ever gets her in his clutches. We can't play a lone
hand against Saranoff forever and I know of no better place to recruit
an organization than the enemy's camp. Thelma saved our lives in
Russia, you may remember."

"But even when she was rescuing us from the clutches of Saranoff's
gang, she was an ardent communist, if I remember correctly."

"Theoretically I believe she still favors the world revolution, but
she hates Saranoff even more than she does the bourgeoisie and I
believe she had come to be willing to accept capitalistic institutions
for the present, at least as far as this country is concerned. At any
rate, I trust her. If you have any doubts, you can have her watched
for a while."

* * * * *

Carnes thought for a moment and then picked up the telephone.

"I have plenty of confidence in your judgment, Doctor," he said
apologetically, "but if you don't mind, I'll have Haggerty trail her
for a few days. It won't do any harm."

"Very well; and if any of the Young Labor gang should penetrate her
disguise, he'd be a mighty efficient bodyguard. Do as you see fit."

Carnes called the number of the secret service and conferred for a few
moments with Bolton, the chief of the bureau. He turned to Dr. Bird
with a smile of satisfaction.

"Haggerty will be on the job in a few minutes, Doctor."

"Good enough. The five minutes I allowed are up. Let's see how well
she has performed her first task."

As they emerged from the Bureau of Standards, Carnes glanced rapidly
around. In the front seat of the secret service car which he had left
sat a young man whom the detective recognized as one of Dr. Bird's
assistants. Behind the car stood a small delivery truck with two of
the Bureau mechanics on the seat.

Dr. Bird nodded to the mechanics and followed Carnes into the big
sedan. With a motorcycle policeman clearing a way for them, they
roared across Washington and north along the Baltimore pike. Two hours
and a half of driving brought them to Aberdeen and they turned down
the concrete road leading to the proving ground. Two miles from the
town a huge chain was stretched across the road with armed guards
patrolling behind it. The car stopped and an officer stepped forward
and examined the pass which Carnes presented.

"You are to go direct to headquarters, gentlemen," he said. "Colonel
Wesley is waiting for you."

The commanding officer rose to his feet as Carnes and Dr. Bird entered