“The next mornin’ I found I’d lost me leave paper. I was afraid to go and report it in case it had been picked up, and they’d run me in for this murder job. That’s how I come to desert, gentlemen, and spoilt a eighteen years’ conduct sheet without a entry over this murderin’ spy here!”
Gunner Barling broke off abruptly as though he had committed himself to a stronger opinion than discipline would allow. It was the Chief who broke the silence following the termination of the gunner’s story.
“Strangwise,” he said, “hadn’t you better tell us who you are?”
“He’s an officer of the Prussian Guard,” Desmond said, “and he was sent over here by the German secret service organization in the United States to get a commission in the British Army. When a good man was wanted to recover the Star of Poland for the Crown Prince, the secret service people in Berlin sent word to Strangwise (who was then serving with the gunners in France) to get himself captured. The German military authorities duly reported him a prisoner of war and then let him ‘escape’ as’ the easiest and least suspicious means of getting him back to London!”
The Chief smiled genially.
“That’s a dashed clever idea,” he observed shrewdly, “’pon my word, that’s bright! That’s very bright! I should like to compliment the man who thought of that!”
“Then you may address your compliments to me, Chief,” said Strangwise.
The Chief turned and looked at him.
“I’ve met many of your people in my time, Strangwise,” he said, “but I don’t know you! Who are you?”
Strangwise laughed.