ut I wanted it to be a stunt, as you
might say."

"'Tain't no stunt," Uncle Jeb said. "Who's writin' yer from out in Ohio?
I see the postmark. 'Tain't them kids from out Dayton way, I hope?"

Tom opened the letter and read aloud:

DEAR TOM:

When I save a fellow's life I claim the right to call him by his
first name, even if I've never seen him. If anybody ever tells me
again that the world is a big place, I'll tell them it's about the
size of a shell-hole, no bigger, and that's small enough, as you and
I know. All I can say is, "Well, well!" And you're the same Thomas
Slade!

And the funny part of it is, we wouldn't know each other if we met
in the street. That's because we met in a shell-hole. I tried to
hunt you up along the line, made inquiries in the hospital at
Rheims, and tried to get a line on you from the Red Cross and
Y.M.C.A. Nothing doing. Somebody told me you were in the Flying
Corps. I guess I must have fainted while they were taking you away.
Anyway, when I woke up I was in a dressing station, trying to get my
breath. I asked what became of you and nobody seemed to know. One
said you were in the Messenger Service. When I left France I didn't
even know you were alive.

And now you turn up in Temple Camp office and tell me to write you
at Temple Camp. What are you doing up there before the season opens,
anyway? I bet you're there for your health.

Do you know what I'm thinking of doing? I'm thinking of making a
trip to camp and looking over our dug-outs and seeing what kind of a
place you have, before I bring my scouts. How would that strike you?
I've got three patrols and take it from me, they're a bigger job
than winning the war. They're all crazy for August first to arrive.

Well, Tommy old boy, I'm glad I've met you at last. I have a hunch
you're kind of tall, with gray eyes and curly hair. Am I right? I'm
about medium height and very handsome. Hair red--to suggest the
camp-fire.

I don't know whether my scouts will let me off for a week or two,
but my boss wants me to take a good rest before I knuckle down to
work. I'm off for August anyway. Don't expect me before that, but if
I should show up on a surprise raid, don't drop dead. I may go over
the top some fine day and drop in on you like a hand grenade. Are
you there all alone?

Write me again and