said the C. O. had lost all his money
and his Iron Cross, and was going to hold Captain Sands until he could
win them back."

He then urged her, the moment night fell, to retire from our dangerous
position, and to feel no anxiety whatever.

"If I know him," were his parting words, "he'll pick that German as
clean as a chicken. Pinochle will win the war," he added and rode away.

During the remainder of the afternoon Tish sat by herself, knitting and
thinking. It was undoubtedly then that she formed the plan which in its
execution has brought us so much hateful publicity, yet without which
the town of V----might still be in German hands.

II

We knew, of course, that Tish's fine brain was working on the problem of
rescuing Charlie Sands; and Mr. Burton was on the whole rather keen
about it.

"I've got to get a German officer some way," he said. "She's probably
planning now to see Von Hindenburg about Sands. She generally aims high,
I've discovered. And in that case I rather fancy myself taking the old
chap back to Hilda as a souvenir." He then reflected and scowled. "But
she'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 me
alone, for Heaven's sake. He is perfectly safe. I only hope he took his
toothbrush, that's all."

It is a proof of Tish's gift of concentration that she thought out her
plan so thoroughly under the circumstances, for the valley was shelled
all that afternoon. We found an abandoned battery position and the three
of us took refuge in it, leaving Tish outside knitting calmly. It was a
poor place, but by taking in our folding table and chairs we made it
fairly comfortable, and Mr. Burton taught us a most interesting game of
cards, in which one formed pairs and various combinations, and counted
with coffee beans. If one had four of any one kind one took all the
beans.

It was dusk when Tish appeared in the doorway, and we noticed that she
wore a look of grim determination.

"I have been to the top of the hill," she said, "and I believe that I
know now the terrain thoroughly. In case my first plan fails we may be
compelled to desperate measures--but I find my present situation
intolerable. Never before has a member of my family been taken by an
enemy. We die, but we do not surrender."

"You can speak for your own family, then," Aggie said. "I've