Part 11 (1/2)
”Yes; why?”
”Then we'll go in with you,” said Hal quietly.
”But I don't want to go in,” declared Stubbs.
”But we do,” said Hal. ”Meet my friend, McKenzie, Stubbs.”
”I don't want to meet him,” declared Stubbs. ”I tell you I'm in danger here.”
”So are we,” said Hal. ”That's the reason we're going to take advantage of your hospitality. Come on in, Stubbs. We've got to get out of this country.”
”I'll never get out alive now that you've showed up,” Stubbs mumbled.
But he led the way inside.
CHAPTER IX
STUBBS IS CRESTFALLEN
Inside, Stubbs struck a match.
”I say! Hold up, there!” Hal exclaimed, and grasped the hand that held the match and extinguished the flame. ”We don't want any light in here,” he added.
In vain Stubbs tried to pierce the darkness with his eyes to make out the 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 for us 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't harmed 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 at command of the American state department searching for a certain list of names.”
It was Hal's turn to be surprised and he started back.
”What's that?” he cried, believing that he could not have heard aright.
Stubbs repeated his statement.
”But I thought--” began Hal.
”And what business have you to think!” demanded Stubbs with sudden anger. ”Haven't I the same, right as you to do something for my country?”