“I shall let you go,” the masked man said.
“It is an outrage,” said the German, but his voice did not sound very convincing. “I shall report it at once to the police.”
“You can do so, but the next time we catch you it may be your last time. We may be ready for you then.”
The German went off. The masked man removed his mask and proved to be Captain Wilson. He tried to recover the paper thrown into the river, but was unsuccessful.
It was but one of the rumblings of the storm to come. One month later Austria was to march on Servia, the storm would be breaking.
From this western point another proof went forward to a certain departmental official. Proof that all was not quiet even if the surface showed an apparent smoothness.
That evening at dinner Captain Wilson asked Ted to come to the dean’s room.
When he entered, the captain and the dean were in close conversation.
“We feel, Theodore, that you should know that the man you reported was a German spy drawing plans of the bridges and railroad terminals. We found some valuable maps on him. We hope we have not been too late to intercept others he may have drawn, although it is almost too much to hope for that. I know that Mr. Dean will be specially pleased because of your valuable help.
“You will be adding to the debt we owe you if you do not speak of it to anyone. We do not report such things, for there are ever so many who would consider us alarmists. We are doing what we can, but it must be done in the dark.”