th
Germany; and every one of you boys will be expected to do his bit. You
can begin now. When the Germans land it will be near New Haven, or New
Bedford. They will first capture the munition works at Springfield,
Hartford, and Watervliet so as to make sure of their ammunition, and
then they will start for New York City. They will follow the New Haven
and New York Central railroads, and march straight through this village.
I haven't the least doubt," exclaimed the enthusiastic war prophet,
"that at this moment German spies are as thick in Westchester as
blackberries. They are here to select camp sites and gun positions, to
find out which of these hills enfilade the others and to learn to what
extent their armies can live on the country. They are counting the cows,
the horses, the barns where fodder is stored; and they are marking down
on their maps the wells and streams."

As though at that moment a German spy might be crouching behind the
door, Mr. Gould spoke in a whisper. "Keep your eyes open!" he commanded.
"Watch every stranger. If he acts suspiciously, get word quick to your
sheriff, or to Judge Van Vorst here. Remember the scouts' motto, 'Be
prepared!'"

That night as the scouts walked home, behind each wall and hayrick they
saw spiked helmets.

Young Van Vorst was extremely annoyed.

"Next time you talk to my scouts," he declared, "you'll talk on 'Votes
for Women.' After what you said to-night every real-estate agent who
dares open a map will be arrested. We're not trying to drive people away
from Westchester, we're trying to sell them building sites."

"_You_ are not!" retorted his friend, "you own half the county now,
and you're trying to buy the other half."

"I'm a justice of the peace," explained Van Vorst. "I don't know
_why_ I am, except that they wished it on me. All I get out of it
is trouble. The Italians make charges against my best friends for
over-speeding, and I have to fine them, and my best friends bring
charges against the Italians for poaching, and when I fine the Italians
they send me Black Hand letters. And now every day I'll be asked to
issue a warrant for a German spy who is selecting gun sites. And he will
turn out to be a millionaire who is tired of living at the Ritz-Carlton
and wants to 'own his own home' and his own golf-links. And he'll be so
hot at being arrested that he'll take his millions to Long Island and
try to break into the Piping Rock Club. And it will be your fault!"