“It is. It’s gospel truth, and Farnsworth will be glad to know it. Moreover, he’ll be greatly surprised. But it will be to him valuable information. When shall you see him?”

“I don’t know. I doubt if it is soon.”

“Can you telephone – no, don’t do that. Do you have a cipher code?”

“No, we don’t. But wouldn’t a sealed and registered letter do?”

“No; it’s unsafe. Try to see him as soon as you can. Now I must go. I suppose I mayn’t ask you for anything for a – a keepsake – ”

Patty’s gentle heart was touched by the sadness in the poor chap’s face, and she looked about. On the table lay a little book of verses that she was fond of and had often read.

“Take this,” she said, kindly. “It’s so tiny you can put it in your pocket.”

Gratefully he accepted the souvenir, and as he bowed himself out, Patty couldn’t help admiring his big manly figure and his military bearing.

She wandered to the piano, and absent-mindedly ran over the chorus of

“Colours flying for Victory,

For the Flag and the Girl back home.”

The ringing of the telephone bell brought her to her feet.

“Yes,” said a well-loved voice, “it’s Your Own. I’ll be with you in about twenty minutes. Good-bye.”

“My gracious goodness!” exclaimed Patty to herself. “What a sudden one he is, to be sure! He fairly takes my breath away!”

She ran to spread the good news.

“Little Billee’s coming!” she cried to Nan and Helen, who were in the sitting-room, waiting to hear the account of Lieutenant Herron’s call. But this new information quite eclipsed their interest in Herron.

“Really!” cried Nan. “When? How long will he stay?”

“Dunno. Didn’t get any details, only he’ll be here in twenty minutes and thank goodness, that other person has departed.”

“Herron? What’d he come for, anyway?”

“On an errand,” and Patty smiled to think of the ridiculous boy daring to make love to her. “He had a bee in his bonnet, – a most foolish bee, and I had to get it out for him. Oh, my Little Billee’s coming! I’m so glad!”

She danced about the room, scarce able to control her impatience for the necessary twenty minutes.

“How can I wait?” she frowned, “seems’s if I’d just perfectly fly!”

“Go and sing that favourite song of yours,” advised Nan. “That always keeps you contented.”

“I do like it, but I’m too happy to sing. I want to dance or fly!”

Patty executed some most intricate and marvellous dancing steps and like a fairy girl indeed, she looked, as with waving arms and graceful gestures, she pirouetted round the room.

“Daughter of the Regiment,” she announced, as she fell into martial step and to the accompaniment of the Soldier Boy song, she marched down stairs.

Helen followed.

“Nixy, Bumble, my pet,” Patty said; “sorry, but I’ve just got to see my own Little Billee all alone. So, you’ll forgive me if I drop a gentle hint that you’re not invited.”

“I know that, Patsy; but listen a minute. I just want to say this. If you think better to tell Bill about what I did, you tell him. I’d hate to have him know it, I admit, but if it’s right, why, tell him, and I’ll take the blame.”

“That’s a goody girl, Bumble, dear, but I don’t believe it will be necessary. Anyway, I’ll know that I have your permission to tell and I’ll see if I think it’s best to do so. Probably I’ll think it’s better not to tell him, for no real harm was done, you know, – and yet, it may be that I’ll think he ought to know all.”

“What did Lieutenant Herron want, Patty?”

“Me.”

“What

you mean?”

“What I say. He actually had the nerve to tell me he admired me. I thought of sending for you and offering you as a substitute. But truly, Bumble, honey, he isn’t a reliable citizen. He’s – well, we won’t say it out loud, – but he isn’t our sort.”

“I know it. I know a lot about him. But did he really dare lift his eyes to you, Patty?”

“He really did. You see a soldier is of necessity a brave man, and it seems Lieutenant Herron is one of the bravest.”

“Brave! He’s a blind bat, if he thinks you’d look at him twice!”

