dhouse 97
XV. He Does Most of the Talking and Takes All the Blame 103
XVI. He Sees a Little and Hears Much 107
XVII. He Awaits the Worst and Receives a Surprise 115
XVIII. He Talks With Mr. Conne and Sees the Boys
Start for the Front 121
XIX. He Is Cast Away and Is in Great Peril 129
XX. He Is Taken Aboard the "Tin Fish" and Questioned 135
XXI. He Is Made a Prisoner and Makes a New Friend 144
XXII. He Learns Where He Is Going and Finds a Ray of Hope 151
XXIII. He Makes a High Resolve and Loses a Favorite Word 154
XXIV. He Goes to the Civilian Camp and Doesn't Like It 161
XXV. He Visits the Old Pump and Receives a Shock 169
XXVI. He Has an Idea Which Suggests Another 176
XXVII. He Plans a Desperate Game and Does a Good Job 185
XXVIII. He Disappears--for the Time Being 192

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TOM SLADE ON A TRANSPORT

CHAPTER I

TOM MEETS ONE FRIEND AND IS REMINDED OF ANOTHER

As Tom Slade went through Terrace Avenue on his way to the Temple Camp
office, where he was employed, he paused beside a truck backed up
against the curb in front of a certain vacant store. Upon it was a big
table and wrestling with the table was Pete Connigan, the truckman--the
very same Pete Connigan at whom Tom used to throw rocks and whom he had
called a "mick." It reminded him of old times to see Pete.

The vacant store, too, aroused dubious memories, for there he had stolen
many an apple in the days when Adolf Schmitt had his "cash grocery" on
the premises, and used to stand in the doorway with his white apron on,
shaking his fist as Tom scurried down the street and calling, "I'll
_strafe_ you, you young loafer!"

Tom had wondered what _strafing_ was, until long afterward he heard
that poor Belgium was being _strafed_; and then he knew.

"Wal, ef 'tain't Tommy Slade!" said Pete, with a cordial grin of
surprise. "I ain't seen ye in two year! Ye've growed ter be a big,
strappin' lad, ain't ye?"

"Hello, Pete," said Tom, shaking the Irishman's brawny hand. "Glad to
see you. I've been away working on a ship for quite a while. That's one
reason you haven't seen