t of a guard come to arrest her.

Yet her own safety scarcely mattered. She felt that if she could not
compass Tom's escape, she did not care to go back across the lines,
were that even possible!

Ruth Fielding learned much about her own heart during that long
wait--much that she would not have acknowledged to any other soul in
the world.

It finally grew dark. She would allow the servant to light but a
single candle. This stood upon her table beside which she sat with her
forehead resting in her hand, her elbow on the table.

Suddenly there sounded a quick step in the corridor. Ruth had been
mistaken so many times that she did not raise her head or look up. A
rap on the door, and before she could say "_Herein_!" the knob turned.

A figure dashed in--a brave figure in a uniform somewhat similar to the
one Ruth herself had worn the night before.

"Mina!" cried a welcome and familiar voice. "My dear sister!"

Tom rushed across the room. Ruth saw, as she rose, that there were two
officers with him, but they remained outside. They saw Tom take her in
his arms in a most affectionate and brotherly manner. Then they closed
the door, evidently satisfied.

"No need of tearing my hair down and breaking my ribs, Tom," Ruth
whispered. "Please remember that I am _not_ Helen, after all."

"No," he returned softly. Then, holding her off to look more closely
at her, he went on more lightly: "You are Mina von Brenner. Great
heavens, my dear! How did you get here?"

CHAPTER XXV

BACK AGAIN

It was Ruth who finally remembered to order dinner sent up.

Her letter, read, of course, by the mildly suspicious old general, had
served to release Tom from present espionage. There was not even a
guard in the corridor when, just before nine, the "brother and sister"
left the rooms and strolled out of the hotel into the streets.

They walked several blocks until Tom was assured they were not spied
upon. Then quickly, through several short but crooked side streets, he
led Ruth to a garage in an alley. He tapped a signal on the door. The
latter slid back.

The purring of a motor was heard. A man silently got into the driver's
seat. Tom helped Ruth into the tonneau and got in himself.

"You have your papers, Captain?" asked the count softly.

"Yes. They did not take them from me."

"And the lady's?" said the other. "If we are halted you know what to
say?"

"Quite," returned Tom in German.

The car ro