CHAPTER XIV
AN EXPEDITION
Mr. Cook and the two boys were so completely taken aback by thesergeant's statement that for a moment all they could do was stare at oneanother in amazement. Bob was the first to regain his voice.
"What do you mean, Sergeant?" he demanded.
"Just what I say."
"That man was not a detective?" stammered Bob. "He is not a member of theHigh Ridge force?"
"There is no man answering to that description here."
"Then he was a fake."
"Exactly."
"Well," exclaimed Hugh, Bob, and Mr. Cook in one breath. They couldsay no more.
"He was a fake," repeated Sergeant Riley emphatically. "There is nodoubt of it."
The boys were too surprised for words. What kind of a business was thisthey were becoming involved in anyway? The further they went the moreconfused they became. If you could not trust a man with a regulationpolice badge, whom could you trust?
"It seems incredible," said Mr. Cook.
"We are at war with Germany, aren't we?" asked Sergeant Riley calmly.
"We are," Mr. Cook agreed.
"Well, then," said the sergeant, "that explains it. They want to do usall the harm they can and as they can't bring soldiers over here, thanksto the English fleet, they've got to strike at us with plots and bombsand such things. They will stop at nothing."
"Are there many to guard against in High Ridge?" asked Mr. Cook. "Youknow I am interested because my factory is making ammunition for theGovernment."
"There are several," the sergeant admitted.
"Can you tell me who they are?"
"I cannot. 'Twould be against my orders. Yez might feel better to knowthat we are watching them pretty carefully though."
"I hope so," said Mr. Cook fervently.
"Have yez had lunch?" asked the sergeant suddenly.
"No," replied Mr. Cook. "Not yet."
"Well, suppose yez go home and get it. I may telephone yez a little laterto go out to that house with some of our men."
"Good," cried Mr. Cook. "We'll hurry and you may be sure we'll be readyany time you call on us."
They left the police station and were soon on their way home. Arriving atthe house, Hugh and Mr. Cook got out, and Bob drove the car down to thegarage. There he found Heinrich seated on a box in one corner intentlystudying a sheet of paper he held in his hand.
"What you got, Heinie?" asked Bob cheerily. "A love letter!"
Heinrich looked up at Bob, a curious expression in his pale blue eyes. Hemade no comment, however, and presently returned to the perusal of thepaper he held.
"What is it?" demanded Bob, impressed by the chauffeur's manner. An airof gloom seemed to pervade the garage, even the dog, the cat, and theparrot appeared to be affected by it. The dog stood listlessly by hismaster's side, the cat walked idly up and down, and the bird failed togreet Bob with his usual cheery "How do"; he sat limply on his perch, hisfeathers ruffled, and muttered to himself.
Heinrich handed the paper to Bob. It was a sheet evidently torn from apad and in a large scrawling hand was written the following: "We warnedyour boss to keep his car at home; now tell him to keep his son there,too." No name was signed and Bob turned the paper over and looked at theopposite side. A picture of an alligator was drawn there. Bob recognizedthe sheet as similar to the one that he and Hugh had found in thedeserted house and the detective had taken from them; apparently it hadbeen torn from the same pad.
"Where did you get this, Heinie?" he demanded.
"I go up to the house to see Lena," said Heinrich. "That is maybe ahalf-hour ago. I only stay there a few minutes and when I come backhere is this."
"Lying on the floor?"
"Yes."
"Have you no idea who sent it?"
"How should I?" exclaimed Heinrich.
"Somebody must have slipped in here while you were absent and leftit," said Bob. "There are queer things happening around here thesedays, Heinie."
"There is," the chauffeur admitted solemnly.
"Do you mind if I keep this paper?"
"No."
Bob started out.
"You better do as that says, too," exclaimed Heinrich earnestly. "Youwould not want anything to happen to you."
"I'm not afraid," said Bob soberly. "You know, Heinie," he continued,"some people are trying to blow up things around here. Some of yourcountrymen, and we can't let them do anything like that, you know."
