lunteered no explanation
of what it was that he was after. And he remained on guard outside the
stable while Paul went in, to reappear presently with a large and
cumbrous burden--a sack bulging with the spoil of his little raid.
Then they went to the carriage, and soon they were driving back toward
the ruined house. When they reached it the dawn was beginning to break
in the east--toward Germany! It was a red, menacing dawn--the sort of
daybreak one might well have expected to see in such a time. About the
smouldering remains of the fine house the men employed about the place
were still grouped. It seemed all had decided that in some mysterious
fashion the Germans were responsible for the ruin that had been
wrought, and they were talking sullenly of what they meant to do to the
enemy.

Paul gave quick directions for housing and hiding the pictures and the
few fine pieces of furniture that had been saved. When all that he
ordered had been done there seemed a good chance that what the flames
had spared would be safe from further risk. Then he and Arthur went
over to look at the garage, which had not been touched by the fire.

"This is a piece of good luck, anyhow," said Paul, when he found the
little building untouched. "I think we'll live here as long as the
Germans will let us, Arthur, which probably won't be very long, even if
we pretend to be stupid. We can be mighty comfortable."

"Of course we can," said Arthur. "It will be like a picnic, or like
camping out, won't it?"

"I'm afraid it won't," said Paul. "But we'll make the best of it,
anyway. Come along to the house. I think the ruins are cool enough
for us to find out what I want to know."

He led the way and Arthur followed. But it was not to the house that
Paul went first. Instead, he led the way to a post that had carried
the telephone wire, and, finding the wire, began to follow it toward
the wing where it had entered the house.

"What on earth are you looking at that telephone wire for?" asked
Arthur, completely mystified. "It seems to me that that's the least
important thing there is left."

"I think it's going to be about the most important thing!" said Paul,
surprisingly. "Go get a shovel, will you? Or rather two, for we've
got some digging to do."

Arthur obeyed, as he always did, but he was thoroughly mystified. And
no light was shed upon the mystery when he returned, to find that Paul
had disconnected the wire in the ruins o