d man, but I
put up with it, figuring that our paths would soon separate. But they
didn't. When we arrived in France I tackled my job with all the energy
in me; I tried for results. Nelson, I discovered in time, was concerned
only in taking entire credit for all that he and I and the whole
organization under us accomplished and in advancing himself. I worked;
he played politics.

"You are not military men, so I sha'n't bore you with army terms or
technical details, but--by one means or another he managed to intrench
himself in a position of actual authority over me not at all in accord
with our purpose or our instructions. I swallowed my resentment, for it
seemed rather petty, rather selfish, in a time like that, to divert my
attention from the important work in hand to quarrel with him. You
understand? Then, too, he was not making good and I was, and I thought
time would surely cure the trouble. He must have appreciated my
feelings--nevertheless, he persisted in abusing his powers; he began
finally to really interfere with me, to call me off of important tasks
and humiliate me with futile assignments, and I realized that I was
threatened with failure through his meddling. This may sound trivial to
you"--the speaker raised his eyes to his audience--"but, take my word
for it, there were many instances of the kind over there. Jealousy,
intrigue, malevolence, petty spite, drove more than one earnest,
patriotic officer to rebellion and--ruined many a career.

"I rebelled. I had to, or be made ridiculous. I warned him, privately,
as man to man. He ignored the warning. Then I prepared a complete
report showing by the copies of his orders, by the records of our
respective accomplishments, by our correspondence, how he had
systematically and maliciously endeavored to nullify my work and--and
the like. It was not a pretty report to read. I turned it in to him for
submission higher up.

"Then it was that he outgeneraled me. He was furious, of course, but he
apologized--abjectly. He admitted that he had been wrong; that he had
imposed upon me. He promised to play fair if I'd permit him to withhold
the report, and--I was deceived. No man likes to be thought a cry-baby.
Those were eventful times; personal complaints were not welcomed in any
quarter--not with the world rocking on its foundations. I was glad to
accept his promises.

"For a while we worked in harmony. I became engaged in an intricate
case, having to do with a leak