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 menwho were Germans but are now Americans, could do yourselves a good turnif you did. Some people of German blood are under suspicion nowadays andif you showed that you were loyal to the United States it would be a goodthing for you. Not that I mean to say we are suspicious of _you_," Bobhastened to add.
This speech of Bob's seemed to offer a new line of thought to Heinrichwho merely stared at Bob and said nothing.
"Heinrich is so loyal himself that it never occurred to him that any onewould be suspicious," thought Bob as he hurried off toward the house, thestrange paper clutched tightly in one hand.
He arrived to find every one at the dining-table, and consequently hesaid nothing about the warning, for he did not wish to alarm his mother.She had just heard from Harold; his company had been ordered away fromHigh Ridge that morning for an unknown destination. She was worriedenough over that without having another son on her mind. Fortunately thelump on Bob's head was covered by his hair so that it was not noticeableenough to draw attention to it. His black eye already had been explained.
Luncheon was hardly over when the telephone summoned Mr. Cook. SergeantRiley was on the wire inquiring if Mr. Cook and Bob and Hugh could notmeet him at headquarters immediately. A few moments later they were inthe car and on their way down the street. Bob was at the wheel.
Another car was drawn up alongside the curb in front of the policestation and in it were four plain-clothes men. Sergeant Riley was thereto explain that they planned to go out to the deserted house and searchit thoroughly, by force if necessary. He wished the two boys to go alongas guides, and he thought probably Mr. Cook would want to accompany them.
A short time later they started, Bob leading the way. As they passed ElmStreet he glanced curiously at the white stucco house, number twelveeighty two, and wondered what had happened to the German who hadattempted to destroy the railroad bridge. Probably he now rested in jail,awaiting trial. Then again it occurred to Bob that possibly he had beenshot; the country was at war and offenders of that kind were not dealtlightly with at such a time.
They left the city behind and rolled along over the country road. Thethree occupants of the car were silent for they did not know what mightawait them at their destination. A squad of soldiers out on a hike passedthem. They were hot, dirty and dusty, but their rifles glinted wickedlyin 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."
"Indeed it can," his father agreed. "Germany thought they'd have nothingto fear from us, but they'll be sadly fooled. Just think of the money andfood and equipment of all kinds we can furnish our allies; those thingsare just as important as men, and we can send millions of those, too, ifthey need them."
Presently they came to the spot where Bob and Hugh had dismounted fromtheir bicycles that morning. Bob stopped the car and the plain-clothesdetectives followed suit. Sergeant Riley took charge.
"You lead the way," he said to Bob. "We'll follow wherever you go."
A moment later they were off across the field and soon came to the woodswhich sheltered the deserted house. In Indian file they commenced topick their path among the trees and underbrush. Complete silence wasmaintained and the party a
dvanced, ready for any emergency. Of course thedetectives were armed. Mr. Cook carried his pistol, so Bob and Hugh werethe only ones not provided with some means of defense.
In the course of perhaps fifteen minutes Bob, from his position in thelead, caught a glimpse of the old house through the trees. So far ashe could see there was no sign of life around it anywhere. He held uphis hand and the little party came to a halt. A whispered consultationwas held and it was decided to spread out somewhat and move forward inopen order.
The plan was to advance until they reached the border of the trees, andthen at a given signal rush out into the opening and surround the house.Stealthily the band stole forward. The spring air was soft and balmy, thebuds on the trees were commencing to swell; everywhere nature gave signsof a reawakening, but these things passed unnoticed. The members of thelittle party were occupied with the business in hand, and had no time orinterest for anything else.
Soon they reached their appointed positions. From the spot where hecrouched Bob could see the others lurking within the shelter of thetrees. He could see Sergeant Riley raising a police whistle to his lipsto sound the signal that had been agreed upon. Bob set himself. He hadbeen advised that inasmuch as he was unarmed he should remain behind, buthe had no such intention. Neither had Hugh.
Suddenly Sergeant Riley sounded a shrill blast with his whistle. Everyman rushed forward. Only for a few steps, however. A burst of flame, anda puff of smoke shot from the cellar window of the old house, and the airwas rent by a terrific explosion.
Bob Cook and the German Spy Page 14