Part 36 (1/2)

”Did Werner and Glutts have anything to do with it?” came from Gif.

”They went to Duval's cabin once when the Germans were there. I asked to go along, but they wouldn't let me. After that Bill and Gabe took some kind of a message down to Timminsport for them. It was on their way back from the town that they stopped and made a mess of things at your Lodge.

They were laughing and joking about it when they got back, and that is how I know what took place.”

”You said you would tell us where the things that were taken away are,”

came from Spouter.

”They are all in the barn under the hay--at least that is what Bill and Gabe said. They took 'em out there in one of the bed sheets.”

”I guess that's right,” came quickly from Gif. ”I noticed that one of the sheets was missing.”

They had now reached the shelter of the forest, and here, after a little talk, it was decided that the twins and Fred should return to Cedar Lodge at once, taking Codfish with them, while Jack, Gif, and Spouter took a roundabout course leading to the rear of Tony Duval's shack.

”We've got to be careful,” announced Jack. ”For all we know, those Germans may be desperate characters.”

”And on the other hand they may be the most innocent fellows in the world,” added Spouter. ”Remember, not all the German-Americans in this country are unpatriotic.”

The three soon reached a point where they could catch sight of Duval's shack. They approached with caution so that they might not be seen from the single back window of which the rough building boasted. As the boys drew closer they saw that the window had been raised several inches.

Evidently there was a good fire going inside of the shack, and with so many occupants the place had become overly warm.

”Then it's all settled, and you'll attend to the matter?” they heard one of the Germans remark, as they crawled up close to the building.

”Yes, I'll do it,” answered Tony Duval. ”But I'll be running a big risk.”

”Not if you are careful,” said another of the Germans.

”And don't forget that you are being well paid for your work,” added a third German, ”and that you are doing this for the country in which your mother was born.”

”I should not want to be caught,” grumbled Tony Duval. ”If I was, the authorities might hang me.”

”Poof! be not so chicken-hearted,” said the German who had first spoken.

”Now it is all arranged, be careful that you do not disappoint us,” he added sternly.

The three cadets had listened to this talk with intense interest. Now Jack could not resist the temptation to peer in at one corner of the window. He saw one of the Germans returning a wallet to his pocket, and saw Tony Duval take up several bank bills from the table and place them away in his hunting jacket. All of the Germans were on their feet, and now turned to the door, which one of them flung wide open.

”It's all over; get back as far as you can to the woods,” whispered the oldest Rover boy, and led the way with the others at his heels.

When the cadets gained the shelter of the trees they saw the Germans get into the sleigh once more, and a few seconds later they drove away, Tony Duval watching their departure.

”Now what do you make of that, Jack?” questioned Gif. His face showed that he was puzzled.

”It looks to me as if those fellows were up to no good,” returned Jack.

”Did you notice what they said about Tony Duval's mother?” cried Spouter. ”That seemed to me as if his mother might have been a German woman.”

”That's the way I took it, too,” returned Jack. ”And then, don't forget what Duval said--that the authorities might hang him if he was caught.

That sounds as if they were asking him to do something which was against the law.”

”Yes, and a big crime at that,” put in Gif.