Part 20 (2/2)

Kauffman kept steadily on, and as the houses along the way thinned, Josie decided he was headed directly for the steel works. That upset her calculations a bit, for she knew he had not seen Dyer since the latter's interview with Tom Linnet, nor had he seen Linnet; therefore he could not know that any arrangements he had previously made with them had fallen through. The German's present actions, however, indicated that he had decided to place the bomb himself, without the a.s.sistance of his fellow conspirators. Had he been warned of Linnet's defection? Had he means of communicating with Dyer unknown to Josie?

Dyer was a mystery; even his wife believed he was now on his way to Was.h.i.+ngton.

Surprises, in Josie's line of work were not uncommon, and this was no time to consider whys and wherefores. The one thing she was sure of was that the bomb was in the black satchel and the black satchel in Kauffman's hand. No matter where the other conspirators might be or how they were implicated in tonight's plot, as long as she kept her eye on the bomb, she would be able to control the situation.

CHAPTER XXII A SLIGHT MISTAKE

From the edge of the town to the steel works the road led through a common, overgrown with brush and weeds. There was no moon and although the distance was not great it was a lonely, dark and ”creepy” place. As soon as the girl saw Kauffman take the road to the works she decided to get there before he could do so. Knowing well she could not be seen, she branched off through the brush, and finding her way by instinct rather than sight, ran swiftly in a half circle over the fields and struck the road again considerably in advance of the more deliberate Kauffman.

She now set off at her swiftest run and on reaching the manager's office, in the front of the main building, perceived that it was lighted.

Josie rapped upon the door and it was opened by one-armed Joe Langley, the night watchman.

”Quick!” she said, ”let me in and hide me somewhere, where I can't be seen.”

Joe pulled her in, closed the outer door and locked it, and then faced her.

”What's up?” he demanded.

”There's a man coming here with a bomb in a black satchel,” she panted.

”He intends to blow up this building, in which all the sh.e.l.ls axe stored. I want to catch him in the act, Joe, and you must hide me somewhere.”

Joe glanced around with a puzzled look.

”Where?” he asked helplessly.

So Josie looked around her, too. This end of the long building was part.i.tioned off for offices, as it fronted the town. The central section was a big s.p.a.ce containing a table, benches, etc., while on either side were little gla.s.s rooms with part.i.tions between them reaching about seven feet in height, the ceiling being some twelve feet from the floor. The first room to the left of the entrance was marked ”Manager” on its gla.s.s door; the next office ”Purchasing Agent,” and the third ”Chief Engineer.” On the right hand side, the corresponding offices were marked ”Secretary,” ”Examiner,” and ”Superintendent.” All the office doors were locked except that of the Purchasing Agent, which stood ajar. Josie sprang into that office and cast a hurried glance around. The gla.s.s division between that and the manager's office was ”frosted” with white paint, but so carelessly done that she found places where she could see through into the office of the manager. Also she could see into the main, or reception room, even with her door closed.

While she examined this place a knock came on the outer door--a loud, imperative knock.

”This will do,” whispered Josie to Joe. ”Go an let him in, but don't let him suspect I'm here.”

Joe was not quick-witted, but on the battlefields of France he had learned prompt obedience to orders. Josie, as a government agent, was now his commander, so he merely nodded to her as he walked over to unlock the outer door.

Kauffman stepped in, satchel in hand.

”You're the watchman, I suppose,” he said cheerfully. ”Is Mr. Colton here?”

”No,” answered Joe.

”I was to meet him here at this time,” said Kauffman.

”He said he'd be back this evening,” returned Joe, just recalling that fact, ”but he isn't here yet.”

”All right,” said the man, ”I'll wait.”

He carefully placed the satchel on the table and sat down on a bench.

Joe regarded him suspiciously, remembering the girl's warning, but said nothing more. Josie was watching Kauffman from her retreat, but as her little office was dark and the German sat under a bright light it was impossible for him to know that his every movement was under observation.

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