lled out of the garage, the door of which closed as silently
behind them as it had opened. Ruth made up her mind that Merz was
quite as infested with French spies as the towns behind the French
lines were infested with those of the Germans.

The car left the town quickly. She remembered the road over which she
had traveled that morning. They entered the Marchand estate by the
same rear gate where only one sleepy guard hailed them and did not even
look at the papers when he observed Tom's uniform.

"Farewell," whispered the count as they approached the gardener's
cottage. "I may not see you soon again, Captain. Nor the Fraulein.
Best of luck!"

They alighted. The car wheeled and was gone. Good Frau Krause met
Ruth at the door, hurried her up to the small room and there helped her
into the uniform of the sub-lieutenant of Uhlans.

When Ruth came down into the parlor of the cottage she found two other
officers of apparently her own regiment awaiting her. Tom rushed to
her. But she only gave him her hand.

"Manifestly this is no place for renewed protestations of brotherly
regard, Tommy," she said demurely. "I presume we have to go through
all the difficulties we did last night, Major?"

"And quickly," muttered Major Henri Marchand, looking away from them.
"There is something on foot. I should not be surprised if the promised
attack and advance under barrage fire is to begin before morning."

"I am ready," the girl said simply.

"Here is the car I sent for," the Frenchman said, raising his hand as
he heard the automobile without. "You ahead, Captain. Remember, you
are our superior officer."

They filed out. The car which the major and Ruth had used in reaching
the gardener's cottage from the German front stood panting on the
drive. The three got in.

They wheeled around, boldly passing the front of the Marchand house
where the general and his staff lived and where Tom had been an
unwilling guest for three days, and so reached the main entrance of the
estate.

Here their papers were scrutinized, but superficially. Captain von
Brenner's name was already known. Leutnant Gilder and Sub-Leutnant
Louden were remembered from the previous evening.

The car started again. It slipped between the massive stone posts of
the gateway. It sped toward the front. But all the peril was yet
ahead.

"How can we get through the German trenches if they are already filled
with the shock troops that will be sen