. If our Intelligence Department should wish to
ask me questions later, why I may be able to answer them."
Colonel Winfield rose and walked over to Nora.
"You have given me extraordinarily valuable information, Miss Jamison. I
shall see that it reaches the War Department at once. I have always
insisted that women make the best members of the secret service. But
under the circumstances I feel that I have the right to tell you this.
We did know something of this plot you have just unveiled. What we did
not know was where to find the centre of the conspiracy in Coblenz. I
think you need have no uneasiness, the Kaiser will never be saved from
the consequences of his acts while the allied armies are policing the
Rhine. However, Miss Jamison I am glad to have had you in Coblenz and
think you have justified your coming to Germany. May I congratulate a
Red Cross girl for another variety of service to her country. Now you
are tired, shall I not send you back to the hospital in my car?"
But Sonya Clark shook her head.
"No, thank you, Colonel Winfield. Dr. Clark is to have one of the Red
Cross automobiles come for us, which is probably now waiting around the
corner. We wished our visit to you to be known to as few persons as
possible. Major Hersey will see us to the car. Goodby."
CHAPTER XXI
_The Rainbow Bridge_
ONE afternoon in May, Sonya Clark was entertaining a number of friends
among the American officers and soldiers in Coblenz in the garden back
of the American Red Cross hospital.
During the early spring the Red Cross girls had devoted many leisure
hours to digging and planting flower seed on the level space just behind
the old building and overlooking the banks of the Rhine.
This afternoon this spot was gay with spring flowers, also there were
old rose vines climbing high on the grey stone walls, now a delicate
green but promising a rich bloom in June.
These were troubled days in Germany, the most troubled since the arrival
of the American Army of Occupation. A short time before the allied peace
terms had been presented to the German delegates in Versailles; since
then all Germany had been crying aloud protests against a just
retribution. Germany was in official mourning.
Yet the Americans in Coblenz, soldiers and civilians alike, were
undisturbed, knowing Germany would sign the terms when the final moment
arrived.
Today something of greater importance was taking place among Sonya
Clark
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