CHAPTER XIX
A DISCUSSION
"Come on, Hugh, let's go," exclaimed Bob. Heinrich had turned away fromthem and walked off angrily. The combination of Lena and Karl and Mr.Wernberg, had been too much for him to stand apparently. He was madclear through.
"Well," said Bob, when they were outside, "I never would havebelieved that."
"I told you to watch them all," Hugh reminded him.
"I know you did, and I guess you were right. Why poor old Heinie shouldbe such a fool is more than I can understand."
"Are you going to tell your father?"
"I suppose I must."
"Will he tell the police?"
"I don't know. I should think perhaps he'd have to, though."
"It's too bad," murmured Hugh. He knew how fond his friend was ofHeinrich.
"At any rate Karl is all right I guess," said Bob.
"I'll agree with you there," said Hugh. "How about Lena?"
"Don't ask me. I feel as if I couldn't think."
Mr. Cook met them on the front porch and was at once impressed by theexpression on the faces of the two boys.
"What's wrong?" he demanded.
"We've just had an awful shock," said Hugh.
"What is it? Tell me, Bob," his father urged.
"Heinrich is one of Mr. Wernberg's gang."
"Say that again," exclaimed Mr. Cook incredulously.
"Heinrich is working with Mr. Wernberg. You ought to see the pile ofmoney he has been paid already."
"Why, Bob," exclaimed Mr. Cook amazedly. "I think you must be mistaken."
"He just told us himself," said Bob. "He said Mr. Wernberg was a fine manand one of the few who knew right from wrong."
"How did he happen to tell you all this?"
Bob related the circumstances to his father. When he had finished Mr.Cook remained silent for several minutes.
"I am so sorry," he said finally. "I don't see why Heinrich told you."
"He was mad," said Bob, "and jealous."
"A dangerous man to hire for that kind of work I should think,"exclaimed Mr. Cook. "If he would say as much as he did to you thisafternoon I don't see what there is to prevent him from telling allhe knows."
"You mean he might give the whole thing away?"
"Exactly."
"Still," said Bob, "Heinie can be awfully stubborn sometimes."
"I know it. We'd have to be clever to get a full confession from himI imagine."
"I don't see what use he could be to Mr. Wernberg," said Hugh.
"It's a favorite method of these German plotters, Hugh," said Mr. Cook."Very often they get some simple-minded, ignorant fellow like Heinrichand make a tool of him. Heinrich hasn't got brains enough to think ofanything himself."
"Are you going to turn him over to the police?" inquired Bob.
"I was just thinking of that," said Mr. Cook. "I certainly would hateto do it."
"But he may do some damage."
"I know it and I think I know what I'll do. To-night I expect to be atthe factory practically all night; I'll keep Heinrich with me on onepretext or another. He'll be right with me all the time so that he won'tbe able to do any harm and besides I can watch his actions. I am stillhoping that he may prove to be loyal."
"I'm afraid he won't," said Bob.
"I'm afraid not too," agreed his father. "Still I won't let him out ofmy sight and when morning comes we can decide what ought to be doneabout Him."
"If it isn't too late."
"Let's hope not," exclaimed Mr. Cook earnestly.
"Hugh and I would like to help guard the factory to-night," said Bob.
"I think we have plenty of guards," said Mr. Cook. "You'd better stayhome and go to bed; you've had a busy time of it the last two days."
"I know it, but we want to help," explained Bob. "Somehow I have afeeling that something is going to happen down there to-night."
"Suppose it does, and you get hurt. What would your mother say?"
"That's what Karl Hoffmann said," exclaimed Hugh.
"Karl is usually right too," said Mr. Cook. "He takes so muchresponsibility about my personal affairs that really I don't know whatI'd do without him."
"He was afraid we'd get hurt," sniffed Bob.
"Karl likes you," said his father. "He doesn't want anything tohappen to you."
"We can take care of ourselves."
"I know that," his father assented. "Do you want to go very much?"
"We certainly do," cried Bob and Hugh in one breath.
"Well," said Mr. Cook, "I'm proud of you for wanting to help, and underthe circumstances I don't see how I can refuse."
"That's great!" cried Bob enthusiastically.
"It won't all be fun by a good deal," his father warned him.
"We know that, but we're ready to do anything that comes along."
The two boys were much excited at the prospect of the guard duty. Itseemed to them that at last they had been recognized as capable of aidingin the defense of their country. Perhaps if they had known what awaitedthem they would not have been quite so enthusiastic.
Bob Cook and the German Spy Page 19
