UNDER THE LIGHT
Hugh turned quickly and followed the fake detective through the crowd.
The man sauntered along as if he was in no hurry whatsoever, so that Hugh
too had to walk very slowly. The man stopped and looked in at the windows
of many of the stores, and close behind him every time stood Hugh; he was
at a loss to account for this behavior on the part of the man he was
following, as his dilatory tactics were in sharp contrast to the way in
which Lena had hurried.
Every few moments the fake detective took out his watch and looked at the
time. Hugh decided he must have an engagement for later on in the
evening, and that until then there was nothing for him to do.
As nine o'clock struck on the City Hall clock the man whom Hugh had been
following stepped into a drug store. There was a row of telephone booths
along one side of the store and the man entered one of these and shut the
door. Hugh could see him through the glass, as he took down the receiver
and gave the number to central.
Hugh loitered around the store, looking at the various articles offered
for sale under the numerous glass cases, while at the same time he kept
a careful watch on the telephone booth. The man talked for what seemed
a long time and finally Hugh was afraid to remain in the store any
longer lest he should arouse suspicion. He went out and took his stand
near the front entrance, in a spot where he could see every one who
came in or went out.
There were large posters in the store window urging men to enlist in the
army and the navy. Pictures of trim looking soldiers and sailors were on
the posters and the cards bore urgent calls for recruits. "Your country
needs you _now_," ran the legend and Hugh sighed to think that he was not
yet old enough to answer the call. His ancestors had been Americans for
many generations, they had fought and bled in every war the country had
declared, and Hugh wanted to live up to the traditions they had
established. He realized too that his country did need men, perhaps as
never before. He knew that in order to defeat Germany every ounce of
strength the country possessed would have to be thrown into the struggle.
As his father said, "Germany is beaten, but they don't know it yet, and
it may take years of stubborn fighting to teach them."
Hugh's thoughts were interrupted presently by the reappearance of the
fake detective; he came out of the drug store and turning to the right
walked off down the street. He hurried now, so that Hugh had trouble in
keeping pace with him. The man walked swiftly as if he had some definite
objective in view, and Hugh realized that probably the crisis of the
whole affair was not far distant.
Suddenly Hugh spied a rough-looking individual approaching them from the
opposite direction; his clothes were dirty and the knee of one of his
trousers legs torn. He recognized Bob at once.
The fake detective eyed Bob as he passed, but probably took him for some
tramp passing through town; certainly he looked the part. Every one in
the crowd edged away from him as he drew near, and Hugh could not help
wondering if he looked as tough as his friend.
Bob recognized Hugh as he came along without a word of greeting, turned
about and walked along beside him. He had seen the fake detective on
ahead and though there was no chance for explanations, he knew that Hugh
was still on the trail.
In a few moments they came to the City Hall. The detective looked up at
the clock on the tower, compared the time with his watch and then took
his stand under one of the electric lights on the street in front.
"He has a date here," whispered Hugh. "We'll have to cross the street."
They crossed over and under the pretense of looking at the billboards in
front of the moving picture theater kept watch on their man.
"Where've you been?" demanded Bob.
"Just following that man around," said Hugh. "What happened to you?" and
he looked at his friend's torn and dirty clothes.
Bob related the story of his experiences. He had searched vainly for any
trace of Lena and failing to find her had resolved to take one turn along
the main street and then go down to the factory. He had met Hugh as has
been told.
"But the paper Lena had," exclaimed Hugh. "You got it you say?"
"I certainly did."
"What did it say?"
"Read it," said Bob, handing the crumpled sheet over to his companion.
Hugh started to unfold it, but before he could do so, Bob grasped him by
the arm and pointed across the street. "Look," he exclaimed.
A woman had joined the fake detective under the light, and the two were
talking together.
"It's Lena!" said Hugh excitedly.
"But where did she come from?"
"I don't know, but there she is all right."
"He's mad about something," said Bob. "Probably because she lost that
piece of paper."
"That'll prove to him they're being watched."
"I wonder if they suspect us."
"Let's hope not, yet," said Hugh earnestly. "There they go," he added a
moment later, as Lena and the fake detective started down the street.
They still were talking excitedly together and it was hard to tell from
their manner whether the man was threatening Lena or pleading with her.
"Another chase, I suppose," sighed Bob. "I'm getting tired."
"Not a chase on foot anyway," said Hugh, for just then the fake detective
hailed a passing cab; he and Lena stepped into it and a moment later were
being driven rapidly away.