THE BOYS BECOME UNEASY
For some moments after the officer had taken his departure, there was
silence in the room. Then Harris exclaimed:
"Now what do you think of that?"
"Well, I don't hardly know what to think of it," Jack replied. "Frank
took most of the talking on himself. When he gave his parole there was
nothing left for me but to do likewise."
"That's what I thought. Otherwise I wouldn't have given mine," said
Harris.
"It may not be too late to call him back and tell him so," said Frank.
"I did the talking because neither of you seemed to want to do it. You
didn't have to give your parole unless you wanted to. I didn't ask you
to do it."
"Come now, don't get mad, Frank," said Jack.
"I'm not mad. I'm just telling you what I think. Certainly it can do us
no harm. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose."
"That's so, too, when you stop to think of it," Harris agreed.
"Well, I stopped to think of it," said Frank. "You fellows didn't.
That's the difference."
"But who on earth can he be?" exclaimed Harris. "He seems to know you
two, all right."
"There is something strangely familiar about him," said Frank, "but I
can't place him."
"Nor I," admitted Jack, "though, as you say, there is something
familiar about him."
"Seems to me that if I knew a man I could tell you who he was," said
Harris.
"Seems so to me, too," declared Frank, "but I can't."
"Well," said Jack, "I'm not as credulous as you are, Frank. I wager he
is not doing this to help us out. I'll bet we land in Berlin and stay
there until the end of the war."
"By Jove! Let's hope not," said Harris. "Still, all things considered,
I'm of your way of thinking."
"If he was telling the truth," said Jack, "he would have let us know
who he is. There was no reason for telling us he was English and then
concealing his identity."
"I can't see any reason," Frank admitted, "but at the same time I
believe he was telling the truth."
The conversation languished. Frank curled himself up on a sofa at the
far side of the room and sought a little rest. Jack dozed in his chair.
Harris also could hardly keep his eyes open.
They were still in this condition when the door opened several hours
later and their captor again entered the room. He walked quickly across
the room and shook Jack.
"Hello!" said the latter, sleepily, "back, eh?"
Frank awoke at the sound of Jack's voice and Harris also opened his
eyes.
"I had a little work that had to be disposed of immediately," said
their captor, "which is the reason I left you so abruptly. I can show
you a place to sleep now."
He led the way from the room and upstairs. There he ushered the three
into a large, well appointed room, which contained two beds.
"Only two beds," he said, "but it's the best I can do. Two of you can
bunk together."
"Anything, just so it's soft," said Frank. "I'm tired out."
"Then you had all better turn in at once," said their captor. "I have
much work to do. It is probable that I shall not be back again until
some time tomorrow night. Make yourselves at home. You are alone in the
house. You will find cold meats, bread and some other things in the
pantry down stairs. Remain here until I come."
"Very well, sir," said Frank. "And you say we shall leave here tomorrow
night?"
"Yes; unless something develops to interfere with my plans."
"All right, sir. We shall remain here until you come tomorrow night.
But that is as long as our paroles hold good, sir. After that, we shall
escape if it is humanly possible."
"I will be back before midnight tomorrow," was their captor's reply.
"Until that time, goodbye. One thing, stay in the house and keep the
blinds drawn. I do not wish to attract attention to this house."
"Very well, sir," said Frank.
The man took a last careful glance around the room and then
disappeared.
"Well, he's gone again," said Jack. "He may be telling the truth and he
may not, but one thing sure, these beds look pretty comfortable. I'm
going to make use of one right now."
He undressed quickly and slipped between the sheets. Frank and Harris
followed his example.
All were up bright and early the next day, greatly refreshed. They
found food in the pantry, as their captor had told them they would. It
was a tedious day, confined as they were, and the time passed slowly.
But dusk descended at last.
"He should be here at any time now," said Frank.
The others said nothing, but when nine o'clock had come and gone even
Frank became uneasy.
"Don't see what is detaining him," he said.
"Nor I--if he really meant to come back," said Jack.
Eleven o'clock and still their captor had not returned.
"He said he would be back by midnight," said Frank.
"He said lots of things," said Jack, "but they didn't make the same
impression on me they seem to have made on you. I don't believe he is
coming."
"I'll tell you what I think," said Harris. "I believe he expected us to
make a break for liberty before now. The house probably is surrounded
and if we start out the door we shall most likely be shot down."
"By Jove! I wouldn't be surprised if you had hit the nail on the head,"
Jack declared.
"Nonsense," said Frank. "What would be the advantage of a plan like
that?"
"Well, I don't know; but there is something queer about this business,"
declared Jack.
Eleven thirty passed and still no sign of their captor.
Jack and Harris had kept up a steady flow of conversation regarding the
probable fate that was in store for them if they poked their heads
outside the door, and at last Jack rose to his feet.
"Well," he said quietly, "there is no need of staying here. We may as
well make a break for it Chances are, if we are quick enough, we can
get into the open without being shot down."
"Not in these clothes," said Harris.
"True enough. We'll have a look for other clothing. What do you say,
Frank?"
"I'm not convinced yet the man is not coming back," said Frank, "but I
tell you what I will do. We'll hunt up some other clothes and get into
them. Then we'll wait until twelve o'clock. If he has not returned by
that time, I'm with you."
"Fair enough," said Harris. "Come on."
The three made their way upstairs, where they started a thorough search
of the house; and at last Jack ran onto a closet in which were stored
half a dozen suits of civilian clothes.
He called the others.
"All right if they'll fit," said Harris.
Fortunately, they did fit; and fifteen minutes later the three were
garbed in plain citizens' attire. They left their uniforms in the room
where they had changed.
"Now to see if we can find a few guns," said Jack.
Again they searched the house.
Frank was the first to find a weapon. There were two revolvers in a
drawer of a writing desk in the parlor and with them was a goodly
supply of ammunition. Frank gave one of the guns to Jack.
"We ought to be able to find one more," said Harris. "I've got to have
a gun."
They ransacked the house from top to bottom; and at length Frank came
across another weapon. Harris gave an exclamation of satisfaction.
"Let's divide up that ammunition, now," he said.
This was done and the three returned to the parlor. Frank glanced at
his watch.
"Five minutes to twelve," he said. "We'll wait until midnight and not a
second longer."
To this the others agreed.
"I guess you were right after all," Frank told his companions. "Still I
can't understand this thing at all."
"You'll probably understand it better when you stick your head out the
door and a bullet hits close to it," said Harris, grimly.
"No; I don't believe there is anything like that going to happen,"
Frank declared. "Maybe he was detained and couldn't get back on time."
"When he gets back he'll find us missing," said Harris.
"He will unless he hurries," Frank agreed.
The minutes passed slowly; but at last the hands of Frank's watch
pointed to midnight.
The lad closed the case of his watch with a snap and rose to his feet.
He examined his revolver carefully to make sure it was in working order
and then said:
"Time's up; may as well be moving."
The three advanced cautiously to the front door. Behind, the house was
perfectly dark.
"Careful when you open the door, Frank," Jack warned. "Stoop down.
There is no telling what may be lurking out there."
Frank heeded this warning. Stooping, he opened the door, threw it wide
and looked out.
"Coast clear," he announced.
He was about to step out when the sound of hurried footsteps came to
his ears.
"Wait a minute," Frank whispered. "Some one coming."
A man appeared down the street. He came nearer. Frank gave an
exclamation of satisfaction:
"Come on back to the parlor," he whispered. "Here he comes now."