mmand in case anything serious happened. And that
something very serious would shortly happen to him the boy did not for
a single moment doubt. He felt vaguely uneasy.

With a knife tendered by one of his associates von Liebknecht deftly
ripped the stitches that held the wrapping of the tiny packet.

In another moment the oiled silk covering had been removed and an inner
wrapping opened. Jimmie leaned forward to gaze upon the contents with
as much interest as was displayed by the others.

Presently, when the wrappings had been removed, he saw a key and a
folded paper. The key was of the peculiar construction adopted
generally by safe deposit vaults for the use of their patrons. The
paper had been prepared evidently for use in case of just the emergency
that had overtaken the man who had given it to Jimmie. It was covered
with memoranda and figures in very fine waiting.

Von Liebknecht scowled as he pored over the document. The memorandum
had been made in a fragmentary way, and evidently referred to other
documents that would be found in the safe deposit box.

The Captain puzzled over the document for a time, then passed it to the
officer nearest him. He then gave his attention to the key.

"What do you make of if?" he asked Jimmie presently, tapping in a
nervous manner upon the table with the key. "What does it mean?"

"Just what I told you, I think," Jimmie replied.

"It appears different to me," the Captain objected. "I am of the
opinion that it has to do with information concerning the dispute in
progress between my country and the enemies. I am sorry, but I shall
have to retain the packet for forwarding to headquarters. You will
receive it again if it is found to be what you claim. Otherwise--"

He left the sentence unfinished, and Jimmie waited for a time,
expecting him to complete the statement.

"Well, otherwise?" asked the boy half breathlessly.

"Otherwise, we shall see," stated von Liebknecht with a smile.

"And in the meantime?" went on the lad anxiously.

"In the meantime we are preparing to leave for the western theater of
war, where we are needed far more than here. You will accompany us
with the best grace possible under the circumstances."

"But my comrades?" asked Jimmie, with a slight tremble in his voice.
"Will it not be possible to let all four of us return to America?"

"I am sorry," returned the Captain, "but what you ask is impossible."

"Well, then," persisted the l