For a moment Stubbs gazed at him angrily, the while he worked his fingers back and fro to chase away the stiffness.  Then he smiled.

“All right,” he said.  “Now we’re square.”

“Where you bound, Stubbs?” asked Hal.

“Hunting news,” returned Stubbs.

“By Jove!” said Chester.  “Why not take him along with us, Hal?”

“Suits me,” was Hal’s answer, “if he wants to go.”

“Where you going?” demanded Stubbs.

“Sailing,” returned Chester.  “Sailing over the German lines.  Want to go along?”

“Not me,” said Stubbs, briefly.

“Come now, Stubbs, don’t be afraid.  Nothing is going to hurt you, and we might need you.”

“That’s what I thought,” said Stubbs.  “I knew there was some reason you wanted me to go along.  I knew you didn’t just want to take me along to show me the sights.  Want me to stand in the gap when the trouble comes up.  I know you.”

“I assure you I had no such thoughts.”

“Well, maybe you didn’t have them, but that is what would happen all the same.”

“Stubbs,” said Hal, quietly.  “It’s my belief that you’re afraid.”

“Hal,” said Stubbs, “you can bet your life I’m afraid to go up in the air with you two.”

“Come on, Stubbs,” said Chester, seriously.  “Honestly, we would be glad of your company.  We haven’t seen much of you for some time.”

“I know you haven’t,” returned Stubbs, “and that’s why my health happens to be so good right now.  But what are you going to do over the German lines?”

“Get the lay of the land,” said Hal.  “Find out the German strength and a few other things, if possible.”

“Hm-m-m,” muttered Stubbs.  “Ought to be some news for the Gazette over there, don’t you think?”

“Lots of it, Stubbs,” replied Chester.

“The only trouble,” said Stubbs, “is that if I go after it, will I be able to come back and tell the Gazette about it?”

“If you don’t mind, Mr. Stubbs,” said Hal, “one of us will take it upon himself to see that the Gazette gets the news.”

“After my job, are you?” said Stubbs, with a smile.

“Well, not exactly.  We just offered to help you out.”

“I can’t see where that would do me any good.  However, I guess I’ll take you up on this bet.  I might be able to learn something of importance.  The next thing would be to get it by the censor.”

“Why, Stubbs,” said Chester, “with your pull with General Petain, I can’t see that you should have any trouble.”

“My pull, eh?” said Stubbs, with rather a sickly grin.  “You two went and smashed my pull all to smithereens.”

“Oh, well,” said Hal, “a newspaper man always finds a way.”

Stubbs looked at Hal, suspiciously.

“If you’re making fun of me—­” he began.

“Far from it, Mr. Stubbs,” replied Hal.  “I was just stating a fact.  Why, you’ve told us that yourself.”