CHAPTER VII
THE MINISTER'S BALL
It was a gay assemblage that thronged the home of the Swiss minister four nights after Hal's interview with the chief of the German secret service. Elegantly dressed women and well groomed and handsome officers danced and sang, and from the general tone of the evening it would have been hard to believe that Germany was engaged in a war that threatened her very existence.
Hal, Chester and McKenzie went to the ball accompanied by Mrs. Schweiring and her daughter. Mrs. Schweiring's husband announced that he would appear later, as he had matters of importance to transact at his office.
This was the night that Hal had decided upon to make an effort to get the list of names for which the three friends were risking so much. He had a well-conceived plan in mind. The details he had worked out in the days following his interview with the German chief of secret service and his preparations had been careful and thorough. Now he was anxious for action.
General Rentzel reached the ball late in the evening. He paid his respects to the Swiss minister and to the latter's wife. A few moments later he encountered Hal, and escorted the lad to a secluded nook, where he presented the lad with several documents.
"This," he said, indicating one, "is your passport into Switzerland. From there you will travel as a Swiss subject. You will present that paper," and he indicated a second, "to Herr Baumgartner in Washington. You will find him still at the Austrian embassy. He will give you other instructions. Also, you will receive your pay through him, and whatever other money is necessary."
Hal bowed.
"Very well, sir," he said.
"I don't know that there is anything further," said General Rentzel, "except to warn you that treachery means death."
"I am aware of that, sir," returned Hal quietly.
"Very good, then. Good luck to you."
The general moved away.
Hal sought Chester instantly, glancing at his watch as he passed along slowly and without apparent haste. It was 10:30 o'clock.
"It's time to get busy, Chester," he said quietly. "It's half-past ten, and I may require an hour and a half. You get word to Gladys and her mother to keep General Rentzel here under some pretext until midnight. I'm off."
"Am I not going with you?" demanded Chester.
"No," said Hal. "I don't have time to wait, and the message must be delivered to Mrs. Schweiring or her daughter at once. I'll pick McKenzie up on the way. Good-bye."
"Good luck," said Chester simply.
Hal left the room quietly. In the hall he found McKenzie, whom he motioned to follow him. McKenzie did so quietly.
Outside Hal found the automobile which had brought them to the ball. He leaped in and McKenzie followed. Hal gave quick directions to the chauffeur to drive them home. The latter asked no questions.
At the home of Mrs. Schweiring Hal ordered McKenzie to remain in the car while the lad hurried into the house. He returned a moment later, carrying a small grip. This he threw into the car and climbed in after it.
"We have important business with General Rentzel," he told the chauffeur. "You will drive us there and then return to the ball for your mistress."
The chauffeur asked no questions. There were so many queer things going on in Berlin that he was not even greatly interested.
General Rentzel's office was in darkness when the car pulled up before it. Motioning McKenzie to follow him, Hal hastened up the steps. The chauffeur, in accordance with Hal's instructions, immediately disappeared down the street with the car.
In the darkness of the vestibule, Hal tried the door.
"Locked," he said. "Lucky we came prepared."
He opened the little grip he carried.
Meanwhile, Chester had carried Hal's message to Gladys. The latter had repeated it to her mother, and these two now shadowed General Rentzel every place he moved, for they were fearful that he might decide at any moment to leave the house. Chester kept his eyes on all three.
Chester was plainly nervous. Had he been in the danger himself his nerves would have been as hard as steel, but the inaction while someone else was doing the work made him impatient and fanciful.
Finally General Rentzel approached the Swiss minister and paid his adieus. Then he moved toward the cloakroom.
Halfway there he was intercepted by Mrs. Schweiring and Gladys.
"You are not going so soon, your excellency?" questioned Mrs.
Schweiring.
"I must," was the reply. "I have work to do at my office that will keep me until far into the night."
"I'm sorry," was the reply. "Have you seen my husband?"
"Why, no."
"I understood him to say that he had some business with you; perhaps I was mistaken, however."
Twice now the general had attempted to move on, but Mrs. Schweiring had prevented it. He tried again, and she asked:
"What time have you, your excellency?"
General Rentzel glanced at his watch.
"Half-past eleven," he said.
"Surely, it is not that late," said Mrs. Schweiring. "Why, we have only been here a short time."
"Madame," said General Rentzel at this juncture, "I must ask you to excuse me. I must be going."
There was no reply the other could make to this without laying herself open to suspicion. She stepped back, and the German secret service chief passed on.
Behind him the woman and her daughter wrung their hands. They had been unsuccessful. In their minds they could see General Rentzel bursting in upon Hal and McKenzie in the middle of their work.
"What are we going to do?" cried the mother.
"They must be warned!' cried the daughter.
"But how?"
"I will warn them myself. It is a long ways to the general's quarters. He will be in no hurry. I can get there ahead of him."
"But if you should be discovered?"
Gladys shrugged her shoulders and was gone before her mother could protest.
Outside she dashed up to the Schweiring automobile and cried to the chauffeur.
"To General Rentzel's quarters! Quick!"
The machine sprang forward with a lurch.
Two minutes later, Gladys, peering from the car, made out as they passed what she took to be General, Rentzel's machine. She urged the chauffeur on even faster.
Half a block from the general's quarters, she ordered her driver to stop and then to take up position down a side street, where it was dark, and wait for her. These instructions were obeyed without question.
Gladys hurried toward the house.
There was no light to be seen as she ascended the steps and laid a hand on the door knob. Nevertheless the girl moved silently, for she did not know what servants might be in the house.
The door opened without a sound. Gladys advanced into the darkness.
From time to time she stopped as she moved along, but she was so afraid that General Rentzel might arrive before she could warn Hal and McKenzie that she wasted little time.
She came to a door, which opened noiselessly. She peered into the darkness, and in what appeared to be another room she saw what looked like a star.
The girl breathed a cry of thankfulness. She knew that she had found what she sought. She moved forward more rapidly.
As she walked along toward the light, she suddenly tripped over an obstacle hidden by the mantle of darkness and fell to the floor.
There was a crash that resounded throughout the house.