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 "What's the trouble?" said Nyla.

She wore a blue wrapper and carried a candle.

"Gene!" she cried sharply. "Is something wrong?"

The men stood apart. Higgins gaped amazement at this vision of loveliness. Cointreau and Romsteck fidgeted uneasily.

"I heard talking down here, I was afraid someone was ill. Gene, what are you doing? Why are you all dressed?" She ran forward, seizing his arm.

"Damn," murmured the Colonel with feeling. There was a silence while Nyla studied him anxiously.

"Your pardon, Fräulein," said Romsteck. "The Colonel has had an urgent summons from the League."

"Oh," she cried, "and this is the courier to take your reports. I had such a fright. I was afraid you were going."

"I am going," he said. "I'm sorry, I didn't want you to know. I—I guess they're going to send me to America.—I've had an offer from