“Or once even. You see my heart and hands are full with the one man in the world for me, and Mr. Herron’s sentiments are not even interesting to me. And now, my dearest cousin, if you’ll take your departure, I’ll compose myself to await my visitor. Sit still, my fluttering heart!”

CHAPTER XVII

PATTY AND BILL

Watching from the window, Patty saw him coming and in a moment the big man had gathered the dainty little figure into his arms.

“Blossom Girl,” he whispered, “my own Patty Precious, are you glad to be

here

?”

“Well, I just am!” and Patty drew back to look in his eyes, and then flung her arms round his neck in a burst of joyous gladness. “But you’re so high up, Little Billee, – I can’t reach.”

“Going up!” said Bill, and he swung her from the floor up into his close embrace.

“There!” he said, after a series of kisses, “now, will you be good!”

Patty, laughing and breathless, was deposited on the sofa, and Bill sat down beside her.

“You blessed angel,” he said, looking at her as if he could never look his fill, “I wish I could just talk love nonsense to you, instead of telling you what I must.”

“Is it very bad, dear?” and Patty’s smile faded at the serious look in her lover’s eyes.

“Pretty bad, Patty-Pet, but a soldier’s life is not a lazy one. To put it as briefly as possible, I’m ordered to France.”

“Bill-lee! Me, too?”

“’Fraid not, Sweetheart, it’s a special mission and a hurry call, and all sorts of disagreeable stipulations.”

“What are you going for?”

“For my country’s good, I hope.”

“I mean what are you going to do?”

“Dearest, it would take too long to explain, and you couldn’t altogether understand it, anyway, but in a few words, it’s to look after some mining operations. You see, my plans for investigating a certain coal mine district in France have been approved by the Powers That Be. It seems that there has been a ghastly destruction of the mines by the enemy and the coal supply for the railroads is imperilled and all sorts of troubles are toward. So re-construction is necessary, if they are to get coal for the Allies’ use in the Northeast part of Fair France. My experience in re-building wrecked mines in Colorado counts for a lot, and so I’m picked for duty.”

“You wonderful man!” and Patty’s eyes gleamed with admiration as she looked at the eager, fine face, full of efficiency and enthusiasm. “Oh, and Billee, dear, that reminds me, Lieutenant Herron said to tell you to watch out for a certain wire-puller in Washington – ”

“Wait a minute, Patty, can we be overheard?”

“No; but I’ll close this door.”

“I’ll close it, but remember, dear, you must never tell secrets where any servant or any one at all can by chance learn of them.”

“All right. Well, Mr. Herron said to watch out for this person, for he is trying to sidetrack you into the Searchlight gang, – whatever that is.”

“Herron said this? Did he tell you the name?”

“He said it began with S and ended with s, and that you’d know from that – ”

“Whew! Did Herron say that! Why, Patty, – are you sure?”

“Yes, sure; and he said you’d be surprised but you’d be glad of the information.”

“I should say so! Why, Patty, you’ve no idea of the enormous importance of that warning! Him! Well, well!”

“I’m so glad to help you, Billee – ”

“How did Herron happen to tell you?”

Patty hesitated. “Well,” she said, blushingly, “Lieutenant Herron did me the honour to make love to me – ”

“What! what do you mean by ‘make love’?”

“Nothing! Please don’t bite my head off! I only mean he seemed to admire me, – or said he did, – and I sent him flying.”

“I should say so! The scoundrel – ”

“Oh, come, now, Little Billee, he may be a scoundrel, – I’m told he is one, – but not because he admired me! A cat may look at a king.”

“But no cat or king or scrubby little lieutenant may look at my Patty Blossom!”

“Oh, he didn’t! The Miss Fairfield he looked at is a very different personage from your Patty Blossom.”

“How, different?”

“Well,” and Patty sprang up, “this is the lady he saw.”

She stood, with a most dignified air, and a coldly courteous expression, looking a little bored, and exceedingly formal.

Then she broke into a happy smile, and holding out her arms in a lovely gesture of welcome came toward Farnsworth, her blue eyes beaming with love and happiness, saying, “and

this

is your Patty Blossom!”

