Free Sound of the Trumpet by Grace Livingston Hill Page B

his side, giving him a sidewise, curious glance amid a growing impatience.
    “Well, what do you say? Shall I put you down for my man? It doesn’t do to be too slow accepting a good thing, you know. Vandinghams are hiring men right and left, and they
may
get all their places filled if I don’t give them your name tonight. You’ve got to get the job, you know, before you’d be in a position to give out facts.”
    “Yeah, I see,” said John, grinning.
    “There ain’t any hitch. It’s just common sense. You can’t do my folks any good unless you’re in a position to get their information. Now, once for all, are you interested in getting that job with the Vandinghams?”
    “No,” said John soberly, “I’m not interested.”
    Entry gave him a sharp look, and then suddenly became aware of two men approaching. They were not in uniform, but Entry was well versed in the art of escape and dodging suspicion. His eyes narrowed. He lowered his head. Let his feet drag a little, as if he were about to turn back. Looked up at John and said in a low tone, “Then I’m afraid I can’t promise to hold this any longer for you. I will probably not return unless I find there are still openings. Good-bye!”
    He scuttled diagonally across the street to an alley and disappeared. But John, with an eye toward the approaching pedestrians and a grin on his lips, shouted, “Definitely, not interested.”
    The two men approaching turned their eyes toward the place where Entry had disappeared and plunged across the street themselves, giving John a hurried salute as they went.

Chapter 5
    A fter the football game there was a formal truce between Lisle and Victor. That is, it was formal on Lisle’s part and warm and friendly on Victor’s. Victor had been on his good behavior the rest of the afternoon and took great pains to be attentive and interesting. He talked at length about games he had been seeing elsewhere and bought candy and peanuts and pennants and flowers for his girl, just as he used to when they were very young. He acted out the old-time comradeship.
    Sometimes she wondered at him greatly. For though she was pleasant, the old comradely friendliness was missing from her manner, and he must have noticed, even if he didn’t show his disappointment. It suited his purpose at the time to keep Lisle in the old intimacy, for he had been surprised beyond measure at her reaction to his behavior at the store, and at present it wasn’t in his plan to have any disaffection arise.
    For in truth his future was rather a muddle at present, between the party and the war possibilities. The chance that he might find a place in the scheme of things that would enable him to remain honorably at home made it desirable that there should be no disaffection, no gossip, no outward break between the families. Therefore Victor put aside his newly acquired insolence and was just a friend as he used to be. This attitude on Victor’s part made it very much easier for Lisle to continue her friendliness. Although she was just a shade more distant than she used to be—quieter, more silent, not quite so joyous and smiling, more dignified, a bit cool.
    But it didn’t seem to bother Victor in the least. With his nonchalant self-assurance, he went calmly on his usual way, taking it for granted that whenever he got ready he could easily change his old friend’s attitude and bend her to his will.
    But Lisle, on the other hand, was not quite as ready, as in former days, to accept all his invitations or to take it for granted that he was always to be her escort. She was often now seen in company with other young men and acted as if it were a matter of course that she had other friends besides himself.
    If Victor did not like this he never let it be known. He just took for granted that if he wanted her badly enough, she would be his companion, no matter who else had chosen to ask her.
    But Lisle was quietly working it so that she would have a number of other