“Yes. I—I’m in trouble and—I have things to tell you,” he stammered. “Sit down.”
I sat down and lighted a cigarette. I kept thinking how much he looked like his sister.
“Ryerson, what the devil are you doing in that Prussian uniform?”
He turned away miserably, then he forced himself to face me.
“I’ll get the worst over first. I don’t care what happens to me and—anyway I—I’m a spy.”
“A spy?”
He nodded. “In the service of the Germans. It was through me they knew about Widding’s invention to destroy their fleet. It was through me that Edison and Widding were abducted. I meant to disappear—that’s why I joined von Hindenburg’s army, but—we were captured and—here I am.” He looked at me helplessly as I blew out a cloud of smoke.
“How is this possible? How did it happen? How, Ryerson?” I gasped in amazement.
He shook his head. “What’s the use? It was money and—there’s a woman in it.”
“Go on.”