said.

"And you'd get it; you're just the man," replied Alan.

"What are you going to do?" asked Fraser.

"If war breaks out?"

"Yes."

"Try and get the commission I threw up," said Alan.

"I thought so, and really I can't blame you; we shall want every man we
can get," said Duncan Fraser.

CHAPTER XIII

ALAN IS BLIND

It was about a month later when Alan called at The Forest and found Eve
Berkeley alone. Ella was with her father in London; they had accepted
her invitation to pay another visit later on. She had been waiting for
him, wondering why he did not call. She soon heard the reason.

"I have been awfully rushed," he said. "Lots of things to see to at
Chesney's before I go away."

"Go away!" she exclaimed. "Where are you going? This is rather
sudden; I am surprised."

"I have joined the army again. I have been fortunate enough to get a
commission as captain. I tried hard to get back in my old regiment,
but there was no vacancy. I shall be gazetted to the 'Sherwoods' in a
few days; they are at Derby now. There are stirring times ahead, and
I'm not sorry. It was bound to some sooner or later."

"What?"

"War."

She looked incredulous.

"Are you sure? What makes you so certain?"

"Fraser has a reliable man in Berlin; he sent the information. We have
acted upon it--in the brewery--and I did not mean to wait weeks for a
chance when war is declared," he said.

"Duncan Fraser seems to be a valuable mine of information," she said.

"He is. Do you know, he's a wonderful man, Eve."

She laughed as she replied:

"Your father always had a high opinion of his abilities."

"You and my father were jolly good friends."

"We were on excellent terms; I liked him."

"He could be very agreeable when he chose."

"And in that respect his son resembles him."

Alan laughed.

"Then I suppose you do not think I always choose to be agreeable?" he
said.

"You have lapses; sometimes you are almost rude, most abrupt, somewhat
neglectful of your best friends."

"Oh, I say! That's not a very flattering picture. To which of my best
friends have I been neglectful?" he asked.

"Myself--for one."

He looked surprised.

"That charge will not stand being put to the test," he answered.

"You have not been to see me since Ascot," she said.

"And that comes under the charge of neglect?"

"Yes. You consider me one of your friends?"

"Of course; don't ask foolish questions."

Alan l