FACING THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Jack was the first to enter Lieutenant Ridder's room at the hotel. The
young engineer officer jumped up out of his chair, looking somewhat
angry.
"Look here, Benson," expostulated the lieutenant, "what sort of way is
this to use me? Here I've been loafing about here for hours, and you
haven't sent or brought me word of any kind. You--"
"We've brought you something better," smiled Jack Benson, throwing the
door further open. "Here is Millard, himself."
Millard came in, a policeman at his side, for the submarine boys had
hailed the first policeman they met inside the city limits, and had
explained to him.
"This man is wanted as a United States prisoner, is he, sir?" inquired
the policeman.
"Yes, if his name is Millard," replied Lieutenant Ridder.
"Oh, this is Millard, all right," confirmed Jack Benson.
"Then shall I leave the fellow with you, sir?" inquired the policeman.
"Yes, of course; and thank you."
"You'll give me a receipt for the fellow, as a United States prisoner?"
hinted the policeman.
"As a United States suspect," corrected Lieutenant Ridder, going to a
table on which were writing materials. The policeman was handed the
desired document, then withdrew. Then Ridder went to a telephone,
calling up Major Woodruff.
"The major will be here in about ten minutes," announced Ridder, hanging
up the receiver. "In the meantime we will do no talking in the presence
of this suspect."
It was just a little less than ten minutes later when Major Woodruff,
accompanied by a corporal and two private soldiers, entered the room.
Millard was at once taken away, under guard.
Then the boys told their stories, quickly, comprehensively.
"I'll have to get a clear wire all the way through to Washington,"
declared Major Woodruff, promptly, going to the telephone. In a minute
more he had arranged matters, and hurried to the table to write his
despatch. Ere the major had finished writing a messenger boy was at
the door.
"Boy, you'll find my automobile at the hotel entrance," stated Major
Woodruff. "Give this card to my chauffeur, and he'll take you on the
jump to the telegraph office. Then come back in the automobile, and
wait for more work."
"Do you expect anyone in Washington to get that message now, after ten
o'clock at night?" Jack asked, wonderingly.
"To-night?" repeated Major Woodruff. "Yes, sir! You haven't much idea,
I take it, Mr. Benson, how fast government business travels. Within
five minutes the first part of my message will be ticking out on a
receiver in the War Department. The Army officer in charge will get
the Secretary of War over the telephone. Why, my answer will very
likely be here inside of twenty minutes!"
It was thirty minutes, exactly, when a messenger placed a telegram in
Major Woodruff's hands. As soon as the messenger had gone outside,
the major read this telegram.
_"Keep prisoner Millard close confinement pending further orders.
Have communicated Secretary of Navy. Latter official says sea chase
shall be made to catch fellow Gray on 'Juanita.' If submarine boys
will accept sea service, briefly, for Navy Department, have them come
to-night's train and report Secretary Navy at nine to-morrow morning.
Their expenses borne by government." (Signed) "Secretary of War."_
"What does that mean, sir," cried Jack Benson, rising, "about _if_ we
will accept sea service, and reporting in the morning to the Secretary
of the Navy at Washington?"
"Why, I belong to the Army," replied Major Woodruff, hauling out his
watch, "and this is a Navy matter. However, since one of you youngsters
knows Gray by sight, and you're all of you familiar with this business,
I imagine the Secretary of the Navy wants to put you out to sea on one
of the country's gunboats, to aid in the chase. For any real
information, however, you'll have to apply in person to the Secretary
of the Navy himself. Are you going to Washington?"
"Are we going--" Jack started to repeat, with mild irony, when a
knock at the door interrupted him. Major Woodruff opened the door,
to receive another telegram.
"Washington wakes up quickly," he laughed. "Here you are, Mr. Benson--a
despatch from our other fighting department at the Nation's capital."
Clearing his throat, Major Woodruff read:
_"Send description of schooner 'Juanita,' and of suspect, Gray, as
mentioned in your telegram Secretary War. Are submarine boys leaving
to-night to report in morning? Secretary of Navy."_
"Here you are, and you see you've got to make up your minds quickly,"
said the major. "The night train south for Washington leaves in a
little more than an hour from now."
"Why, there's only one answer possible, sir," cried Captain Jack Benson,
his eyes shining. "Of course we'll take to-night's train and report to
the Secretary of the Navy in the morning. When it's for the Flag I
don't even have to consult my comrades, or look their way. I know
their answer as well as I know my own."
"Good enough, young man," applauded Major Woodruff, while Lieutenant
Ridder gave Jack a hearty slap across the shoulders. "But, to go to
the Navy Department, you'll want citizen's clothes--not your present
uniforms, which are not official. I can send my auto to your boat, and
you can be back here in forty minutes, if you dress quickly."
"Ready for the word, 'forward,' sir," responded Captain Jack, saluting.
Hal and Eph also raised their hands to their foreheads.
It was a swift trip, with some hurried dressing on board the "Spitfire,"
but Major Woodruff landed them at the railway station ten minutes ahead
of train time.
"Good fortune, gentlemen," wished Major Woodruff, pressing the hand of
each when the train was ready. "Don't be scared when you find
yourselves face to face with so big a man as the Secretary."
It is not to be wondered at if the minds of all were in a bit of a whirl
as they made for their berths in a sleeping-car.
"After all," muttered Jack, to himself, as he undressed in his berth,
"it's strange how some fellows get the cream of things. Here we get
the trip to Washington, while Lieutenant Ridder will have only the fun
of going out to the cliff above Cobtown to-morrow to have a look at
what is left of Millard's mine."
Their train brought the submarine boys into Washington just before seven
in the morning. There was time for a good breakfast. Then, being
strangers at the national capital, the youngsters engaged a cab to take
them to the imposing building that shelters the State, War and Navy
Departments.
Jack Benson sent in his card. Five minutes later the three submarine
boys were ushered into the presence of the Secretary of the Navy.