ned. "We all pull 'em."

Sim turned and hurried away without another word. Stan was still smiling
as he entered the colonel's office. O'Malley scowled up at him.

"Did you bop him one?" he asked.

The colonel was seated at his desk. He looked from Stan to O'Malley and
lifted his eyebrows.

"No," Stan said. "I made a date to have lunch with him."

O'Malley's eyes opened wide. The colonel leaned back. "Go ahead with
your story, Lieutenant," he said.

O'Malley finished his story and the colonel considered the matter for a
few minutes.

"It sounds fantastic," he finally said. "But it fits in very neatly with
what we have been able to learn about German fighter tactics. I think we
should look into it. I'll let you men know what I plan to do."

"Could we have any special assignment growing out of this?" Stan asked.

"You will get the special assignment," the colonel promised.

"Thank you, sir," Stan answered as he got to his feet.

They saluted and left the office. O'Malley was still in a sour mood.

"You made up with that Jones bird?"

"I did," Stan said. "Now let's head for the mess."

When they entered the mess, the boys greeted them warmly and crowded
around. There was no trace of resentment or jealousy. The fellows were
eager to know what had happened over Huls. Stan and O'Malley were the
only two pilots to get back. Sim sat at a table alone.

Stan talked with the boys a while, then walked over to where Sim was
seated. He pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked.

"Glad to have you," Sim said and meant it.

After a bit O'Malley came over. He had noticed that Stan and Sim were
laughing over something and he did not know what to make of it.

"Sit down," Stan greeted him. "Have a pie on me."

"Sure, an' I'll do that," O'Malley said. He sat down and waited to hear
what he could.

Stan and Sim laughed and talked and finally O'Malley joined in. It was
clear that the boys had buried the hatchet, so he saw no reason for
being grumpy. Besides, the cook had just made some blueberry pies and
they were extra tasty.

After mess Stan got a call from Colonel Holt and hurried off, leaving
O'Malley and Sim together. The colonel had two officers with him when
Stan went in to see him.

"General Ward and Major Kulp," the colonel said. "This is Lieutenant
Wilson."

The men shook hands and all sat down. The colonel passed several papers
across to Stan.

"You are on special detail. You'll