lied Frank.
"It usually is in such exploits," was the visitor's reply. "You know
the old saying that 'fortune favors the brave.' But I'll spare your
blushes and come down to something that will probably interest you
more. Did you get that letter from Andre, my brother, about your
mother's property?"
"Why, no, I didn't," answered Frank. "When was it written?"
"That's strange," said the colonel, a puzzled look coming over his
face. "I received a letter from Andre day before yesterday and he said
that he had written to you by the same mail."
"Well, you know the mail is rather irregular just now," replied Frank.
"No doubt it will get to me before long. Perhaps your brother told you
something of what was in the letter he wrote to me."
"Not in detail. He just mentioned that he was very anxious to get hold
of a former butler in your grandfather's family who is now in the
ranks. They had his testimony in part before he was called into
service, but he had not been cross-examined. Andre seems to feel sure
that he can extract information from him that will aid your mother to
come into possession of the estate. Andre's judgment is good, and as
you know, he is one of the leading lawyers of Paris."
"He is too good, and you also, to take all this trouble in our behalf,"
said Frank warmly. "My mother and I can never thank you enough."
"The debt will be always on our side," responded the colonel with a
wave of the hand. "By the way, how is your mother? I hope she is
well."
"She was well when I last heard from her," replied Frank, "and
happy--that is as happy as she can be while we are separated from each
other."
"She is a true daughter of France," said the colonel, "and she should
be happy to have so brave a son. Please remember me to her when you
write. _Au revoir_," and with a friendly smile he passed on.
"Still hobnobbing with the swells, I see," remarked Billy, as Frank
rejoined his chums.
"He was telling me of a letter that his brother had written me about my
mother's property," explained Frank. "Queer that it hasn't reached me.
Did any of you fellows get any mail yesterday?"
"I got a couple of letters," replied Billy. "Tom handed them to me
just before we went into action yesterday morning."
"Come to think of it, Tom was asking for you at the same time," said
Bart. "He'd brought down the mail for the bunch. He said he had a
letter for you. But you weren't around at the time and he s
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