Paul G. Tomlinson

“ CHAPTER XI THE DESERTED HOUSE "Somebody stole Percy," said Bob when they had ridden a little way.
"The alligator?"
"Yes. Heinrich's pet, you know."
"Why should any one want to do that?"
"I can't imagine, and poor old Heinie is all broken up about it. I've never seen any one who liked animals as much as he does."
"Who do you suppose did it?"
"I've no idea. Perhaps the man who returned the car stole him and is planning to wait until he grows big and then train him to come and bite us," laughed Bob.
"Let's hope not," smiled Hugh. ”

“ Bob had no doubt in his mind that Mr. Wernberg was a member of a gang that was plotting against the United States. In his heart he felt sure he was guilty.
On the other hand if the fake detective was not equally guilty he would be surprised. Certainly no man would disguise himself in that way who had honorable motives. Nor would any man run away as he had done, or fire a pistol at real officers of the law unless he was engaged in some evil doing. ”

“ What would your mother say?"
"That's what Karl Hoffmann said," exclaimed Hugh.
"Karl is usually right too," said Mr. Cook. "He takes so much responsibility about my personal affairs that really I don't know what I'd do without him."
"He was afraid we'd get hurt," sniffed Bob.
"Karl likes you," said his father. "He doesn't want anything to happen to you."
"We can take care of ourselves."
"I know that," his father assented. "Do you want to go very much?"
"We certainly do," cried Bob and Hugh in one breath. ”

“ They said good night to Harold and started homeward. They still felt a little shaky as a result of the bomb episode, but before long the walk and the crisp night air had refreshed them and their spirits once more revived.
"I wonder what they'll do to that German," exclaimed Bob.
"Harold said they had locked him up for over night, and I guess when they hear what he tried to do, they'll keep him longer than that."
"They'll send him to jail probably."
"I hope so," said Hugh. "Any man who would try to blow up a bridge and kill crowds of people deserves worse than jail." ”

“ Hugh and Bob had advanced to the spot where Harold was standing, and the three young men were grouped in a small circle.
"We never thought of that," said Bob sheepishly.
"Don't you know the United States is at war?"
"Of course we do."
"Well, then—. Sssh!" hissed Harold suddenly.
He peered intently down the railroad track. The figure of a man could be seen approaching. "Get back, quickly," whispered Harold, and the two boys flattened themselves against one of the big steel girders.
Nearer and nearer came the man. Harold stood motionless, his gun half raised and ready for instant action. ”

“ Gradually the man's strength waned; Hugh could feel it slipping. A moment later he lay gasping on the ground too weak to offer any resistance to the two boys. Hugh held his arms, while Bob released his hold on the man's throat and sat on his legs. The prisoner, his breath rattling in his chest, lay with eyes half-closed, completely done up.
Suddenly Hugh spied something that made him start violently. The man's coat lay wide open and pinned on his vest was a badge. More than that, it was a police badge, one of the badges of the police of High Ridge. ”

“ He had promised to start at once.
"What shall we do?" inquired Hugh.
"Don't you think we ought to stay here with Lena?"
"I don't see that we can do anything for her, and we may be needed outside. Where's Heinie? Why don't we leave her with him?"
"Where is Heinie anyway?" exclaimed Bob. He hurried to the door of the adjoining room, but there was no trace of the missing chauffeur.
"He's gone, I guess," said Hugh. "When every one rushed out in the excitement he must have slipped away. We'll never see him again."
"How stupid of us," cried Bob. "Every one clean forgot him, I guess." ”

“ He talked a lot about a factory, and kept saying, 'hurry,' over and over again."
"Didn't any one ask him what he meant?"
"I asked him myself," exclaimed Sergeant Riley, "but he was not well enough to answer me or understand what I was saying."
"Do you think he referred to this factory?" inquired Hugh.
"The sergeant thinks so," said Mr. Cook. "There are only two others in High Ridge that they would try to destroy probably, so you see the chance is one in three that he was speaking of this one."
"I can't imagine a man plotting such things," said Bob bitterly. ”

