“Well? Go on!” he urged impatiently, whereupon I related the events of the morning.
“Good Lord!” he cried. “It’s an abduction—unquestionably. This Captain Campbell was a German spy. You say the automobile curtains were drawn? That made it dark inside, and no doubt the pretended General Wood wore motor goggles. Before Edison discovered the trick they were off at full speed and he was overpowered on the back seat. Think of that! Thomas A. Edison abducted by the Germans!”
“Why would they do such a thing?”
“Why? Don’t you see? That invention of Widding’s will destroy the German fleet. It’s a matter of life and death to them and Edison knows all about it—all the details—Widding told him.”
“Yes,” said I. “My friend Miss Ryerson brought Widding to Mr. Edison a few days ago, but—how could the Germans have known that?”
The general’s face darkened. “How do they know all sorts of things? Somebody tells them. Somebody told them this.”
“But Widding himself knows all about his own invention. It won’t do the Germans any good to abduct Edison unless—”
Our eyes met in sudden alarm.
“By George, you’re right!” exclaimed Wood.
“Where is Widding? Is he stopping at your hotel?”