Central High School - Cog N Pen Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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She wished that Jerome Howard were there. He could advise her as to her action. She deliberated over her course during the day, but arrived at a de- cision only when the whistle blew. She decided quickly and was determined that she would follow out her plan. She quickly went to her house and changed to a dark blue suit. She then caught a trolley out of town and alighted in front of Russell's and entered timidly. Looking around her she saw that the place was still practically deserted. It was too early for the revelers and only a few were sitting at the tables. A waiter hurried forward and she chose a table near the aisle and sat down facing the rear of the room. At the end of the room was a large mirror. This she watched closely for the appearance of the persons she expected. Time went slowly and she thought that her trip had been in vain when, at ten-thirty, the men had not appeared. Suddenly her heart leaped. The three men came in and were met at the door by a fourth. The latter escorted them to the rooms above the ground floor. Grace's spirits sank as suddenly as they had risen. She could not follow the men. She did not know to which room they had gone. Still she decided to wait for their reappearance and to follow them. About half an hour later the three men came down and sat at a table near Grace. None of them noticed her and she studiously kept her face averted. She bit her lip in vexation. She had failed to find out what the plans of the three men were. She had come to this place in vain Suddenly she heard the low murmur of voices from the conspirators’ table and tried to catch what they were saying. “Ja, it must be to-night,” she heard Bauer saying. Then his voice was lowered and she could only catch certain words. Not home to-night—must act—get away. Then she heard Barton talking. It seemed he was remonstrating with the others. He talked in a low tone of voice and she could not hear what he was saying. Brenner then started. He was evidently excited and his voice rose so that Grace could hear plainly what he was saying. “Haf I not said that it will to-night be?” she could hear him ask. “We haf already too much time wasted. We must get to work now. This job must be completed by to-morrow morning. Der train leafs the station by half-past seven and we must make that train or take a chance of being caught. Bauer had been gesturing to him to lower his voice and now growled something to him in German. Bren- ner immediately subsided. The three men called the waiter, paid their check and left the place. Grace followed them. When the three had reached the open they entered a high-powered car that was stand- ing near the entrance, and with a roar they were off. Grace looked wildly about in hopes of seeing some vehicle in which she could hope to follow the high- powered car. Нег eyes alighted on a high-powered racing car that was a little distance down the road. А young man was just getting into it and the engine was already working. Wait! she cried, as she darted down the road. The young man paused in astonishment with one foot on the step and waited for her to come up to him. Will you follow that car? she asked, as she indicated the fast receding lights. She explained her suspicions regarding the men and the young man quickly agreed to help Grace follow the men. A roar, a flash of lights, and they were out on the open highway. The driver urged the car to greater and greater speed. They did not seem to gain on the car ahead of them. The needle of the speedome- ter pointed 80 miles. Slowly it crept up to the 100 mark, They fairly hurtled along the road about a half-mile in the rear of the other car. Then suddenly the red lights ahead of them disap- peared, The driver immediately slowed down and, at the point where they had last seen the lights, stopped. The road forked at this point. Which branch had the conspirators taken? No lights were visible on either road. Suddenly from the road to the right came a report as of a shot and then another from one of their front wheels. The young man swore softly under his breath. Fine shooting, he admitted grudgingly. “Blew out one of our tires. Our lights gave them a mark to shoot at and they succeeded.” They heard the other party get under way once more while the young fellow was tinkering around changing the front wheel. A few moments later they were off again. Once more, in the distance, they could see the red lights of the other car. This time there were not any stops. They flashed through several small towns and then Morganstown loomed in the distance. The driver with Grace urged his car to its greatest speed and slowly they drew up on the other car. Then they were in the limits of the снућапа had to slow down. They were only about half a block in the rear now. The conspirators chose a crooked way across town. Around corners both cars tore. The men in the other car now evidently had no thought of being followed again; they were pretty sure that they had stopped their pursuers, and did not think anything of this small racer drawing up on them. They stopped their car in front of a large house on one of the quieter streets and stole to the back of the building. Grace had the young man stop the car some dis- tance from the house and they went after the men. Have you a gun? whispered Grace to her com- panion. “There is one in the car, he answered. here and I will get it. Wait

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one to keep a man like Jerome Howard out of a man's war like this one. She put on her hat and went out. Just as she reached the street the whistle of the huge ammunition plant blew and a stream of girls poured forth with only a few men amongst them. Grace stopped and watched the familiar faces as they hurried by. Suddenly her gaze was caught by two strange masculine faces. She looked intently at the two men and noted their foreign, military bearing. As she stared at them Jerome came out of the building and they walked down the street together. As they walked she told him of the two strangers and of her uneasy premonitions regarding their pres- ence in the huge ammunition plant. Jerome laughed away her uneasiness and said that they were probably only honest laborers who wanted to do their bit by working in an ammunition plant. After he had seen Grace home, Jerome immedi- ately set out for the ammunition plant and succeeded in getting the superintendent to give him some infor- mation regarding the two foreigners. Не learned that they were two German-Americans whose names were Bauer and Brenner. They had applied for positions and had furnished the best of references from an am- munition plant in Cartersville. Тће next morning Howard did not show up at his office at the usual time. At twenty minutes to eleven his secretary