"What were those orders?" Harrison Grant had asked the question fifty times. Forty-nine times the station agent had refused to answer. But now:
"To go ahead with the plans that we had made."
"Plans for what?"
"Wiretapping."
"Where?"
"On the Pennsylvania system. Myself and several others had figured out a system whereby we could tap the wires leading from the dispatcher's offices, mix up the orders and cause wrecks all over the system. The Pennsylvania is a big system. It undoubtedly will carry many soldiers after war has been declared—and we wanted to injure it as much as possible."
"To say nothing of causing the deaths of hundreds of American citizens—non-combatants," said Grant angrily. Then he turned to the telegraph key. "Read me the notes you have taken, Dixie," he ordered, as he began to call the Criminology Club in New York, "I must send the information into the Club and see that the other men in this conspiracy are put under arrest."
A half hour of telegraphing, then Grant and Dixie turned again to their prisoner.
"What other orders did Von Lertz give you before he left?"
"None."