nsely interested.

He had often found himself repeating that sad message and picturing the
suffering of the poor woman who, in dying, did not know what would be
the fate of her twin children, thus rudely separated, the one to be
carried away by a remorseless relative and the other cast adrift in the
midst of the fighting zone.

And so when Tom hinted that fortune had allowed him to secure valuable
information connected with the abduction of Helene Anstey Jack's
interest leaped upward by bounds. The spirit of laughter passed, and he
was now only alert for news that would perhaps stand them in good stead.

"Was it about that man, Von Berthold, Tom?" he demanded.

"No other," came the answer. "Nellie gave me the tip, and I made some
inquiries of a prisoner she had picked out from among those who claimed
to be Lorrainers and fighting for Germany against their wishes, because
they were forced into it. She had dressed a wound for him, and had got
to talking with him. I was able to treat him to some cigarettes, and
also gave him a cake of chocolate on the sly; because that's really
against orders, you know. But he promised to nibble it in secret, and
not let any one see him."

"I'm really ashamed of you, Tom!" said Harry, shaking his forefinger in
a threatening fashion, and pretending to scowl. "A fine example to set
to other pilots in our unit, or any of the doughboys in fact. But then
you'll claim you had a good object in doing it; and of course
circumstances alter army rules, as well as ordinary cases. Go on, and
talk some more."

"Well, from this prisoner I learned that General von Berthold's first
name is really Anton, which you remember she used in telling of his
carrying little Helene off."

"We'll call that point settled, then," affirmed Jack decisively. "This
German officer whose brilliant work has often been mentioned in
dispatches to the Paris newspapers, is Jeanne's uncle. What else did you
pick up?"

"He's quartered right now in an old chateau on a height that overlooks
this whole sector of country, though some miles beyond the Argonne
forest," explained the one who was telling the story.

"For a short time only," grimly announced Harry, "because the doughboys
have got the Boche on the run, and before long we'll see him skipping
out for Sedan and the border. I suppose when this famous general does
have to give up his fine chateau he'll send it sky-high with explosives,
as they always do, so as to leave