Leaving his companion in a dark corner, Kenneth hastened alone to the beershop. At the tables outside sat several men, mechanics in appearance. Kenneth slackened his pace to a policeman’s walk, and passed by, throwing a keen glance at the men, who gave him a perfunctory salute. On reaching the remotest table he whispered a word or two to the man drinking alone there. The man left his bock, and rising, joined Kenneth, who had drawn back into the darkness.
"What is it, Herr Policeman?" the man replied, doubtfully.
"It is a question of a spy. One of the mechanics is suspected. Do you know a short dark man who has recently come in?"
The question was a bait cast at a venture; Kenneth was elated at the man’s reply.
"Yes, to be sure; there is a new fellow, mechanic to Herr Lieutenant Breul. None of us liked the look of him. If he is a spy! ... Not that he is particularly short."
"Not a gipsy, perhaps; but still, rather dark and certainly not tall."
"That’s the fellow to a hair. He’s a boor: why, he called me a stupid pig only this morning. That’s suspicious in itself; for I’m not a stupid pig; I can prove it by my school certificates."
"Of course; you wouldn’t be employed here if you were a stupid pig. Well now, Herr Lieutenant Breul ought to be warned."
"That’s true. The Herr Lieutenant is not here now; he has gone for the night with the other officers. But it would be better to arrest the man at once. A spy! We’ll do for him, me and my mates."
"Not so fast. We must make sure of the man. I ought to hold him under observation. But it is important to keep the matter quiet. The question is, can you manage to let me have a sight of the man without attracting attention?"
"You don’t want to enter by the gate, Herr Policeman?"
"No. It would never do to let it get about that a spy was found here."
"Well, it’s not an easy matter, but I’ll go to the sheds and see what can be done."
The man went away, Kenneth hastened to the spot where he had left his companion.
"Things look possible," he said. "But your uniform is a difficulty. A German officer mustn’t enter the enclosure like a thief, and without the password you can’t go in by the gate."
"I must simply bluff it out. I’m a friend of Lieutenant Breul. I’ve played many parts in my time--not without success."
