wait--then
you 'll know. And, Sara, please; not a word as to whom I am; promise me
you 'll keep still until I give you the word."

She smiled enigmatically.

"Don't you admire Anne Wellington?"

"Come, Sara, promise; this is a serious matter with me."

"Don't you?" she persisted.

"Of course I do," he snapped. "She's a corker. Now promise."

"I promise nothing. I shall act as I think best for you."

Armitage gazed at her thoughtfully for a moment.

"You may trust me, Jack. I may be able to help you. I feel sure I
shall. I want to help you--and Anne."

Armitage raised his hand warningly.

"Don't, Sara, please!"

"Very well." She smiled sweetly. "You may proceed to The Crags, McCall."

Anne met her at the doorway and Armitage took the car to the garage.

"Say," said Ryan, "there 's some one been calling you up for the past
hour."

Armitage looked at the man excitedly.

"Who was it? Did he give his name?"

"No, would n't give it. He said he 'd call up again, though. He--there
goes the bell now."

Armitage took up the receiver.

"Is this you, Jack?" came the voice. "This is Thornton. Say, they 've
got Yeasky."

"Where?" Jack's voice was husky.

"In Boston."

"Did they find anything?"

"No; they went through everything. He had n't a thing except a note
signed 'Vassili' something, and some Austrian army data."

"The family name of the man we 're gunning for," said Armitage. "Has he
said anything?"

"Nothing. They have not told him what he was captured for either,
although I guess he knows. They want your orders."

"All right," said Armitage. "Tell them to let him go, provided he leaves
Boston by the first boat."

"What!"

"Turn him loose. Get shed of him. It 'll simplify matters. I 'm
getting this thing in hand now. Push the thing through for me, will you,
Joe? I'm busy as a pup here. Get Bill Rawlins on the long distance at
the Boston Navy Yard, explain things to him, and get him to help. There
's nothing to do. Just have him seen on board the boat. That note was
all I wanted. Have that sent to me. Now do it all nicely for me, won't
you, old chap,--and a day or two will see the finish of the whole thing.
Oh, say,--have them hold those papers."

"All right," said Thornton. "By the way, we are going to torpedo the
Atlantic fleet tonight. The battleships are on their way down from
Provincetown at last."

"Pshaw! The one thing I wanted to be in on!"

"C