FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111  
112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   >>   >|  
"He's used to cyclones, and I've always had a sort of feeling that he could take care of himself in heavy weather." Nothing daunted, Buzz went bowling off in search of Yancey, and McGee crossed the 'drome to Cowan's headquarters. The excited enthusiasm with which McGee began his report to Cowan was quickly cooled by the Major's expressionless indifference. Throughout McGee's narration of the events of the morning, Cowan continued studying a sheaf of papers lying on the desk before him, now and then penciling thereon some memorandum or brief endorsement. That part of the report dealing with the actions of the lone Nieuport, which seemed to have a system of signals to insure safe passage over the lines, brought from the Major no more than a throaty, "Hum-m." It angered McGee, and brought from him a heated charge which under other conditions he would have hesitated to make. "And the man who was piloting that plane is a member of this squadron," he blurted out. Cowan casually turned a sheet of paper. "Indeed," he replied, continuing his reading. It was maddening. "Has Siddons reported to you, sir?" McGee asked, pointedly. "Yes." Cowan arose and looked straight at the flushed young pilot. His eyes were uncommunicative. "Lieutenant Siddons just left here with Colonel Watts, going back to Wing headquarters," he said. "I may tell you, Lieutenant, that the Colonel came down a short time after Siddons hopped off, and gave me a most uncomfortable half hour for sending him over. We will discuss it no further, and I charge you with absolute silence in the matter. You are to say nothing, to anyone, concerning this entire matter. You understand?" "I understand that I'm to keep silent, sir--but I don't understand the rest of it." "It isn't necessary that you do. That is all, Lieutenant." "But what about that 'drome I located at Fere-en-Tardenois? I think it is Count von Herzmann's Cir--" "You think wrong, McGee, but whatever you think, don't think out loud. That is all, Lieutenant." "Yes, sir. And there are no orders for--" "Orders will be a little more secret--in the future." Cowan's voice was crisp, and carried a note of dismissal. "Yes, sir." McGee saluted stiffly, turned on his heel and walked from the room, steaming with anger. Outside the door he picked up a small stone from the newly graveled walk and hurled it singing through the top of a nearby poplar. He simply had to throw something. "You poo
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111  
112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Lieutenant
 

Siddons

 

understand

 
turned
 
charge
 
brought
 

matter

 

report

 

headquarters

 

Colonel


entire
 
silent
 

discuss

 

uncomfortable

 

sending

 

silence

 

hopped

 

absolute

 

Outside

 

picked


steaming
 

saluted

 

dismissal

 
stiffly
 

walked

 
simply
 
poplar
 

nearby

 

graveled

 

hurled


singing

 

carried

 
Tardenois
 
located
 

Herzmann

 
secret
 

future

 

Orders

 

orders

 

continuing


continued

 

morning

 
studying
 

papers

 
events
 
narration
 

expressionless

 

indifference

 
Throughout
 

memorandum