“ Frank exclaimed.
"But at cost price," said Bob. "He will lose money if anything."
"I have always regarded Mr. Cook as one of our best citizens and a fine man," said Mr. Hewitt. "I think you must be wrong, Frank."
"I tried to convince him that he was," said Bob, stealing a sidelong glance at Frank's battered features. Mr. Hewitt also looked at Frank and a faint smile flitted across his face.
"People should be careful about what they do and say these days," he advised. "You are very wrong to talk against the United States, Frank." ”

“ Walking on the ground so that they would not make any noise they hurried on. A few moments later they stood in front of the Cooks' house.
"There's a light in your house too," said Hugh. "This and that house on
Elm Street are the only ones where people seem to be awake."
"That's Lena's room," said Bob.
"The cook?"
"Yes."
"She's a German, isn't she?"
"Look here, Hugh," laughed Bob. "You can't make me suspicious about Lena. She has been our cook ever since I was born. She's the most faithful and kindhearted woman that ever lived. Why she's practically one of the family." ”

“ Well, sir, it came right off her head and then they discovered that the maid was nothing more nor less than a man, a German in disguise, trying to get information for his government."
"Is that a true story?" exclaimed Bob in amazement.
"The man in whose house it happened told it to father," said Hugh. "It only goes to show that you can't be too careful. I wouldn't be too sure about Heinrich and Lena if I were you. The Germans are a bad lot and I suspect them all."
"Perhaps," said Bob. "Still Heinie and Lena are different." ”

“ A moment later the man was out of sight, Hugh and the two detectives still after him, shouting and calling to him to halt. Meanwhile the fire in the house roared and blazed.
"She's a goner," said Sergeant Riley. He stood beside Mr. Cook and Bob as they watched the burning building.
"I guess she is," remarked Mr. Cook. "There's nothing we can do."
"Nothing," agreed the sergeant.
"It's not much loss anyway," said Mr. Cook.
"No loss at all," exclaimed Bob. "It's a gain if anything, for it makes one less place for spies and plotters to meet in." ”

“ Well, just think of all those millions of men over in Europe on the battlefields; all the English and French, and Italians, and Belgians, and Russians, and all the others. If the United States is in the war we ought to be willing to do our part. Our allies in Europe are fighting for us as much as for themselves, and it seems to me that to disguise myself and follow the cook is a small thing for me to contribute to the common cause."
"I guess you're right, Bob," said his father. ”

“ They left the city behind and rolled along over the country road. The three occupants of the car were silent for they did not know what might await them at their destination. A squad of soldiers out on a hike passed them. They were hot, dirty and dusty, but their rifles glinted wickedly in the light of the afternoon sun.
"They look like business," remarked Mr. Cook.
"They certainly do," exclaimed Bob. "I wish I was one of them."
"If the war lasts long enough maybe you will be."
"The United States can certainly raise a big army." ”

“ He attacked the door furiously and in a few moments had knocked out the panel completely.
"I guess we can squeeze through there now," he said.
"Let me go first," exclaimed Bob. "I've got a gun."
He squirmed through the opening in the door and seeing no sign of any one outside called to Hugh to follow him. A moment later they stood side by side in the dark and narrow hallway.
"We'd better get out of here as fast as we can," whispered Bob.
"The sooner it is, the better I'm pleased," returned Hugh grimly. ”

“ The fire burned more fiercely every moment, and it seemed incredible that any man could enter that seething furnace and return alive. The air was filled with sparks and blazing embers; the smoke mounted heavenward in a thick column which must have been visible for miles.
Minutes that seemed like hours passed. Hugh and the two detectives returned from their chase. They had not captured their man.
"We followed him as far as the road," one of them reported. "He had a motor cycle there and got away from us."
"We'll get him later, never fear," said Sergeant Riley, grimly. ”

“ Just before they came to the end of the wagon-road they heard the sound of a motor and saw the lights of an automobile speeding down the main road in the direction of High Ridge.
"Sounds like our car," said Bob. "All those motors make the same sort of noise."
"Pretty good ears you have," remarked Hugh.
"You ought to see old Heinie," said Bob. "He may look stupid, but he can tell almost any make of car just by the noise it makes." ”

