have us out of the way for the time
being," he added, ruefully.

"Well, there's nothing to do; we're caught," Walker said, in his
ordinary voice. Then, in a voice so low Strong could barely hear him,
he inquired, "Are you pretty well tied? Can you do anything?"

"Can't even move," was the answer.

"Same here," Walker said dejectedly. "They made a good job."

At five o'clock Ted left home for downtown. He stopped off to buy some
of the late editions of the newspapers and proceeded to the
meeting-place. He made his rounds through several buildings and at
last reached that particular one.

There was no one watching, however. With Strong out of the way the
Germans felt quite secure.

At five-thirty he had already let himself into Room 420 and was
preparing to make himself comfortable. He picked up the dictaphone
every few minutes, but for a long time heard nothing. Things seemed
quiet and he began to wonder where Strong and Walker were, what was
delaying them. His heart was going at a great rate because of the
forced quiet and the excited state of his mind.

Things would depend on him if the two men did not come. Would he be
able to carry out the plans?

"I can only do my best," the boy said to himself. And there was a
strong determination to make that best count.

It was now half past seven. He lifted the dictaphone oftener. Very
soon he heard voices, very indistinct, but as he listened they became
clearer and clearer. Then he began making out the words and the sense
of the conversation.

"Yes," said one voice. "We found out that this man Jones, who was
Winckel's butler, was one of their men. He dropped a card which young
Winckel found. That was enough to warrant his being watched, although
we did nothing for several days except to see that he got no further
information.

"Today, at the point of a gun, we forced him to write a note to Strong
telling him that there was to be a meeting at Winckel's house at
four-thirty and that he could get him in. Strong with another man
came. We trapped them, bound them and they are now in the cellar out
of harm's way."

Ted welcomed the information. At least he knew just what to expect.

"It's almost time for our friends to be here, isn't it? What time is
Captain Knabe coming?" said a voice.

"At about fifteen minutes after eight. He is coming with Winckel."

"Say, Schmidt, it was a good piece of business to get Strong out of
the way. He is too dangerous and resourcef