CHAPTER XII
STUBBS EXPLAINS
"Come along, Stubbs," said Chester. "Time is growing short. Fritz islikely to open fire most any minute."
"And the first shot is sure to hit me," said Stubbs. "Well, I can run ifI have to."
He sprang out of the shell crater as he spoke and made for the Americanlines at full speed.
"Guess we might as well do a little sprint ourselves," said Hal.
The two lads dashed after Stubbs.
Stubbs was surrounded by a crowd of soldiers when Hal and Chesterclambered into the trenches. There was amazement on the faces of most ofthe men at the fact that a man should appear from No Man's Land and notbe attired in uniform; for Stubbs wore only a plain khaki suit, cutafter the fashion of military garments, it is true, but still plainlynot a uniform.
"Glad to see you boys again," said Stubbs, as Hal and Chester walked upto him. "Where've you been all these days?"
"Fighting," said Chester, "which is more than you can say, Mr. Stubbs."
"That so?" said Stubbs in a huff. "Maybe you think I was out in No Man'sLand there for my health, eh?"
"Well, hardly," Hal broke in, "but I'll wager you didn't go out there tohave a shot at a Boche."
"Come, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester, "tell us just why you were in thatshell hole."
"I was in that hole," said Stubbs, "because the managing editor of theNew York _Gazette_ said he wanted a good descriptive story of a battle.I figured that a shell hole was as good a place as any to see what wasgoing on."
"Still a newspaper man, then, Stubbs?" said Hal.
"You bet."
"I thought you had gone out of that business," said Chester. "I rememberfinding you in Berlin once on a mission that had nothing to do with anewspaper."
"Oh, well, a fellow likes to help out once in a while," rejoined Stubbsmodestly.
"Then why don't you shoulder a gun, Stubbs?" demanded Hal.
"Look here," said Stubbs angrily. "I'm getting good and tired of havingyou fellows pick on me all the time. I haven't joined out because, inthe first place, I'm no fighter. I'm of a great deal more value in thiswar in my present capacity. There are enough young men to do thefighting. I'm trying to keep the folks back home in touch with whatyou're doing. And you can believe me or not, they are glad to be kept intouch."
"I've no doubt of it, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal with a smile. "Never mind,we won't pester you any more for a while."
"For a while, eh?" said Stubbs, grinning. "I didn't think you could meanpermanently."
At that moment Captain O'Neil approached. Hal and Chester saluted andstood at attention.
"You had better turn in, lieutenants," said the captain. He eyed Stubbsclosely. "What's this man doing here?" he wanted to know.
"War correspondent, sir," replied Hal, and introduced Stubbs.
"You have no business at the front, Mr. Stubbs," said Captain O'Neil."I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave. Not that I am afraid you'lllet loose any military secrets--the censor will see to that when youfile your dispatches--but it's against orders, you know."
"Maybe so," said Stubbs, "but somebody has to tell the people at homewhat is going on over here."
"The proper authorities will see to that, sir."
"Well," said Stubbs, "in my mind the newspapers are the properauthorities in this case. They know how to tell the people so they willunderstand."
"I don't wish to quarrel with you, sir," said Captain O'Neil sharply.
"Nor I," said Stubbs. "I'm not a fighting man, captain."
"Then, sir, you must leave at once or I shall be forced to place youunder arrest."
"Oh, no you won't," said Stubbs grimly. "Hold on," he cried, as CaptainO'Neil took a step forward. "No offense, captain. Just have a look atthis paper."
He produced a document from his pocket and passed it to the captain.Captain O'Neil read it quickly and then passed it back.
"Why didn't you say in the first place that you had a pass from thecommander-in-chief?"
"You didn't give me time, captain."
Captain O'Neil turned to Hal and Chester.
"You may care for the company of war correspondents," he said with someheat. "Every man to his choice. But I don't."
He turned on his heel and strode away.
"There, Stubbs," said Chester. "You've made him mad."
"Well, I can't help it because he is so touchy, can I?" asked Stubbs.
"Perhaps not. But there was no need to offend him."
"Most of these officers are a trifle too cocky," declared Stubbs. "Ithought I'd take him down a peg."
