Their relations with Mrs. Gleason and Bessie were very remarkable, and of a character to bind them close together in friendship.  In fact, as has been described at length in one of the earlier books of this series, Tom and Jack had been mainly instrumental in releasing the mother and young daughter from a chateau where they were being held prisoner by an unscrupulous and plotting relative, with designs on their fortune.

The so-called “hut” of the Y.M.C.A. workers was really only another dilapidated and abandoned German dugout, which had been hurriedly arranged as a sort of makeshift headquarters, where the doughboys who could get leave might gather and find such amusement as the conditions afforded.

There were Salvation Army lassies present too, with their pies and doughnuts that made the boys feel closer to home than almost anything else, and even a sprinkling of Red Cross nurses from the field hospital who had been given a brief leave for recuperation.

Adjoining this particular rest billet was another of similar character run by the K. of C., which was also well patronized; indeed there seemed to be a friendly rivalry between the organizations to discover which could spread the most sunshine and cheer abroad.

Jack immediately was pounced upon by a pretty, young girl whose face was either very sunburned or covered with blushes.  This was of course the Bessie mentioned by Tom.  Others who watched professed a bit of envy because Jack received all her attention after he appeared.

Nellie Leroy, the Red Cross nurse, looked very sweet in her regulation hospital uniform, with the insignia of her calling on her sleeve.  If her face bore a sad expression it was no more than must be expected of one seeing so much suffering at close quarters as came to the share of all the women and girls who devoted their very lives to such a calling.  In Tom’s eyes she was the prettiest girl in all France.  It could also be seen that Nellie was very fond of the stalwart young air pilot, from the way in which her eyes rested on his figure whenever he chanced to be absent from her side during the next hour; which to tell the truth was not often.

Of course nothing was said about the night’s dangerous work that lay ahead for the two chums.  But Bessie noticed that Jack occasionally looked grave, and questioned him concerning it.  In answer he took her into his confidence to a certain extent concerning his reason for wanting to be in Virginia.

The time for separating came all too soon.  Tom was very particular about this, being a firm believer in duty before pleasure.

“Look us up often if you get the chance,” said Mrs. Gleason, who had been actively at work all the evening carrying out her customary duties, and proving indeed a “good angel” to scores of the young soldiers, who looked upon her as they might on their own mothers.

“You can depend on it we will,” said Tom, giving Nellie a warm look that caused her eyes to drop and a wave of color to come into her cheeks.