Stubbs set out at a rapid pace for the nearest cable office, Hal and Chester at his heels. Now, as it chanced, there was but one place in Soissons where, due to war conditions, a cable dispatch could be filed. The wire from there led direct to Versailles, where messages were relayed. It was the only possible means of communication with the outside world outside of military lines. At the door of the cable office, Stubbs encountered Jennings, correspondent of The New York World, who had returned to Soissons at the same time Stubbs had. "Hello, Stubbs," he grinned. "Armistice signed again? I see you’re headed for the cable office." "Never mind, Jennings," said Stubbs. "You think the laugh’s on your side now. Maybe it won’t be later." "Perhaps not," Jennings admitted, "but if I were you, I’d be almighty careful of the next dispatch I sent The Gazette. Chances are your people will not relish being fooled a second time." Now Stubbs was well aware of the fact that it would be possible for only one message to be sent out of Soissons at a time. So he said: "Jennings, you have been pretty decent to me, so if you’ll come along I’ll do you a favor." Jennings looked at Stubbs peculiarly. "Something up?" he demanded. "Considerable," returned Stubbs. "Then I’ll go along," said Jennings. "I haven’t anything else to do." He accompanied Stubbs and the two lads into the cable office. "Now, Jennings," said Stubbs, "I’m not going to tell you what’s up until I have filed my dispatch. But you’ll have the next chance at the wire." "Fair enough," said Jennings smiling. "I guess your stuff is not so awfully hot." "Maybe not," said Stubbs. "Wait." Briefly he scribbled on a cable blank, and passed the message to the operator. What he wrote was this: "Armistice signed this P.M. at Hirson by General Foch, General Herwigs, representing Chancellor Ebert, and four other delegates. Information absolutely authentic. Trust me this time." "Now," he said, turning to Jennings, "I’ll tell you my news." "Let’s have it," said Jennings, somewhat indifferently. "The armistice has been signed." Jennings started, then recovered himself. "That’s what you said before," he declared with a grin. "Guess I’d better wait and get my information first-handed." "That’s what I’ve done this trip," replied Stubbs calmly. "What do you mean?" "Why," said Stubbs, "my friends here, Majors Paine and Crawford, were at Hirson when the armistice was signed this afternoon." Jennings wheeled on the two lads, his face flushed with excitement. "Is that true?" he demanded. "Absolutely," said Hal. Without further words, Jennings rushed toward the operator. But Stubbs was ahead of him. "Hold on, now," said the little man. "I’m first at this wire, and I haven’t finished my message yet." "Hurry then," said Jennings, "and give me a chance." "You stick close," said Stubbs, "and you shall have the second chance at the wire. But I haven’t half finished yet."