“ Heinrich seemed much perturbed at this. "So?" he exclaimed his eyes wide.
"Yes," said Bob, "and it's men like you who ought to stop them. You men who were Germans but are now Americans, could do yourselves a good turn if you did. Some people of German blood are under suspicion nowadays and if you showed that you were loyal to the United States it would be a good thing for you. Not that I mean to say we are suspicious of you," Bob hastened to add.
This speech of Bob's seemed to offer a new line of thought to Heinrich who merely stared at Bob and said nothing. ”

“ You've got the spirit that every true American should have, and which I believe they do have. When Germany finds herself facing a million American troops and sees the Stars and Stripes floating from the opposing trenches she'll know she's beaten. I hope we'll show them that we mean business and the sooner we do, the quicker the war will be over."
"What kind of a disguise can I wear?" asked Bob.
"I guess you won't need a very elaborate one. Isn't there a false-face in the house with whiskers or a mustache on it!" ”

“ Bob and Hugh could feel their hearts hammering so that it seemed to the two boys the noise must be heard. Their faces were pale, and frankly they were frightened. Suppose the men in the room should outnumber them and overpower them? Certainly if they were the spies and plotters they sought, they would be desperate. ”

“ What's the connection?"
"I don't believe there is any," said Bob. "You're too suspicious, Hugh."
"Won't you admit that it's queer?"
"Of course I will, but I think it also proves that Heinie couldn't have been the one who returned our car last night. That is, if you think the man who stole the alligator was the one who brought back the car. Heinrich wouldn't cry about the loss of his pet if he was the one who took it, would he?"
"It's too deep for one to understand," sighed Hugh with a shake of his head. ”

“ He peered out and then suddenly uttered an exclamation.
"Hugh," he cried in a low voice. "The gray roadster is out there. A man just got in and is driving off."
With one bound Hugh was by his friend's side. "Could you see who it was?" he demanded eagerly. The roadster had disappeared down the wagon road.
"I couldn't see," said Bob. "His back was toward me all the time."
"How do you suppose that car got in here without our hearing it?"
"I don't know. Of course they had the cutout closed."
"Do you think that man has gone for help?" ”

“ Cook, "that Heinrich evidently was in with this gang and therefore he ought to be punished."
"You're dead right, Mr. Cook," exclaimed the sergeant. "No matter whether a man's been made a fool of or not, if he's dangerous he ought to be locked up."
"I suppose so," Bob agreed. "I feel sorry for him though, more sorry than
I do for Lena. She has more brains than Heinie and ought to know better." ”

“ The wagon road they had followed the night before ran all the way through the stretch and a break in the trees a short distance away showed where it came out on that side.
"We must go carefully now," warned Hugh. "How far in is the old house?"
"Oh, about a quarter of a mile," said Bob. "I don't believe any one is apt to be out here in the daytime." He felt for his back pocket, however, and the knowledge that he had a revolver with him was most reassuring.
They stole along through the woods, stepping softly and keeping a sharp lookout in all directions. ”

“ Bob inquired, nudging Hugh with his elbow.
He loved to tease both Karl and Heinrich about their love affair.
"No, thanks," replied Karl seriously. "It will be all right I hope."
"I hear you're making ammunition down at the factory," said Bob.
"Yes."
"Keeps you pretty busy, doesn't it?"
"It certainly does. We're going to work both a night and day shift next week."
"You want to watch out for some of these bomb plotters," said Bob. "There are a lot of them around here, I understand." ”

“ Bob exclaimed. "It might be a lot of fun."
"Aren't these plotters silly?" said Hugh. "They may be able to blow up a plant or a bridge here and there, but they'll lose more than they gain."
"Why so?"
"Because it'll make the people mad. When they once get angry they'll fight and work much harder to defeat Germany. Half the people in this country don't seem to realize that we are at war now, but when a few of them get blown up we'll begin to do something." ”