Dave Porter's war honors

“Gebauer and Poole! You don’t mean it!” exclaimed the young lieutenant.

“But I do mean it,” answered the senator’s son. “They are the ones who attacked you and rolled you down one of the shafts of the mines. It’s a great wonder you weren’t killed.”

“But how did you learn of this, Roger?”

“It’s a pretty long story, Dave; and as you look rather weak, perhaps you had better sit down while I tell it.”

Roger and the others led the way to where our hero could be made comfortable, and there, while he was treated to some refreshments, they gave him many of the particulars of what had occurred during his absence.

“I guess I had better tell you about Max Gebauer first,” said the senator’s son. “During one of the advances of our army, he acted in a most disgraceful manner, urging a part of his company to retreat. They saw no good reason for doing it, and a sergeant led them in the advance. For this Gebauer was accused of cowardice in the face of the enemy.”

“Phew! that’s rather a serious charge.”

“But that isn’t the worst of it!” broke in Phil. “Do you remember the German prisoner who saw Gebauer and talked to him—the fellow you afterwards interviewed?”

“I do.”

“Well, it seems Gebauer visited that fellow while he was at a prisoners’ camp, and the two got into a regular row. This, of course, was before Gebauer showed his so-called cowardice.

“Well, the secret service men made an investigation and discovered that Gebauer and this prisoner had once been in a questionable business deal in Germany. Gebauer was wanted there for swindling several people, and this chap had been bought off to keep silent, but had never received a large part of the money promised to him by Gebauer. Then the American authorities dipped deeper into the matter, and I understand they have now come to the conclusion that Gebauer’s cowardice was largely put on, and that he was in a plan with some German sympathizers to play into the enemy’s hands. As a consequence Lieutenant Max Gebauer, pro-German, is now languishing in a military prison.”

“And you can bet he isn’t a lieutenant any more!” declared Ben.

“Well, that explains some things, but it doesn’t explain how you learned that he and Nat Poole attacked me,” said Dave. “Of course, I imagined it might be them, but I wasn’t sure. I really didn’t think they would go so far.”

“Nat says he was dragged into it. But, of course, that may be all talk. Nat always did like to squirm out of a tight place,” went on Roger.

He then related how the money lender’s son had been in the great fight and almost lost his life. His injuries had necessitated his being sent to the hospital, and there, while in a fever, he had continually spoken about Dave and of the attack on the young lieutenant.

“He went on so awfully that the nurse notified one of the doctors, and he in turn called in an army officer. In his rational moments Nat was closely questioned, and in the end he broke down and made a complete confession.

“He said that he wanted to get square with you for the way he had been treated, but he had not imagined that Gebauer would go so far. He had struck you once, but it was only a light blow, and Gebauer had given you the crack that almost finished you. And he insisted that it was Gebauer who rolled you into the opening of the mine. He said he was scared at this, and remonstrated, but Gebauer would not listen to him. He even made a search for your body, but, of course, did not find it. He said he was terribly worried, and I shouldn’t wonder but what that was so.”

“It was a dastardly thing to do!” declared Dave. “And I am glad that both Gebauer and Nat have been caught. I guess each of them will get what is coming to him without my making any charge against them.”

“I don’t know about that, Dave. Perhaps you’ll have to see headquarters on that point,” answered Roger.

Of course all the others were glad to see our hero. Captain Obray came up to shake hands, and so did Frank Andrews and a number of the other fighting engineers. All had their stories to tell, and all praised Dave greatly for what he had accomplished at the German headquarters and during the fight when he was trying to get back to the American lines.

“The authorities won’t forget you for what you have done,” said Captain Obray. “It was simply great, and I congratulate you with all my heart.” The captain himself had done some wonderful work during the last great advance by the Americans, leading a wire-cutting detachment in person over a stretch of territory where the bullets and shrapnel were flying freely. For this the captain received special mention and was, later on, advanced to the position of major of engineers.

Dave, of course, had been reported as missing, but now his name was placed back on the roll. He lost no time in sending long letters to the folks at home, acquainting them with what had taken place.

Awaiting him was a bunch of letters from his father and his sister, as well as from Jessie, and these, my readers may rest assured, he read with great eagerness.

“Dear, dear folks at home!” he murmured to himself, after he had read one of Jessie’s letters a second time. “How glad I am that this war is almost over. I’ll be mighty glad to get back to them once more!”

And now let us pass over a period of some months and then bring this tale of Dave Porter’s war activities to an end.

As our hero had remarked, the war was almost over. Deserted by her allies and beaten back on the fields of battle, Germany could hold out no longer, and so begged for an armistice, which, when granted, was so severe in its terms that its acceptance was equal to Germany’s complete surrender. She gave up her entire navy, the second largest in the world, abandoned all the territory she had invaded, and in addition allowed the United States and the Allies to occupy a large portion of her own country along the Rhine.

“It’s a complete collapse,” was the way Dave expressed himself when this had taken place; and the young lieutenant was right. The signing of the armistice was followed some time later by the opening of the real peace negotiations.

And while all these things were taking place something occurred to make our hero’s heart bound with pleasure. He was cited for special bravery in obtaining the maps and the documents from the German field headquarters, and also for his daring in the fight which had followed during his endeavor to get back to the American lines. For these deeds he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and a little later obtained a commission as a full-fledged captain of engineers.

