TAKING A CHANCE.
"The first thing to do," said Chester, "is to appropriate two of
Lieutenant Strauss's uniforms. That's your job."
"That's right--pick out the easy work for me," replied Hal
sarcastically. "How do you figure I'm going to get 'em?"
"I don't know," said Chester. "That's up to you. My job, and a much
harder one, it seems to me, is to appropriate one of the general's big
maps, so that if we do succeed in getting out of Berlin, we shall know
where we are going."
"I take back what I said," exclaimed Hal. "I'll try to get those
uniforms."
"Trying is not enough," said Chester. "You've got to get 'em!"
"All right, then," replied Hal, "I'll get 'em!"
Since the two lads had been guests, or prisoners, in the Strauss home,
a detail of soldiers had been stationed around the house, with orders
not to let either of the lads pass unless accompanied by either the
lieutenant or the general. The boys had been given the freedom of the
house. The lieutenant had demurred at the placing of a guard around
the house, saying that there was not the slightest chance of the boys
escaping, anyhow, but the general had held out on that point,
remarking:
"I know these Americans better than you do. They're slippery. You have
to watch them closely, or they will slip between your very fingers."
Choosing a moment when the lieutenant had left the house, Hal slipped
unobserved into his room. He knew the uniforms hung in a closet.
He approached and tried the knob. The door was locked.
"It's up to me to see if I can't pick that lock," he told himself, and
set to work with what improvised little tools he could bring from his
pocket.
In vain he worked. He could not pick the lock. He stepped back and
viewed the door, meantime keeping his ear cocked for sound of
footsteps from without. Then an idea struck him.
Using his knife as a screwdriver, he removed the hinges from the door.
A moment later he was inside the closet. Quickly selecting two of the
lieutenant's uniforms, he laid them on a chair, and hurriedly put back
the door and tightened the bolts.
Then, holding the uniforms behind him, he made his way back to his own
room, where he threw the uniforms under the bed. Chester was not
there.
"Hope he has things as easy as I did," said Hal to himself, and sat
down to await his friend's return.
When Chester entered the general's private room, which he found
unlocked, he went straight to the general's desk. He knew that maps
and valuable papers were kept there, because the general had once
referred to them as being there while at supper.
The desk was locked, but this did not disconcert the lad, for he had
expected it would be. Drawing a small buttonhook that he always
carried from his pocket, he inserted it in the keyhole. After several
unsuccessful attempts the lock finally turned, and Chester quietly
threw up the top.
Walking to the door and making sure that no one was near, the lad
returned to the desk. Quickly he looked over the assortment of papers,
and at length a smile lighted up his face. Evidently he had found what
he was in search of, for he quickly thrust a paper in his pocket.
He did not leave at once, but continued to rifle the contents of the
general's desk. Finally he appropriated several more documents, which
he also thrust into his pocket.
There was the sound of a door slammed on the floor below. Quickly the
lad closed the desk, and, walking softly to the door, peered out.
There was no one in sight. Closing the door quietly behind him,
Chester walked rapidly down the hall to his own room, where Hal was
waiting for his return.
"Did you get it?" asked Hal, as Chester entered the room and closed
the door behind him.
"Yes," replied Chester; "and you?"
"They are under the bed," said Hal, with a grin. "I believe I would
make a first-class burglar."
"And I," agreed Chester. "However, 'All's fair in love and war,' you
know."
"I am glad I do know it," said Hal. "Otherwise I wouldn't think much
of myself now."
"We had better hide these things," said Chester. "Their loss might be
discovered and a search made."
"Where shall we put them?"
Chester glanced around the room. He walked to the closet and opened
the door. Peering in, he found, just above the top shelf, a small
opening, apparently not meant for use, as it was too close to the
ceiling.
"Put 'em in here," he said, and, withdrawing the papers from his
pocket, he suited the action to the word.
Hal now brought the uniforms out from under the bed, and, by dint of
hard squeezing, also finally succeeded in secreting them. The dark
cloth made the hiding-place look like nothing more than a hole.
"All we need now are swords and pistols," said Chester.
"Pistols," agreed Hal. "I don't know that we need swords."
"You don't," said Chester, in contempt. "We would make a couple of
fine-looking officers, strutting around without swords, wouldn't we?"
"You're right," Hal agreed, somewhat sheepishly. "Where are we going
to get them?"
"The general always leaves his sword and revolvers on the table in the
hall before retiring," said Chester. "Then I noticed another pair of
swords hanging on the wall there. Also the lieutenant invariably
leaves his weapons on the parlor table. Careless, I say, but lucky for
us."
Chester's thoughtfulness in hiding the articles they had appropriated
stood them in good stead, as it turned out that evening. General
Strauss, upon his arrival home, went straight to his private office,
saying that he would be in to dinner in a few moments.
Accordingly the others went in and sat down at the table without
waiting for him. A moment later the old general came storming into the
room.
"My maps!" he cried. "My maps! Has anyone seen my maps?"
The lieutenant jumped to his feet.
"Have you lost them, sir?" he asked.
"Lost 'em? Lost 'em? Do you think I would ask for them if I knew where
they were?"
"Perhaps you left them at headquarters, sir."
"No, I didn't leave 'em at headquarters," raged the general. "Someone
has stolen them!"
"Stolen, sir? Why, there has been no one in the house, and you know
that none could have entered without the guard on the outside seeing
them."
"I tell you they have been stolen!" cried the general. "I want the
house searched at once--every room in it, sir, yes, and the room of
these two Americans also."
"Father!" admonished the lieutenant. "Surely you are not accusing
them?"
"I am not accusing anybody, sir, but I want this house searched. Must
I call for outside help, or will you help me, sir?"
"I'll help, sir," replied the lieutenant quietly. To the lads he said
softly: "Never mind him. He is always irritable when he misplaces
something."
The old general's sharp ears caught this remark.
"Irritable, am I?" he cried. "Well, maybe I am, but I don't need to
have my own son apologize for my actions. If I have done anything that
demands an apology I'll apologize myself."
Lieutenant Strauss shrugged his shoulders, as he said:
"I'll search the second floor, sir. Will you take the first?"
"Yes," snapped the general, "and see that you make a thorough job of
it."
At this juncture Chester rose to his feet.
"If you think we have your papers, sir," he said quietly, "we are
willing to submit to a search."
"And searched you shall be," said the general. He turned to his son.
"Search them!"
The lieutenant protested, but to no avail. The lads submitted to the
search in silence.
"They have nothing, sir," said the lieutenant.
"Then search the second floor," commanded the general.
An hour later the lieutenant came downstairs, and a few moments later
the old gentleman, now considerably cooled off, also returned.
"I found nothing, sir," reported the lieutenant.
"Nor I," said the general slowly. "Can it be I was mistaken? Perhaps,
after all, I did leave the maps at headquarters." He turned to Hal and
Chester. "I hope you will pardon me for my outburst," he said gravely,
"but I am easily excited."
"Say no more about it, sir," replied both lads together, but to each
came the same thought:
"We are in luck."