est conversation.

"You are wrong, O'Reilly," said one of them. "England will not dare
come into it. There are men in England who would want the country to
war against my land. But the powers that be, and the people, too, will
be against it."

"I hate England, Berman," said O'Reilly. "There are Irishmen who are
willing to lick the hand that has beaten them and has held them in
subjection, but they are not true sons of Erin. I am against England,
but I do not despise the English as you Germans do. Once they are
aroused, mark my words, slow as they may be at the start, they will
be a mighty force." His eyes flashed. "Many people call me a traitor,
but Ireland, not England, is my country, and all Irishmen should be
against the country that holds it slave.

"But to business, gentlemen. Will you, Mr. Schmidt, explain the call
for this meeting?"

"That I will," answered he who had been addressed. "There are two
things for us to take up--the less important first. I have a telegram
from our good friend Pfeffer up in Wayland, in Alberta, Canada, where
he is doing our work, but is presumably a German instructor. Ah, here
it is--"

He drew out the coded wire that Pfeffer had sent. "I have figured out
the code and it reads as follows:

"'Ference eld erecon urday h atch h oysat ed w arsh b adian t cific M
eftcan erepa en l am h alledsev ome y c ther h pect b emo ssus n h ay
i ee o trong w haps s as s persper ay h eekpa formation m atchin s
w.'

"'Conference held here Saturday. Watch boy Ted Marsh, Canadian
Pacific, left here seven A. M. Sunday. Called home by mother. Suspect
he is on way to see Strong. Perhaps he has papers, may seek
information. Watch.'"[A]

There was a discussion as to the telegram. "Who is Strong?" asked
O'Reilly.

"He is the chief operative--secret service man--stationed in Chicago
by the Government at Ottawa. We have him watched. We have even
instructions out that if he becomes dangerous he will disappear very
suddenly."

"That is bad business," said a little man named Heinrich.

"Bad business nothing!" answered Schmidt. "No one must stand in the
forward way. Germany first, last, forever. What is Strong, what are
you, what am I--poof, nothing! But Germany--ah--" the speaker's eyes
gleamed.

"It will give those who are suspicious ground for proof that their
suspicions are more than suspicions," answered Heinrich.

"Let us not wander from the point, gentlemen," another man
interrupted. "As I g