Our Young Aeroplane Scouts in Germany; or, Winning the Iron Cross

by Horace Porter

  CHAPTER V.

  WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT.

  THE vocal efforts of this new favorite had called forth round afterround of applause, for good music never went amiss in Teuton territory.

  Among the vigorous hand-clappers the boys noted a well-groomed man,apparently about forty, wearing an affable manner and the best clothesthat the continent can produce.

  Henri nudged Billy. "Size up Roque, won't you, please, and isn't he adandy?"

  Billy was first inclined to doubt the identity of their taskmaster, whoa couple of hours ago was a far cry from being in the glass of fashion.Never before had the boys seen him in that sort of rig.

  "You're dead right, Henri, it is the old scout. He's a corker, sure!"

  This note of admiration had scarcely sounded when Roque was joined by aslender, wiry individual, also set up as a swell, with a shock of sandyhair, and sporting a monocle.

  The fellow with the quizzing glass had apparently moved to get a betterview of the singer, as well as to get in touch with the secret agent.

  "Wonder if that's the man who spotted Anglin on the parade ground atHamburg?"

  "Don't let your imagination run away with you, Henri," advised Billy,who in speaking was careful not to indicate that his attitude wasanything but careless.

  The sandy-haired man was taking the same precaution, but Henri, nursingthe idea that would not down, was more and more impressed with thebelief that the elegant figure was seeking the measure and not themusic of the warbler at the other end of the room.

  If the singer had sized up the situation, it had not affected hisrendering a bit of light opera that was just then exciting an encore.There was nothing at all the matter with his German or with his voice.

  Nobody apparently was more delighted than Roque, and he appeared to beexpressing his opinion to the wiry listener beside him.

  The latter bowed politely and then sauntered toward the revolving doorleading into the lounging section of the hotel, fingering a cigar as heproceeded.

  Henri edged around nearer to the piano, the player of which wascompleting the program with a national air, the melody of many voicesaiding the performance.

  Billy had hardly realized the desertion of his chum when he saw thatRoque had changed his position, and was standing nearest the doorleading to the street. The secret agent shifted something from his hipto the sidepocket of his coat, and Billy caught the glitter of thatsomething in the swift movement. The boy guessed then that there wastrouble brewing.

  In the meantime, Henri, in an innocent sort of way, pushed still closerto the pianist, who was hitting the high notes in fine style.

  As he passed within a foot of the singer, now idly posing, with anelbow on the piano top, he, without turning his head, joined in thetriumphant chorus, but changed two words at the climax, and "beat it"reached Anglin's ear.

  The French sleuth never moved a muscle, and it was as if the warninghad been passed to a man stone deaf.

  Anyone posted, however, would have known that within an arm's length ofAnglin was a wall switch which controlled the electric lights by whichthe room was so brilliantly illuminated.

  Billy had just had the experience of being rather rudely thrust asideby a couple of burly troopers, who seemed inspired to get as quickly aspossible into the very center of the select circle.

  "Get him!"

  As this command rang out the astonished pleasure seekers started apanic, as if an alarm of fire had sounded. There was a rush for everydoorway, but every way of departure was blocked by stalwart guardsmen.

  Billy was not among those who tried to break through the doors--he wasdodging among the charging force sent in by the loud orders to "gethim."

  Click! The room was suddenly shrouded in darkness, penetrated a littledistance only by the lights beyond the entrance of the lounging roomsection.

  The pursuing force, working from several directions, ran into oneanother's arms. The pianist, familiar with the place, leaped for theelectric switch, and turned on the flood of light.

  Everybody was present but the singer!

  Henri had a perch on the keyboard of the piano, which he had sought tosave a mad tramping on his feet.

  "Set you to catch a weasel," sneered Roque, as the sandy-haired manstood staring at the shattered casement of the tall window overlookingan inner court of the hotel.

  "He can't get clear away," retorted the sandy one.

  "Stop him then," challenged Roque. "Don't stand there like a stoughtonbottle."

  The pursuers scoured the building from bottom to top, and every streetand alley roundabout, but it was a case of looking for a needle in ahaystack.

  Roque was in a black mood. Once more baffled by his cunning chiefadversary, the only one he acknowledged in his own class, and on hisown stamping ground--it was a bitter dose for the master craftsman.

  Did he remember how he himself had spread a web over Britain, woven sofinely that even Scotland Yard could not see it? Yet he rebelled at thelike cut of a diamond.

  "Stir your stumps," was his peremptory address to the boys, and theytrotted to catch his long stride out of the hotel.

  The sidewalks on both sides of the street were crowded with curiousonlookers, attracted by the reported doings inside.

  Roque bucked the line like a football star, and Billy and Henrifollowed in the cleared space without special exertion.

  "He doesn't care whom he pushes," observed Billy, as he listened toangry protests along the line of travel.

  Both of the boys were eager to talk over the latest disappearing act ofthat wonderful Anglin, but not so anxious as to take chances with Roquein earshot.

  The secret agent turned into a silent side street, and stopped before aheavily grated door in the gloomy front of a solid stone building thatwas a skyscraper in height. Reaching through the grating, he evidentlyopened way of communication with the interior, for in a moment or two aglimmer of light splintered through the barred entrance, the ponderouslock creaked, and the door swung back on its massive hinges. A skullcap and a gray beard showed behind the lamp shining in the doorway.Roque pushed the boys ahead of him, and their closing in was marked bya clang behind them.

  They followed their guide through a long corridor and into a modernhigh-power elevator, that shot noiselessly upwards. It was a circularroom into which they stepped, the very tip of a tower, and a wirelesstelegraph apparatus was there in operation.

