Boy Allies with Haig in Flanders; Or, the Fighting Canadians of Vimy Ridge

by Clair W. Hayes

  CHAPTER IX

  STUBBS IS CRESTFALLEN

  Inside, Stubbs struck a match.

  "I say! Hold up, there!" Hal exclaimed, and grasped the hand that heldthe match and extinguished the flame. "We don't want any light inhere," he added.

  In vain Stubbs tried to pierce the darkness with his eyes to make outthe lad's features.

  "Humph!" muttered the little man. "What have you been up to now?"

  "Stubbs," said Hal, "the whole of Germany will be scouring the city forus before long. We've got to get away from here."

  "Well," said Stubbs, "the whole of Germany is already looking for me,but they haven't found me yet."

  "What are they hunting you for?" demanded Hal. "Surely, you haven'tharmed anyone."

  "Maybe not; but they've discovered who I am."

  "That you're an American war correspondent, eh?"

  "Why, no," said Stubbs quietly, "they've discovered that I'm here atcommand of the American state department searching for a certain listof names."

  It was Hal's turn to be surprised and he started back.

  "What's that?" he cried, believing that he could not have heardaright.

  Stubbs repeated his statement.

  "But I thought--" began Hal.

  "And what business have you to think!" demanded Stubbs with suddenanger. "Haven't I the same, right as you to do something for mycountry?"

  "Of course, Mr. Stubbs, and I think all more of you for it, but at thesame time I never dreamed--"

  "Of course you didn't. Neither did anyone else, which is the reason myservices were accepted. That is, no one knew it outside of Germany,but they seem to have spotted me here soon enough."

  "I see," said Hal. "Then you must have made an effort to get the listof German agents in the United States."

  Stubbs gave an exclamation of amazement.

  "Who said anything about spies?" he asked.

  "Well, you didn't, to be sure," said Hal, "But as I happened to havethe list in my hands a few moments ago, I didn't need to be told."

  "You had it?" cried Stubbs, unconsciously raising his voice.

  "Yes."

  "'Where is it now?" demanded Stubbs eagerly.

  "Safe, I hope," replied Hal quietly, "but don't talk so loud, Stubbs.I sent the list to Chester by a trusted aide, and I have no doubt he ison his way out of the country with it now."

  "How'd you get it?" inquired Stubbs.

  Hal explained.

  "By George!" said Stubbs. "You fellows have all the luck. I tried andfailed."

  "Maybe you didn't know where it was," said Hal.

  "Didn't, eh? Say, let me ask you something. Didn't you think it wasrather strange when you approached General Rentzel's place that therewas no one around, eh?"

  "Well, such a thought had occurred to me," Hal admitted, "but Isupposed no one was on guard through overconfidence."

  "Do you want me to tell you where the guards were?"

  "Why, yes, if you know."

  "Well, I know all right. They were chasing me around the highways andbyways, if you want to know," Stubbs exploded. "They discovered metrying to get into the house and I ran for my life. Well, this beatsthe Dutch! I cleared the road for you and you grabbed the list!"

  Stubbs became silent.

  "At all events," said Hal, "we got the list--and that is what counts,after all."

  "True," said Stubbs, and extended a hand in the darkness, which Halgrasped warmly. "Well," he said, "we're all tarred with the samebrush, and it will give these Huns great delight to stand us all upbefore a wall or with ropes around our necks in a bunch. The sooner weget back to our lines the better for all our families."

  "But the question is, how?" said Hal quietly.

  "I've got a big automobile waiting for me about a mile from here," saidStubbs. "If we can get into it we can go a long ways withoutinterruption."

  "They'll wire ahead," said Hal

  "So they will," Stubbs agreed, "but I've also got a pocket full of theprettiest passports and other credentials you ever saw. I didn't chopdown my bridges behind me, as you seem to have done. Once in my car,as I say, and we'll move away from here."

  "Then we may as well be moving," said McKenzie, who had not spokenuntil that moment.

  "Right," Hal agreed. "But we must be careful. No telling how manyGermans are nearby, scouring the streets for us. Lead the way,Stubbs."

  "That's right," said Stubbs, "pick me for the easy work."

  "I'll lead the way if the little man is afraid," growled McKenzie.

  Stubbs whirled on him in the darkness.

  "Look here!" he exclaimed, "I allow no man to talk to me like that.Understand?"

  McKenzie was somewhat taken aback, but he growled again:

  "Then lead on and don't talk so much."

  Stubbs would have made another angry retort, but Hal nudged him tomove.

  Muttering to himself, Stubbs led the way to the street again.

  There was no one in sight as they emerged from the darkened house, andthey moved off down the street with rapid strides. Occasionally theysaw passing civilians, with now and then an officer or trooper or so,but Berlin seemed to be sleeping securely in the knowledge that theenemy was far from its door.

  Hal gazed at his watch by the glare of a street light. It was almost 4o'clock.

  "Two hours to daylight," he muttered. "We shall have to hurry."

  Fifteen minutes later Stubbs slowed down.

  "My automobile is in a small garage around the next corner," he said,and added significantly, "if nothing has happened to it."

  "Let's get it then," said Hal. "We don't want to stand here."

  Stubbs moved on again and Hal and McKenzie followed him closely.

  There was no sign of a living person near the little garage. Stubbsapproached and attempted to throw back the closed door. It would notbudge.

  "Let me try, Stubbs," said Hal, pushing forward.

  He took from his pocket a short but well tempered piece of steel. Hefound that the door was held by a padlock. He inserted the piece ofsteel in the top, and, putting forth all his strength, broke the lock.

  There was a sharp report as the lock fell to pieces.

  "Quick, Stubbs!" Hal cried. "That noise will have aroused every sleepypoliceman within a mile."

  McKenzie lent a hand and the door was thrown back. Stubbs gave a gaspof relief. The automobile was there.

  "You do the driving, Hal," cried Stubbs. "Pile in here, man," this toMcKenzie. "She's all ready to start. Come on."

  The others wasted no time in words. McKenzie scrambled in the backseat alongside Stubbs, while Hal sprang to the wheel. A moment laterthe automobile moved slowly from the garage.

  As the big machine came clear into the street, a bright light suddenlyflashed around the next comer and headed toward them. Hal knew in amoment what it was. It was a motorcycle, bearing a policeman. Therewas but one course to pursue, and Hal acted without hesitation. Hethrew the machine into high and it dashed directly toward themotorcycle.

  The man saved his life by swerving swiftly to one side. His machinebumped the curb and threw the rider off. When he picked himself up theautomobile bearing the three friends was turning a corner, apparentlyon one wheel for Hal had scarcely diminished the speed.

  The German drew his revolver and fired a shot ill the air. He wassounding the alarm and summoning assistance at the same time.

  Quickly he righted his motorcycle, mounted, and made off in pursuit ofthe high-powered automobile.

  At the sound of the German's shot, Hal increased the speed of theautomobile.

  "McKenzie!" he cried.

  McKenzie leaned forward so as to catch the words the lad shouted backto him.

  "Get your guns ready!" cried Hal. "Don't let anyone come at us fromthe rear."

  McKenzie understood. He repeated Hal's words to Stubbs, shouting tomake himself heard.

  "Can't anyone catch us from behind," Stubbs shouted bac
k. "This carwill outrun anything in Germany."

  McKenzie made no reply, but looked to his guns. He knew that it wasnot pursuing automobiles that Hal was afraid of; but high-poweredmotorcycles in use in Germany would probably be able to overtake thecar no matter what its speed.

  So far, however, the road behind was clear.