"Don't forget, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester, taking a step forward, "thatI'm an officer, too. I can have you placed under arrest, you know."
"You won't, though," said Stubbs.
"Won't I?" said Chester. "Why won't I?"
"In the first place," said Stubbs, "because you are too glad to see meagain. And in the second place, because I've got something to tell you."
"Out with it then, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal.
"Wait a minute, now, just wait a minute," said Stubbs. "Take me to yourquarters where we can be quiet. You'll have to put me up for the night,anyhow, and we might as well be comfortable while we chat."
The three made their way to the lads' quarters. Stubbs sat down on theedge of Hal's bunk and produced a pipe.
"Learned to smoke yet?" he asked of the boys.
"Not yet, Stubbs," said Hal, "and I guess we never will."
"Take my advice and learn," said Stubbs. "It's a great comfort to a mansometimes."
"Perhaps," said Chester. "But it's a habit too easily cultivated and toohard to stop. I'm satisfied without tobacco."
"Every man to his taste, as Captain O'Neil says," commented Stubbs witha laugh.
"Come, Stubbs," said Hal. "You said you had something to tell us. Outwith it."
Stubbs puffed away for some moments in silence and it was plain to Haland Chester that he was thinking deeply.
"I suppose I really should say nothing," said Stubbs, "but I know that Ican depend on you boys to repeat nothing I say. Besides, I've simply gotto express my feelings to someone."
"If it's only an expression of feeling, maybe it isn't so importantafter all, Stubbs," remarked Chester.
"Well," said Stubbs, "the thing that I mean is this. I am willing to betanything I ever expect to have that what I have learned in the last fewdays is going to result in an Allied offensive that will put an end tothis war."
Hal and Chester sprang to their feet.
"You're sure, Stubbs?" demanded Chester.
"I'm sure enough in my own mind," declared the war correspondent, wavingthe lads back to their seats. "Of course, it is always possible thatthings won't work out the way I figure; but knowing the caliber of acertain man in Uncle Sam's expeditionary forces I figure that they willwork out."
"Explain, Mr. Stubbs," said Hal.
"Has it ever struck either of you," said Stubbs slowly, between puffs athis pipe, "that it's all foolishness for the Allies to remain snug andwait until the enemy does the attacking? I mean, haven't you thoughtthat perhaps more could be accomplished if the Allies carried thefighting to the foe?"
Hal nodded.
"It has," he said.
"Well, the same thought has struck some one else," declared Stubbs.
"You mean----" began Chester.
"Exactly," said Stubbs. "I mean General Pershing, unless I have beengrossly misinformed."
"You mean that General Pershing will order an American advance?"exclaimed Chester.
"No, no. He can't do that. Marshal Foch is commander-in-chief of theAllied forces and it's up to him to decide. What I mean is that GeneralPershing is not altogether pleased with the progress of events. I aminformed that he believes a grand offensive on all fronts would do moretoward ending the war right now than any other one thing."
"Well, why doesn't he tell Marshal Foch so?" demanded Chester.
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"That," said Stubbs quietly, "is what I am informed he intends to do."
"Hurray!" shouted Hal.
"Quiet," said Stubbs sharply. "Not a word of what I have told you mustbe repeated. It doesn't make any difference how I know all this. It'ssufficient that I do know it. However, things may not work out as Iexpect. It is possible that General Pershing's advice may not prevail.He may be overruled by Marshal Foch and General Haig at their conferenceThursday."
"So there is going to be a conference, eh?" said Hal.
"Yes. As I say, the conference is to be held Thursday, day afterto-morrow. It will be held in Marshal Foch's headquarters. It may resultin developments and it may not. At all events, I am quite certain thatGeneral Pershing will go to the conference prepared to urge an immediateadvance."
"By Jove! That sounds awfully good to me!" declared Chester.
"And to me," agreed Hal. "I'd like to be present at that conference."
"We'd all like to be there," said Stubbs dryly. "But there's not achance. Not a chance."
But, as it developed, there was a chance; not a chance for Stubbs, warcorrespondent, perhaps, but more than a chance for Hal and Chester.
It was pure accident that gave them this opportunity.