"I don’t flash reports I know are not true," said Stubbs. "Well," said Hal, "what I’d like to know is how you have gained your information when no one else seems to know anything about it?" "In the newspaper game," said Stubbs, "a man learns to provide his news sources. I provided mine for this very thing some time ago. Now I have been justified." "All right," said Hal. "I don’t want to argue with you about it, but all the same I’d go easy." "I tell you I’ve got the dope," declared Stubbs. "Then you’d better hurry along and file it to The Gazette," Chester put in. "By Jove, I will!" said Stubbs. "And after this, you’ll get no more information from me. But remember your promises. Not a word about this." "Don’t worry, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester. "We’re as mum as a couple of oysters." "Then me for the cable wire," said Stubbs. He turned and hurried off. "You know, Hal," said Chester, "it would be quite a feather in the little man’s cap if he could get something like that ahead of every other newspaper in America." "I should imagine it would," Hal agreed, "but I’m afraid he’s all wrong. At the same time, however, I hope he’s right." "Same here. And by the way, speaking of Stubbs and his efforts, there is only one other thing, to my mind, that would be greater luck for him." "And that?" asked Hal. "That would be to get first word to his paper of the ending of war." "By Jove! That would be something to talk about," Hal agreed. "I should say so. But come, we have delayed long enough. It lacks only a few minutes of six o’clock, and we’re due in General Rhodes’ quarters at that hour, you know." "Didn’t think I had forgotten it, did you?" demanded Hal. "Well, I didn’t know. Your memory isn’t as good as it used to be." "Is that so? Why isn’t it?" "Well, I don’t know why," said Chester, "but it’s a fact." Hal was about to make a warm retort, but at that moment they came to the entrance to General Rhodes’ quarters. "Here we are," said Chester. "I hope he has something worth while for us to do." "Same here," agreed Hal. They went in. *CHAPTER XI* *A NEW MISSION* "Sit down, gentlemen," said General Rhodes as Hal and Chester entered his quarters. "I’ll be ready for you in a moment." The lads obeyed. For perhaps half an hour they sat quietly while their commander gave dozens of orders to others of his staff who appeared hurriedly every moment or so and disappeared again just as hurriedly. At last the room was cleared with the exception of General Rhodes, Hal, Chester and the general’s private orderly. General Rhodes motioned the lads to approach. "Before I ask if you are willing to undertake rather a dangerous mission," he said, "I must explain a few points to you." The lads stood at attention, but said nothing.