Farnsworth jumped for her in an ecstasy of gladness, and Herron’s presumptuous intrusion was forgotten.

“And just when do you go to France?” asked Patty, after a time.

“Dunno. I’m awaiting orders.”

“And you’ll stay here till you go?” She nestled comfortably in his arms, and smiled up into his loving face.

“Nay, nay, my lady fair. I’m even now on my way to Springfield.”

“Springfield! Whatever for?”

“Making some tests for the Government.”

“Tests of what?”

“Honey-girl, you can’t understand, – but it’s a test of the water- or moisture-resisting qualities of certain explosives used in the setting off of blasts – ”

“Oh, Little Billee, you’ll be blown up!”

“Well, we’ll hope not.”

“Why can’t the people who make the explosives do their own testing?”

“You see, it has to be a Government test, – to decide between various competitors.”

“You’re not the Government.”

“Yes, I am, in so far as they entrust these things to me.”

“Oh, Little Billee, – Captain, my Captain, I’m

proud of you! I do believe you’re the biggest man in the Service, – and I don’t mean physically, now.”

“Hardly that, Blossom, but I do have responsibilities.”

“Do they wear on you?”

“They do, indeed! So, for just a few moments I’m going to forget them utterly, and only remember the touch of your pink blossom fingers and the sweetness of your flower-face.”

“Dear Big Little Billee! For such a strong person you are very gentle.”

“To you how could I be otherwise? Now, Pattibelle, what about it? Can you make our wedding-day an earlier date, and go along with me?”

“You said I couldn’t go!”

“You can, if you’ll marry me in time. But I just ’most know you won’t.”

“Oh, I couldn’t, dear. Why, you may go any day, now.”

“Yes, but – can’t, – won’t you go, too?”

The wistfulness in the earnest face touched Patty’s heart, but she couldn’t quite say yes to this question.

“How long do you expect to be over there?”

“I’ve no idea. It may be for years and it may be forever – ”

“What?”

“Oh, I don’t mean that literally – ”

“You won’t be at the front?”

“Oh, no; unless some emergency calls for it.”

“Well,” and Patty sighed, “I see I’ll have to be sensible for us both. In the first place, dear, you’d be hampered with a bride – ”

“Hampered! Oh, Patty!”

“You wouldn’t, – but your work would. I see it more clearly than you do. All you think of is to get me to go with you. But you don’t realise how it would bother you to have me along. Why, I doubt if you’d be allowed to take me, anyway.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t,” and Farnsworth frowned. “But, then, how can I leave you? Oh, my little Posy Face, you don’t know yet what you mean to me! And, – after I’m gone, – you’d – Patty! you’d flirt, – you know you would!”

“Oh, no!

no!

” and the big blue eyes were full of mock horror. “Oh, no, I’d take the veil and do nothing but weep until you came back.”

“You little rascal, – how you do love to tease me!”

And as a matter of fact, Patty did. Whole-hearted, single-hearted, her love was all Farnsworth’s – once and forever, but her gay nature made her love to play on his big, honest sensitive heart as on a lute.

“I do,” she said, calmly, as she twined her little pink fingers into his big, strong ones, “because you take teasing so beautifully!”

“Scallywag! I think I’ll just grab you up and carry you off, – willy-nilly!”

“I never did know what willy-nilly means, and I’d love to find out.”

“You’ll find out when you’re my wife! I expect you to obey my lightest word! I shall be a regular caveman!”

“You’re big enough, but you’ve got about as much of the ‘caveman’ temperament as a kitten!”

Farnsworth laughed, well knowing that the soft, gentle personality of the girl he loved would never be cowed or coerced by his will. He knew he could persuade her through love, where harsher means would be useless.

Big Bill Farnsworth perfectly understood Patty’s nature, and her little inconsistencies and whimsicalities bothered him not a whit.

