To play fair—to play fair! And yet, one must be loyal. One couldn't let German spies go around with their pockets—Rudolph Kreisler was in the engine-room right now!
Louise's grandfather and his father's father had died for their country—would they know, 'way up yonder in heaven, if she of their own blood were to turn coward at the test?
It was too poignant a risk. Louise took hep young life in her hands. Down the green knoll and around the rose-bush, and she dropped into the brick area right by the window which opened from the engine-room. It was raised.
The little girl peeped in, with her heart swelling till she thought she would smother. There was black dust on the floor and black soot on the walls. And there in the centre rose the huge black demon engine. But no crouching enemy was to be seen anywhere—he was hiding, of course!
She slipped through the window, past the great silent engine, and came face to face with Rudolph Kreisler.
The die was cast now.
"Tell me," demanded Louise, choking with excitement and fear, "are you a—a German spy?"
"No," said the astonished boy, "no!"
"Well, what are you, then?" There was no backing down now; she was going to have it out with him.
"I wanted to be—American," he said, his lips threatening to quiver. "I—I thought I was." And he looked away.