Part 28 (1/2)

”Don't get downcast, old fellow,” he told hih thick and thin so far Whether you find this Steven Meredith in Sempst or not, you're bound to meet up with hiritted his teeth, and the old look of resolution came across his face, which the others knew full well

”Thank you for saying that, Rob,” he observed steadily ”You know that once my mind is made up I'm a poor one to cry quits I'll follow that man to China, or the headwaters of the A as I can put one foot in front of the other”

”And,” said Tubby vehemently, ”here are two loyal comrades who mean to stick to you, Merritt, to the very end”

CHAPTER XXVI

FOR HUMANITY'S SAKE

”I think we're co to Sempst,” said Rob

It was nearly half an hour after Merritt had so firame, no matter if he should meet with a bitter disappointment in the tohich had been the loadstone for their advance through the heart of war-stricken Belgium

”Then Brussels can't be very far away, over there,” said Tubby ”Gee! I only e could find soe of clothes”

”What ht you were so proud of your suit of khaki that nothing could teive it up”

”Oh! I didn't mean I'd really want to discard this bully suit,” Tubby hastened to explain ”Only if we couldian boys, and in that case wouldn'tat, Rob,” Merritt chuckled, ”Tubby has said a nu he was sorry about was that we couldn't have a run through Brussels Seereat notion he wanted to visit there, as he'd read a lot about the wonderful city

But you'll have to let that longing sleep until the next time you coot business in Brussels,” observed the other cunningly ”Then o in

'Course I mean if they told us here in Sempst that Mr Steven Meredith, who seeent of the Gered his residence to Brussels, so as to be in touch with army headquarters and the General Staff How about that, Merritt?”

”We won't cross rivers before we co the other to fully co so far with the intention to find our et cold feet e're right on the spot, and before we know anything that's against our having the best of success”

”Oh! you're right, Rob,” agreed Tubby ”You remember the old o--'sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof' Guess that's from the Good Book, too; but it applies to our case, all the sa to happen here in Sempst Anyway, they haven't burned this little place down, because I don't see anything that looks like ruins”

Indeed, it see close to Brussels had been induced by the Gerular field work, under proreen stuff they could fetch into the capital They, mostly women, old decrepit iven so in the fields

”I wonder if any of the

”Of course it wouldn't be likely they could talk English I've got a good notion to try it on the first one we ed Tubby ”Merritt and I will stand by to catch him if he starts to faint”

”Oh! I hope my French isn't quite that bad,” exclai it up considerable, you knohile on the steaiu e to make people understand Of course, I don't knoould be with a clodhopper who didn't happen to be as intelligent as I'd want But here's a chance, and I' to make the attempt”

”It won't kill, even if it doesn't cure,” said Merritt; ”and, Rob, if you can get hi, be sure and ask if that cheiven his responsible berth, has shut down, or if it is still in operation”

”I'll do that, Merritt,” the other pro pipe, ca in his wooden shoes, Rob stopped him He wanted to impress the fellow favorably, so as to increase the prospect for a favorable answer; and so Rob ht face when he began to air his French

The other boys stood there watching the ”circus,” as Tubby called it