  "How is it working?" promptly questioned Roque of an operator who wasoff his turn, and relieved of his headgear.

  The man jumped to his feet, all attention, and replied: "There's beenhardly a break for an hour, sir."

  Here was one of the hidden intelligence stations that accounted inpart for Roque's ability to get searching and quick information. Thathe should initiate the boys into his particular secret service methodsindicated a determination that they should never get away from him.

  As Billy said to Henri at a chance moment, "He thinks we are bookedfor a life job as his air chauffeurs."

  They were not aware as yet that in the extensive grounds, housed at thewater's edge, was the seaplane in which they had recently traveled sofar, and in addition a big biplane and two monoplanes were in hangarsready for service. Also the most speedy of steam launches rested at theprivate wharf.

  Roque was a recognized genius, like every cog in the German wheel,absolutely thorough in his methods, and the means placed at hisdisposal were practically limitless.

  Billy and Henri had climbed into the steep embrasure of a tower windowand were enjoying the magnificent view spread out before them.

  "How about my imagination now?" Henri was recalling exciting incidentsin the hotel. "Didn't I get the figure of the sandy man as a spotter?"

  "I think you did," admitted Billy. "But," he continued, "I didn't takemuch stock in the idea until I saw the revolver in Roque's hand. Then Iknew that the fat was in the fire."

  "I gave Anglin the cue to beat it, and I did the trick by breaking intothat Rhine song," exclai
med Henri. "Yet he never made a move until theyell of 'get him,' and I thought the jig was up, sure. He's the coolesthand in the business, that fellow."

  "Some of these days, maybe, he'll fall a little short in one of thosegetaways, and that will mean a tumble into six feet of earth."

  "Not he," stoutly maintained Henri, "he's the regular man with acharmed life. Say, I can't help laughing even now when I think ofSpitznagle calling 'Conrad,' and the expression on Roque's face."

  Billy gave Henri a kick on the foot. Roque was approaching with a sheafof telegraph messages in his hand.

  "What are you boys jabbering about? I want you to go down to the wharfwith Albert and get the seaplane in trim. I'll join you in half anhour."

  Albert, a strapping youth, with the breezy way of a sailor, guided theboys across the grounds to the hangar, and watched with interest themaking ready of the airship.

  "That's not my kind of a boat," he briskly stated, "but I'll be boundif this kind of craft didn't give us submarine workers a Christmassurprise. Ever travel in a submarine?"

  "We had a ride in one that we will never forget," replied Henri, as heapplied the oil can to the big motors.

  Billy, busy with the steering gear, was not expected to answer, as hedid not understand the question.

  "It is all a question of ups and downs, anyhow," went on Albert, "bombsfrom above and torpedoes from below."

  This trade discussion ended with the arrival of Roque, who had severedhimself from style and was again in aviation attire.

  "Now, my carrier pigeons, you are in for a homing flight, that is,Hamburg; and it may be some time before you again get a breath of thisport."

  With this assurance the seaplane was launched and took the airline forHamburg, leaving Albert to his own devices.

  The travelers soon had sight of Zorn's ever-ready grin at the home of"the well-known tradesman."

  "We've been through a lot since we were last hauled out of thesefeathers," remarked Billy, as he bounced into the bed pillows thatnight.

  Happily, "coming events do not cast shadows" for sound sleepers.

  Roque had departed for the city before the boys charged into thebreakfast room.

  "He has gone to the store," announced Zorn, who uncovered his teeth anextra inch, in compliment to his own humor.

  "Let's go over to see Lieutenant Hume," proposed Billy, after breakfast.

  "Just the ticket," agreed Henri, "I'm crazy to get a peep at the oldflying quarters again."

  But Zorn objected to any move that Roque had not ordered.

  The boys had to be satisfied with the prospect, for to run againstZorn would be akin to tackling a mountain.

  When Roque returned, sure enough, he was again playing themerchant--horn, spectacles, and all.

  "Ah, young sirs, kindly waiting for the weary worker?"

  "Same old blarney," muttered Billy.

  Zorn chuckled as he relieved the "merchant" of his hat and overcoat.

  "Some time ago I believe I told you that here you were only balancingon the edge of the great empire, and there might be an opportunity foryou to see much more of the country. The opportunity is at hand. I havebeen called by trade interests further afield, and as I cannot consentto a separation, you will continue as my companions."

  In his hour of relaxation, Roque really enjoyed this sort of word play,and he eyed the boys to see if they appreciated the fact that all ofthe best actors were not on the stage.

  He was sure of Zorn's sincere appreciation. This man had seen the chiefin many parts.

  Henri accepted the cue, and, with a profound bow, and a hand on hisheart, replied in kind:

  "My dear Herr Roque, we would grieve if you left us behind."

  "What of you?" Roque turned to Billy.

  "Oh, anything goes with me." The boy from Bangor always hit straightfrom the bat.

  The last evening of many in Hamburg was a very pleasant one to theboys. Roque's intimate knowledge of London and Paris was displayedin entertaining way, with no reference to his own exploits as thecleverest conspirator that ever invaded court and palace. He expressedregret that he had never seen America, and induced Billy to tell aboutBoston and Bangor.

  It may also be recorded that with this evening the boys unconsciouslysaid good-by to the character of the Hamburg merchant. They went farwith the many-sided man, but never again saw him in the role imposed bythis big city on the Elbe.

  When the boys retired they left master and man--Roque andZorn--conversing before the fire. With the coming of the morning, thejourney to the unknown began, and the Aeroplane Scouts had no idea ofits purpose or their assignment in the new sphere of action.

  That it would, however, include further conquest of the air they mighthave guessed.