Lieutenant Kelley was now near Nona, leaning over a little fence which divided the woods from the path.

Nona smiled. Lieutenant Kelley was just a charming, well-bred boy; it was small wonder Barbara liked and enjoyed him. Only Nona wondered a little if Barbara were making the young man more contented or less so.

“Do you think you ought to walk about like this alone?” he inquired. “You see, most of our soldiers are well behaved, but there are a whole lot of us and you cannot expect us all to be alike. Lieutenant[114] Martin and I were out together a few hours ago trying to round up a few who have fallen from grace. I’m not much on discipline, I’m too easy; but Martin is a great fellow for discipline. I must say, though, he is equally hard on himself; but then he thinks and dreams of nothing but this war, does not seem to have another wish, not even an affection outside of it. Do you mind my confiding in you? He has just been raking me over the coals for what he says is my too great familiarity with the men. But you see, I thought we were fighting to make the world safe for democracy and I’ve an idea the men will do as much for me as for him. Martin is not popular; I worry over the fact sometimes since he really is a fine fellow once you know him. But at present he is worked up over the idea that there may even be spies here among our own men, has had some such suggestion made to him from those higher up. So he keeps on the lookout and if the soldiers find out he is watching them they won’t like it.

[114]

“To me the idea of a traitor in our own[115] camp is incredible, but this whole German spy business always has been. I don’t know whether I ought to speak of this even to you.”

[115]

Nona shook her head. “No, I suppose not, although it is the thing we all think about, even if we do not speak of it. To have the Germans find where our camp is, or how many men we have over here, or when the great moment of real work comes, these things must never happen! Yet I agree with you I simply cannot believe there is anyone who would, or who could betray us for that matter. But I won’t walk far and I am not alone.” Nona still held her hand on Duke’s silver-gray head, the dog quiet as the Proverbial sentinel.

“Wish I could go along with you,” Lieutenant Kelley answered. “But I must be back in camp as I’ve important work to do before taps.”

Then, vaulting over the fence, he went on toward 

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