ternation. He
feared that she was taking an incredible risk with her own health and
safety in order that her adored young countess should not be
disappointed. Yet it was soon evident that the middle-aged English
spinster was an accomplished horsewoman.

Along the Rhine that afternoon in the late April sunshine the water
shone like rusty gold. High on the opposite hills the old feudal castles
looked to Major Jimmie like the castles he had read of in the fairy
stories of his childhood. Moreover, it was easy even for a prosaic
soldier, such as Major James Hersey considered himself to be, to think
of the little Countess Charlotta Scherin as the heroine of almost any
romance, even of one's own romance.

CHAPTER XX

_Nora Jamison Explains_

IT was toward the end of the same week that a note arrived for Major
James Hersey from Sonya Clark. She asked him to make an appointment with
Colonel Winfield in order that he might see her and one of her Red Cross
nurses as soon as possible. Would Major Hersey also try to be present?
There was a reason, which he would understand, why his presence might be
necessary.

Colonel Winfield and Sonya Clark were great friends, as the colonel had
been one of the commanders of a regiment stationed near the Red Cross
hospital in the neighborhood of Chateau-Thierry for many months before
the close of the war.

The colonel, however, was not in his library at the moment of Major
Hersey's arrival. Sonya Clark and Nora Jamison were there awaiting his
appearance.

"We are a few moments early; I suppose the colonel will be here
directly," Sonya remarked. "You may not approve of our having come first
to the colonel's quarters instead of seeing one of the heads of our
secret service," she continued, "but since neither Miss Jamison nor I
knew exactly what we should do, we decided to make a report directly to
you. Then you will know what should be done. Secrecy seemed to us of
first importance."

During Sonya's speech Colonel Winfield had come into his room and now
apologized for his delay.

Nora Jamison had never met the distinguished officer before, and
therefore looked a little frightened, but a glance at Major Jimmie's
interested face reassured her.

After all he was the one person who would substantiate the story she had
to tell, for even if he had no positive evidence at least his suspicions
would coincide with her knowledge.

"You are sure there is no one who may overhear us, Col