“Perfectly well, I thank you,” replied the colonel, “and happy beyond expression at the way things are going. It will not be long now before the arrogant Huns will be driven from France. Oh, what we Frenchmen owe to you brave Americans! You are like the Crusaders of old. You came to our aid when our backs were against the wall and you gave us fresh courage, new life.” “Just as your people did for America more than a hundred years ago,” replied Frank. “You don’t owe us anything, Colonel. We’ve simply been paying a debt.” “But paying it with interest a hundred fold,” protested the colonel warmly. “But tell me how things are going with you, _mon cher ami_.” “Oh, the same as usual,” returned Frank. “The Hun bullets haven’t got me yet.” “But that isn’t because you haven’t been where the Hun bullets were,” smiled the colonel. “I’ve been hearing of what you did on that scouting expedition last night. It’s a marvel that you came through it alive. But fortune favors the brave.” “Oh, that was nothing,” said Frank, who always felt uncomfortable when anyone referred to his exploits. “Your officers think differently,” laughed the colonel. “But now to other matters. In the first place, I want to tell you how sorry I was that I was away when that unfortunate accusation was laid against you. A word from me would have shown its falsity at once.” “I know it would,” answered Frank, “but luckily things took such a turn that I was soon cleared of that charge.” “The next thing is,” went on the colonel in a tone of regret, “that some complications have developed in the matter of your mother’s property.” Frank felt his heart sink. It was only a little while since he had written her, telling her that everything was practically settled in her favor, and that all she would have to do after the war ended would be to take possession. “I’m sorry to hear that,” he replied. “I thought that the dying confession of that rascally butler had established her claim beyond a doubt.” “It did as far as the attempt to defraud her was concerned,” answered the colonel. “This is a technical matter bearing on the title to a part of the estate. It seems that some legal formalities were overlooked at the time of its acquisition. My brother Andre explained it to me in his last letter. But I am only a plain soldier and I could not quite grasp the details. Now, don’t let it worry you, for Andre thinks that the matter can be attended to and the title made perfect. Only it will take some time and I thought I ought to notify you just how matters stood.” “It’s very good of you,” replied Frank, relieved to learn that the fears he had formed when the colonel first began to speak of the matter might be groundless. “Of course I’m sorry that there’s any hitch at all, but if it can be remedied it doesn’t matter so much.”