e can get the new one in your hands
before_--Seems to be blotted out--_in time so it can be used through
Mexico. I'll have much information to communicate verbally in T. and A.
matters, but will bring nothing in ---- ---- form but key and
credentials_. He means actual, concealed or disguised form, I s'pose.
_The idea is L.'s._ I suppose he means the manner of concealing the key
and credentials."

"Yes," said Tom rather excitedly.

Mr. Conne glanced at him, joggled his cigar, and went on,

"_You remember him at Heidelberg, I dare say. I brought him back once
for holiday. Met him through Handel, who was troubled with cataract. V.
has furnished funds. So don't fall to have them watch out._"

"Hmm!" concluded Mr. Conne ruminatively. "You see what they're up to. We
caught Schmitter in Philadelphia. They think maybe Schmitter had the key
of a code with him. So they're changing the code and sending the key to
it across with this somebody or other. That's about the size of it. He's
got a lot of information, too, in his head, where we can't get at it."

"But his credentials will have to be something that can be seen, won't
they?" Tom ventured to ask.

"Prob'ly. You see, he means to desert or get captured. It's a long way
round, but about the best one--for him. Think of that snake wearing
Uncle Sam's uniform!"

"It makes me mad, too--kind of," said Tom.

"So he's probably got some secret means of identification about him, and
probably the new code key in actual form--somewhere else than just in
his head. Then there'd be a chance of getting it across even if he fell.
We'll give him an acid bath and look in his shoes if we can find him.
The whole thing hangs on a pretty thin thread. They used to have
invisible writing on their backs till we started the acid bath."

He whistled reflectively for a few moments, while Tom struggled to
muster the courage to say something that he wished to say.

"Could I tell you about that other idea of mine?" he blurted finally.

"You sure can, Tommy. That's about all we're likely to get--ideas." And
he glanced at Tom again with that funny, sideways look. "Shoot, my boy."

"It's only this," said Tom, still not without some trepidation, "and
maybe you'll say it's no good. You told me once not to be thinking of
things that's none of my business."

"Uncle Sam's business is our business now, Tommy boy."

"Well, then, it's just this, and I was thinking about it while I was
riding just after