He was most desirous to take her to France with him, but he knew too, that her commonsense view of that matter was the right one. He knew that, even were he allowed to take a wife with him, there would be many rude experiences, even dangers, which Patty must face, and yet he shrank from the thought of leaving her for an indefinite, perhaps for a very long time.

Farnsworth went on to Springfield with the question still unsettled.

At least, to his satisfaction, Patty declared that it was settled. She bravely accepted the fact of his necessary absence because it was his duty to his country, and Patty was patriotic first, last and all the time.

“Don’t you

care

?” asked Helen, curiously; “what are you made of, Patty, that you can let him go?”

Patty’s eyes filled with tears.

“I suppose it does look strange to you, Bumble,” she said; “but you don’t understand, dear. I know Billee would do better work and get along with less care and anxiety without me than with me. I know I should be a hindrance and I

daren’t

go. I mustn’t put a straw in the way of his splendid career, – I mustn’t be the least mite of a millstone about his neck. It is because my love for him is so complete, so all-enveloping, – that I know I

must

sacrifice myself to it – and to him.”

“But, Patty, he’ll think you don’t want to go.”

“I know that, Helen. And that I have to bear, too. If he knew how I want to go, – how I long to go, – how it seems as if I

must

go, – he never would go off without me! I have to bid him good-bye, smilingly, – even though my heart breaks after he is gone.”

“Forgive me, Patty, I did misjudge you. You are bigger than I am. I should be too selfish to look at it as you do.”

“Perfect love casts out selfishness, Helen, even as it casts out fear. I know I am right. I’ve thought it all out for myself. It is my duty to stay at home, and to send my Billee away, with only words of cheer and Godspeed. It is my duty not to let him know my real feelings, – I mean the depth of sorrow and grief that I feel at his going. It is my duty to make it as easy for him to go as I possibly can, – and that can only be done by a light, even seemingly careless attitude on my part. I know what I’m talking about, dear, and I know that if he knew what is really in my heart for him, – he would take me with him – or, – stay at home! Oh, I don’t dare, Bumble, I don’t

dare

let him know!”

Patty’s earnestness carried conviction, and Helen saw at last that Patty’s sacrifice was because of the greatness of her love, not the lack of it.

“But this is between you and me, Helen. You are to tell no one, not even Nan, that I feel more deeply than I show. If Billee learns of my – oh, Helen, – ” Patty burst into agonised tears, “if he should know, – and should coax me to go, – I couldn’t refuse him! I’d give in, – and I mustn’t, Bumble, I

mustn’t

!”

The little hands clenched and the white teeth fairly gritted in the desperation of Patty’s resolve.

And Helen at last understood that there is a love that is above consideration of self, and sacrifices personal happiness for the welfare of the loved one.

The date of Farnsworth’s trip to France was imminent, yet uncertain, and when Patty received an unexpected invitation from a school friend to make a little visit in Washington, she accepted gladly. It would give her a chance to be near Little Billee, and her friend, Rose Barrett, would, she knew, be most kind and sympathetic.

Helen was to go with Patty as far as Wilmington, where she, too, was to visit a friend.

“I shall take you to your friend’s very house!” Patty declared, “or else you’ll bring up in some alien household again!”

“Nonsense,” returned Bumble, “I can find the place by myself.”

But Patty insisted, and when the two girls reached Wilmington, they went together to the house where Helen was to stay.

Philip Van Reypen was there to greet them, for he was a friend of Bumble’s hostess, and knew of the girls’ coming.

And then, nothing would do, but that Patty must stay there over night and go to the Aviation Field next morning to see the stunts there.

Quite willing, Patty agreed, and telephoned to Rose Barrett not to expect her till the following day.

The trip to the Aviation Field was full of novelty and pleasure. Fascinated, Patty watched the great machines as they swept and swerved and was interested in all the details and wonders of the whole place.

A gay young Lieutenant by the name of Breen was introduced and Patty found him a most pleasant and intelligent guide. With him she went about, seeing things, while Van Reypen escorted Helen.

“Wouldn’t you like to go for a little fly, Miss Fairfield?” asked Breen, presently.

