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"Mademoiselle," said M. Lafrane, his face serious, indeed, "there are many disappointments in life, as well as many sacrifices. We saw the old woman torn from her home and from her pullets just now. The pattern of life is complex for us all. "I have come from Paris because you called me." Ruth started and looked at him closely. "I hoped that you might have something of moment to tell me.
And if so, what was his interest in the German officer who had so suddenly died in the field hospital the occupant of Cot 24, Hut H? The girl's mind was still in a whirl. Had she called Lafrane to the front for nothing at all? Had she really been stirring up a mare's nest? She listened, however, to the countess' further observations: "But yes, Mademoiselle, we all do what we may.
Ruth had called here herself on that occasion with a secret agent, Monsieur Lafrane, to clear up the mystery of a trio of criminals who had come from America to prey upon the Red Cross. These crooks had succeeded in robbing the Supply Department of the Red Cross, in which Ruth herself was engaged.
Ruth arrived at Clair again late in the evening and bade Monsieur Lafrane good-night at the hospital entrance. On the following day the girl of the Red Mill was permitted to go to the Chateau Marchand to call. The secret agent had made it plain to Ruth that he held her in no fault for the seeming fiasco of their journey to the field hospital and its vicinity.
The sudden death of the German officer in Hut H had been an act beyond human control. The disappearance of Nicko, the chocolate peddler, was an act of the military authorities. On her own part Ruth was so confused regarding Major Henri Marchand that she dared not mention his name to Monsieur Lafrane. Matters must take their natural course for a time, at least.
You can easily find out about him." "True," murmured the secret agent eagerly. Then she told him of her walk in the gloaming and what she had seen in the garden of the peasant's cot the two men dressed exactly alike. One must be the half-foolish Nicko; the other must be the spy. M. Lafrane nodded eagerly again, pursing his lips.
M. Lafrane was of the secret police, and Ruth Fielding had been in communication with him on a previous occasion. Several days passed with no reply from her communication to the police. Nor did any news reach her from the field hospital where she had been engaged, nor from her friends at the front.
Should she tell Monsieur Lafrane of her suspicion that this officer of the French army was the man whom she thought was Nicko's double? For it was Major Henri Marchand Ruth believed she had seen enter Nicko's garden and talk with him the evening before she left the field hospital to return to Clair. The major walked quietly away without even seeing Ruth.
Between her anger at them and her fear for the safety of her chickens, the old woman was in a pitiful state, indeed. Ruth looked at M. Lafrane. "Oh, can we not do anything for her?" she asked. "Military law knows no change the laws of the Medes and Persians," he said grimly. "She must go, of course " Suddenly he sat up more stiffly beside the American girl and his hand went to his cap in salute.
But the first thing she did after depositing her bag in her cell was to go to the telegraph office and put before the military censor the following message addressed to the prefect of police at Lyse, "Will you please communicate with M. Lafrane. I have something of importance to tell him." She signed her name and occupation in full to this, and was finally assured that it would be sent.
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