LITMIR.BIZ

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of the high board fence.

      The animal commenced to race about shaking the fragment of cloth he still held between his teeth. Tom made for the back gate, threw the bar aside, and ran out. He heard his father calling to him to be careful, but so long as he gripped such a good weapon as that heavy ash bat he had no fear of the result, should he be fortunate enough to overtake the thief.

      The dog came rushing after him, and Tom gave the animal an encouraging word. But after all he was doomed to disappointment, for the man had obtained a start of half a minute at least, which was long enough for his purpose.

      When Tom heard the familiar throb of a motor working near by he realized that the ​intruder had come prepared for hasty flight in case of discovery. Then a car sped away with a great roaring of the unmuffled engine.

      Keenly disappointed, and yet pleased to know that the would-be robbery had not occurred, Tom retraced his steps. His father met him just inside the grounds.

      "Then he got away clean and clear, did he?" asked the gentleman, who of course guessed the state of affairs when he first heard the sound of a speeding car.

      "I don't know about clean and clear, Dad," Tom told him. "Come here, Duke, and let's see what you're shaking so savagely."

      It was only with some difficulty that Tom persuaded the bulldog to let him have the article. He held this up and then laughed.

      "Why, it's pretty nearly the entire seat of a pair of trousers, father," he explained. "The dog was hanging to him like the pendulum of a grandfather clock, and fighting like everything to drag him down. But the cloth gave finally, which allowed the scamp to tumble over the fence and get away."

      Mr. Raymond took the spoils of Duke's attack and examined it under the glare of a little hand-electric torch he was carrying with him.

      "The teeth of the dog drew blood, as you can see, my boy," he remarked, holding the article ​out to Tom. "I should say that rascal will have a most decided limp to his gait for some days to come."

      "Then everywhere I go I'll keep on the lookout for any man who walks with a cane, and limps as though each step caused him pain," suggested Tom, perhaps in a semi-humorous mood, though he hardly felt as though the subject was one to be treated lightly.

      "Perhaps I had better send this fragment of cloth to the detective who's looking for Adolph Tuessig," continued Mr. Raymond reflectively. "It might afford him an excellent clue, in case he manages to find the German secret agent of the Kaiser."

      "You seem to feel absolutely certain, Father, that this man must have been the same thief who visited the house before."

      "There is no question about it in my mind, Son," returned the other firmly. "He has realized that what he managed to secure is only a fragment of the whole;. and so he either came back himself, or else sent an accomplice, to try to find the rest of the papers containing my secret invention."

      As the air was cold, and neither of them had fully dressed, the two spent no more time in the open, saying a last word of commendation to the dog, and then retiring indoors.

      ​In the morning Tom investigated, and could easily see where the would-be thief had scrambled so hastily over the fence; for footprints led to the spot, and by looking closely he could even detect tiny specks of a suggestive red stain on the boards, that told the tragic story.

      When Jack came he showed a tremendous amount of interest in the story, and had to be taken over the whole ground, as well as pet Duke and compliment him on his staying qualities. To all of this praise the bulldog seemed to listen with more or less appreciation, if the jerking of his abbreviated tail could be accepted as evidence.

      That day would see them off. The minutes dragged in a way, because both boys were becoming very nervous over the parting scenes, which they dreaded a little. But it was over at last, and they boarded the afternoon train bound for New York.

      When they arrived in the great metropolis the afternoon was well on toward its close. Indeed, already the shades of evening had begun to gather as they took a taxicab and with their steamer trunks rode down to the dock from which their vessel was to leave at some indefinite time, perhaps before sunrise on the morrow.

      As they arrived at the great bustling dock it was to find that electric lights blazed and ​stevedores were hustling to finish loading the vessel to the limit, while intending passengers were dodging the rushing trucks or entering through the passenger entrance or hurrying over the gangplank.

      It was a scene of considerable commotion on which the two comrades gazed as they paid their driver, and then saw to it that their steamer trunks, bags and smaller packages were started for their stateroom. Then they hurried to board the gray monster Lhat lay alongside the dock almost ready to start for the dangerzane, where waiting German undersea vessels lurked, watching for their prey like tigers in the jungle hungry for a meal.

      It was just at this moment that Tom caught his companion's arm in a tense grip, while he hissed in his ear:

      "Look at that taxi driving wildly away, will you, Jack? A man thrust his head out, and stared right at us just before the chauffeur started off so furiously. And Jack, I recognized his face! My father had a photograph of Adolph Tuessig which the detective obtained for him somehow or other. Yes, that man in the taxi was the slippery German who robbed my father! And he must know who we are, as well as why we're starting across to France!"

      ​

      CHAPTER V

      THE SECRET SAILING

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      Jack showed signs of excitement when his comrade made such a startling announcement. He stared after the departing taxicab and acted as though more than half inclined to dash away in pursuit.

      "Oh, what a shame that we have to let him get away in that fashion, Tom!" he exclaimed in a disappointed tone. "Where can that detective be hanging out, not to be able to find the German spy? If only we could have him nabbed, perhaps we might be able to recover that paper."

      "It was out of the question, you see, Jack," the other told him sadly. "There, the taxi has disappeared now in the ruck of vehicles, all trying to get in and out of the pier here, where everything is being rushed like fury. But even if I had Adolph Tuessig arrested, what charge could I make against him, when we haven't a shred of real proof that he was the one who entered our house?"

      "I guess you're right there, Tom," admitted ​the other dejectedly. "I'm always ready to do things on impulse, but you have a reason back of you every time you act. He's gone for good now, anyhow, so nothing can be done. But it roiles me to think of our seeing him just when—Oh, Tom!"

      "What's struck you now?" demanded the other, seeing Jack's face lighten up all of a sudden.

      "Why should Adolph Tuessig be coming down to this steamer if he hadn't meant to go aboard?" continued Jack, again showing excitement. "Seeing us frightened him off, apparently, but then he may come back again later, and sneak aboard."

      Tom looked serious, as though digesting the suggestion advanced by his chum.

      "Well, there might be some truth in that idea, Jack," he finally remarked.

      The two youths went aboard the steamer. The passengers were looking rather subdued, and while there were affecting leave-takings, little of the customary merriment connected with these sailings for Europe was manifested.

      The reason was not difficult to understand, for even the neutral gray color of the once jet black steamship told of perils of the sea entirely foreign to such ordinary things as gales and floating icebergs. Vessels went into that ​barred zone with the nerves of those aboard keyed up to a tense pitch and sleep was a stranger to their eyes for perhaps two whole nights of terror and anxiety.

      The boys meant to stand watch until the steamer

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