e as though someone had crashed over some obstruction. The

Porky, as he ran fleetly on u

spicion of foul play. When General Pershing received the report, he at once sent couriers and scouts to every station where the boys might have gone. On being questioned, the sen

lutely nothing more to do until morning. The tired staff threw themselves into the office chairs, while the Ge

er while the waiting men dozed

one of them suddenly

d writing and look

questioned a ca

d the first speaker

leep," said the c

," said th

forces, as the whole room tried to

knew I heard it. The code is my native language almost. It

ieutenant Reed!" o

ened breathlessly. Tap-tap went the spurred heel

s!" he reported. "They are together, in a closed chamber,-a dungeon, I take it-right below us

sked the

oak panel in the hall. They ga

u six nearest the door!" T

ibed by Porky. Twice he went over the heavy carving, pushing here and there unavailingly. Then without a sound the secret door opened and before any one could enter the passage that yawne

was no

panted. "Somebody was clo

officer in an

every one felt nervous and edgy and, besides, he did no

door at the other end of the passage that is on the

d one of the men, lo

then they would have the drop on us. It's no use now. Besides, they could go o

the land lies down there. Come up to the General, boys

the hallway patrolled by a couple of stalwart Americans, the group

bright, sudden smile lighted the strong, handsome face that had

l, your friend the Colonel warned me how it w

It struck the surface with a clank and as he pulled the cloth away a regula

tures. The part that Beany kept harking back to was the presence of the prisoners in the big room. He described carefully and accurately the appearance of

never moved at all, never batted an eyelash. And she was white.... I never saw

nded?" asked

ad nice clothes on, and I had a hunch all the time that I ought to know who she was; but I couldn't tell. Wish we knew what

sky was a mass of pale gold and pink and greenish blue, as lovely and soft and joyous as though the di

something. They were tired and heavy eyed but excited at the thought

d of their escort through the silent garden, fearless and curious and unconscio

beams and plaster through the tangled, torn old garden, and round to a spot marked by what seemed to be a clump of dense bush

he whi

the encircling bushes something was tumbled in a pitiful, distorted heap. Eagerly a half dozen men leaped down and with c

ut the girl still lived,

clothing for papers, letters-anything that could be used as clues to his identity. There was not a scrap left to guide them. The young officer's pockets had been turned inside out. Even the hems in his

, and Beany led the way through the passage into the chamber where he had sat bound, gagged and waiting for the relentless hands of the clock to reach the moment of his

opped their search, and gathered in a group around the massive table. Beany, sitting on the edge of the table, jounced up and down and thought that he had never seen a piece of furniture quite so so

e officers, a keen-faced, thoughtful man, studying the room as he could see it in the flickering l

thorough combing over," sai

other. "It is in just such places as this

s not seem as though they would hide anything of any value

e wrecked this room. Did you no

The blade entered in a tantalizing manner, slipped smoothly along, then struck metal. Beany pushed. Porky, who was watching, came closer and peered do

and within lay a long, flat box which completely filled the space. The box was of iron, heavily barred and padlocked. Four so

boys had unear