“What do you want of me now?” she heard her father ask.
The stranger did not reply directly to the question. “Our men have done pretty good work so far, but we must do much better. Our greatest success has been in holding together the Germans here and in creating in their minds a proper attitude toward the fatherland. You and men like you have been invaluable there. But we must take more vigorous steps. A little has been done. We’ve stirred up a lot of unrest, and we have the pacifists working nicely.” He chuckled. “That I. W. W. organization was made to our order.” He paused a moment, and then said, significantly, “And there is quite a satisfying number of tons of munitions that have exploded here in America—instead of over the trenches occupied by our army.”
“Yes,” said von Essen, “but what do you want of me?”
“More help, of course. You recognize your duty to the fatherland?”
“Naturally,” said von Essen.
“Propaganda and singing societies aren’t going to win this war for us,” said the stranger, flatly. “For one thing, millions of tons of iron ore are coming down these lakes, through the Sault Sainte Marie locks, through the St. Clair ship-canal. That ore makes rifles and cannon and shells for the Allies. It would be a great service to the Emperor to interfere with that traffic, and the surest way is to—er—discontinue the use of the canals. That’s one thing. Then Detroit is manufacturing more and more munitions, and motor-trucks, and other things to help the enemy. There’s a fine bit of work to be done right here. You can be most useful here. You have influence, and a man in your position will go without suspicion. Do you see?”
“I see,” said von Essen, gruffly, “but I’m not going to mix into such matters. I want to see the fatherland win. I’m a German. But I haven’t any intention of getting stood up against a wall and being shot.”
“Nonsense! You’ll be telling me you have scruples against such a thing next. And you haven’t.”
“I haven’t,” said von Essen. “I’d like to see every munition-plant in America blown to hell.”
“Excellent so far.... When this war is over a German is going to be an envied man in this world. Once a man boasted that he was a Roman citizen; after we are through he’ll boast that he’s a German citizen. Our Emperor knows how to reward service—either with money or with honors.”