“Dave, I congratulate you!” cried Roger, when he heard this news.

“And so do I,” added Phil. “And you deserve it, Dave, indeed you do!”

It may be added here that our hero was not the only one to obtain promotion. For their heroic work in road building and in cutting wire entanglements under heavy fire, both Roger and Phil were given medals and made lieutenants, while Ben became a sergeant and Shadow and Buster corporals.

“And now I’ve got to congratulate you fellows,” said Dave to Roger, Phil, and the others. “I tell you, old Oak Hall can be proud of this bunch!”

“That’s what!” answered Phil.

“What a shame Nat Poole had to act the way he did,” said Ben. “He’s the one bad egg in the basket.”

It may be added here that later on, when he had recovered from his illness, Nat Poole was dishonorably discharged from the army, and went back home a sadder if not a wiser young man. Max Gebauer was tried for his various misdeeds, and found guilty and sentenced to a long term in prison.

“I hope Nat has learned his lesson and turns over a new leaf after this,” remarked Dave, on hearing this news. “In spite of what he has done against me, I bear him no ill will.” Later still he heard that Nat had obtained a position as a traveling salesman for a hardware house and was doing his best to make good in that capacity.

It was a great day for the young engineers when they set sail for home. Other engineering units had come to France and were at the front, and it was felt that those who had gone through so many thrilling experiences had done all that could be asked of them.

“Home, sweet home, for me!” sang out Phil. “I never did think America could mean so much to me!”

“It’s the best of all the places in which to live,” answered Dave. “The very best!”

The home-coming was one long to be remembered. Jessie was at the depot to greet Dave, and as soon as he alighted from the train she fairly rushed into his arms.

“Oh, I hope you never have to go to another war, Dave—never!” she cried, as he held her close.

“Well, I’m hoping, Jessie, that this war will prove to be the last one,” he answered.

Roger, as well as Ben, had come on to Crumville with Dave, and the greeting the senator’s son received from Laura was equally cordial, while Ben was not forgotten by his folks and the others.

Dave kissed his sister several times and shook hands with his father and his Uncle Dunston, and all finally got into the two Wadsworth automobiles and drove to the mansion.

Here Mrs. Wadsworth awaited them, and kissed Dave over and over again, and Mr. Wadsworth shook hands heartily. And there, too, was old Caspar Potts, his eyes full of a kindly sympathy which could not be mistaken.

“My Davy! My Davy!” he murmured over and over again. “I knew you would do it! Oh, Davy, how proud I am of you!”

“And just to think—it’s Captain David Porter now!” cried Uncle Dunston. “Some pumpkins for this family, I do declare!”

“And Lieutenant Morr—don’t forget that!” added Laura, her face beaming.

“And it’s Lieutenant Lawrence, too,” said Roger.

“Why didn’t he come along?” questioned Mr. Porter.

“Oh, he had a date with Belle Endicott. She and her folks came all the way from Montana to New York City to greet him.”

That night there was a great celebration at the Wadsworth mansion, many friends dropping in to greet Dave and Roger and congratulate them on their promotions. Of course, the young captain and the young lieutenant were in their new uniforms and Dave even wore a new wrist-watch his father gave him to replace the one lost in France, and if Jessie and Laura felt very proud of their fiancés, who can blame them?

The young engineers had to tell the particulars of many of the things which had happened to them during the war and had even to show some of the scars which had been inflicted.

“Oh, Dave, I am so very thankful that you didn’t come back minus an arm or a leg!” cried Jessie. “I’m so very, very thankful! After this whenever I meet a soldier who has been crippled I shall treat him with the greatest consideration, for now I understand a little of what he must have endured.”

“Yes, Jessie, they will deserve all the consideration you can give them,” the young captain answered gravely. “They are the real heroes—the fellows who will have to endure long after the shouting and the excitement have died out.”

Some time later there was another gala affair at the Wadsworth mansion. This was the occasion of a double wedding, when the beautiful Jessie Wadsworth became the bride of Captain David Porter and the bewitching Laura Porter paired off with Lieutenant Roger Morr.

At this double wedding Lieutenant Philip Lawrence was the best man for Dave, and Sergeant Benjamin Basswood was the best man for Roger. Among the bridesmaids was Belle Endicott, who had come all the way from her home in the West to be present.

There was also present a large contingent from Oak Hall, including Doctor Clay, the master, and Andrew Dale, his head assistant. Of course Buster Beggs and Shadow Hamilton were on hand, as were also Luke Watson, Sam Day, Bertram Vane, and some others of the old crowd.

The gifts to the brides were both numerous and costly, and both couples received the heartiest congratulations of all present.

“We’ve got to do likewise pretty soon, Belle,” whispered Phil to the girl from Montana, and at this she blushed and smiled. It was not long after that when this couple was also married, a host of their friends, including Dave and Roger and their wives, being present.

Dave and Jessie had already decided on where they were going to live. Mr. Porter had purchased for them a beautiful house and grounds not far from the Wadsworth mansion, and here they set up housekeeping and were very happy.

Laura and Roger went to the old Morr homestead to live, the senator and his wife at that time spending practically all their time in Washington.

Phil and Belle went to reside in Philadelphia, where the young shipping master had most of his interests.

For Dave and Jessie and all their friends the future looked very rosy; and here we will leave them and say good-bye.

THE END