“I’d love to,” said Patty, her eyes sparkling at the thought, “I’m just crazy to, but I can’t, thank you.”

“Why not?”

“I promised not to, – promised somebody to whom I always keep my promises.”

“Ah, a man?”

“Yes, a man, though I usually keep my promises to women, too.”

“A bad promise is better broken than kept,” Breen said, laughingly; “come on in, – the air’s fine!”

“Fie, fie, Lieutenant, to tempt me to break my promises! I’m ashamed of you!”

“But you’d like to go?”

“If I hadn’t promised – yes.”

“Oh, all right, I won’t tempt you. I know just how you feel. We all have to keep promises sometimes that we wish we didn’t.”

The jolly young man continued to keep her interested in the sights and at last he said, “Suppose you just get in here, and see how it seems, I don’t mean to fly, you know, but just have the experience of getting in and out again.”

Patty consented to this, and took her seat as directed.

Just how it all came about, she never quite knew, but soon she found herself gently rising from the ground.

“We’re going!” she exclaimed. “Oh, let me out!”

“Steady!” said Breen, his eyes on his machinery; “don’t speak to me. Yes, we’re going for a tiny spin, and you can have it out with me afterward.”

Patty was aghast, but she realised with her quick common-sense that she must not speak to Breen, or distract his attention in any way.

But she said quietly, “Please put me out as soon as you can.”

A light laugh was his reply, and they soared higher.

Finding herself utterly unable to prevent the trip, and knowing not at all how long it would last or where it would terminate, Patty, with her usual adjustment to circumstances, allowed herself to enjoy it. The day was perfect, the air cold and clear, and the sensation of the strange motion wonderfully exhilarating.

After a short time her tense muscles relaxed a bit, and she breathed more freely. She didn’t feel afraid, but felt a strong nervous tension, and an intense desire to get down again. She tried to speak to Breen, in spite of his warning, but the noise of the motor drowned her voice.

She looked about, or tried to, when suddenly she became aware that a strand of her hair had loosened and was caught in something.

Terribly frightened, and feeling sure that to move her head would precipitate some awful disaster, Patty put her wits to work.

Her hair was caught in a piston at the side of the machine, and any gentle movement failed to loosen it. A stronger jerk would tear her hair out by the roots, and Patty wondered if this were not what she ought to do to avert worse disaster.

She bethought herself of a tiny pair of scissors in her little handbag and wondered if she could get them. It was a difficult process, but she managed it at last, only by getting them with one hand and being obliged to drop the bag overboard in the process. It contained money and some small valuables, but all Patty thought of now, was to release her head from that ever increasing pull.

Cautiously she raised her hand, calculating the direction with difficulty.

But she managed to accomplish her aim, and with several short steady clips she severed the strand of hair and liberated her strained head.

Quite unconsciously she clung to the scissors, and though she realised the great danger was over, she felt faint with the reaction.

After what seemed an interminable time, they reached the ground again, having really made a very short flight.

“There, Miss Fairfield,” said Lieutenant Breen, gaily, “you’ve had a fly, and yet you’ve kept your promise! For you certainly did not go of your own volition! Why, – what’s the matter?”

Patty looked at him with such reproach and scorn that the boy, – for he was little more, – was overcome with dismay.

“How could you?” she stormed, “have you any idea how offended I am?”

“No, ma’am, I haven’t!” he said, dumfoundedly; “I – I thought you’d like it.”

Suddenly Patty realised that he thought she was a giddy girl who would love the lark as he planned it, and who was only kept from giving consent by a foolish promise. He had no idea her promise was to her a sacred rite, and to break it was her horror. Moreover, he knew nothing of the danger she had been through. When she showed him her clipped lock of hair, he was even more distressed than she.

“Oh, I am so sorry! Can you

ever

forgive me! What pluck! Miss Fairfield, you are a heroine!”

And indeed Patty was. She was praised and exploited and complimented on her bravery and cleverness until she was positively embarrassed.

And the Lieuten