became alarmed, as he had a big case at eleven-thirty at Jones Junction, which was ten miles from Medford. She called up his residence and was told that he had not been in all night but that this was not strange as it happened frequently. Eleven-thirty came and still Jerome did not appear. Miss Graham tried several places without success and finally gave it up in despair. Several days went by before Jerome appeared at the office again. Не walked in as if he had not been absent at all and waded into his work as if there had been no time for it to accumulate. Late that afternoon he called Miss Graham to his desk and told her that he would have to dispense with her services in the office. He smiled at the look of dismay that passed over her face. “I am not dispensing with your services entirely, young lady, he said. “I think I remarked ‘in the office.” If you care to accept the position, I am in need of someone to assist me in some special work I am doing. This person must be one I can trust and whom I know well. You would just fill the bill if you would accept. You have assisted me on several sleuthing jobs and I am sure you would like this work just as well. “I am ready to listen to your proposition, was her answer. Very well, listen carefully. Tomorrow morning go to the employment office at the ammunition plant and apply for a position in the shell loading depart- ment, where you will be given a bench near the two foreign fellows you noticed the other day. I want you to keep your eyes and ears open and overhear as much as you can of what they have to say. If you should happen to hear anything against me, disregard it. If, by any chanc e, I should disappear address a letter to me in care of the General Delivery Depart- ment of the Jones Junction postoffice; that is, if you have overheard anything which you think might inter- est me. Аз soon as this job is finished I will want you back in the office again. “I regret greatly that I have to leave this position even temporarily and will be glad to come back to it after this job is finished. I will do my best at it, Mr. Howard, and will report according to your instruc- tions if I hear anything. They left the office and walked slowly to the street. They separated at the entrance to the build- ing, Grace hurrying to her home while Jerome cut across town. That night Jerome Howard disappeared from Medford. He had been seen boarding the 7:30 train for Morganstown and he was not back in Med- ford for some time. The next morning a tall young man with a light brown beard and mustache entered the employment office of the ammunition plant. He gave his name as Barton and asked to see the employment manager. After a great deal of wrangling the clerk finally con- sented to pass him into the inner office. Barton held only а few minutes’ conversation with the manager, who then told the clerk to place him as an assistant foreman in the loading department. Barton was a likable fellow and soon made friends. Among the first to cultivate his friendship were Bauer and Brenner. He was often seen con- versing with them, although none of the other work- ers would talk to them. Не also seemed to like the company of Grace Graham and often escorted her home after working hours. Grace had watched the two men very carefully, but had not been able to see or overhear anything of any interest. Up to the day that Barton came their conversation had been general. A few days later, however, Grace heard them con- versing in low tones with many side glances to see whether anyone could overhear them. “Well, Bauer, he has arrived and it is time for us to get to work. We will meet him to-night at Rus- sell's Inn and there we will form our plans for the work ahead of us. Ја, I think that Barton is just the man for us. We can use him to our advantage. Не has brains and is also strong. Grace was troubled over this conversation. She had come to like Barton and now she found out that he was hand in glove with these aliens. She did not doubt now that they were about to commit some treacherous deed, but had no inkling of what it was,

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He ran back to the car and returned in a few min- utes with an automatic in his hand. They went quietly to the back of the house. One They crept in noiselessly Then a board The men were of the windows was open. and listened for a sound of the men. creaked on the other side of the door. coming into the room! Grace and her companion quietly stepped behind the curtains again and waited breathlessly. Тһе door opened and the three men entered, Barton in the lead. He did not seem to be the same man. His shoulders sagged, his eyes looked tired and in spite of herself, Grace pitied this big, tired-looking man. Barton walked across the room and removed a, picture hanging on the wall. Cleverly set in the wall was the door of a safe. Не started to turn the knob slowly, his ear against the door, evidently listening to the click of the falling bearings. He worked slowly. Several times he had to start over again, having slipped by his mark. Then, with an ejaculation, he turned the knob. He stepped back to allow the others to get to the safe. Just as Bauer touched the door, Barton whipped upon him. “Throw up your hands and keep them there, was his crisp remark. “Back up against the wall In each hand was a blue automatic, one pointing at each conspirator. As the two traitors backed towards the wall, Bren- ner seemed to stumble. Не fell forward and an in- stant later had pinioned Barton’s arms to his side. Bauer joined his companion and the three men fought and rolled over the entire room. Grace decided to take a hand at this stage of the game. She took the revolver from her companion and, stepping out from her hiding place, said calmly: Spare the rest of the furniture, gentlemen. Line up against the wall where you can do no more dam- age. Step quickly! This last sharply as they hesi- tated. They decided to do as Grace requested when her companion stepped out and picked up the guns which Barton had dropped in the scuffle. Grace requested the young man to call the officer they had seen at the corner. As he turned to go to the window, Bauer was on him, while Brenner grasped the girl. Barton seemed stupefied at their activity while guns were pointing at them. Brenner wrenched the gun out of the girl’s hand and turned to help Bauer. He rapped the young man on the head with the butt of the gun and that young person knew nothing of the rest of the fracas. Brenner then turned to leer at Grace. Ah, ће said, gloatingly; the pretty young fraulein from the shop, is it not? We are very honored to have you with us. We will show you how we entertain pretty young ladies. He advanced while he spoke. Grace retreated, but with one bound he had grasped her in his arms. He had hardly touched her when he heard a bull- like roar and turned to see one hundred and eighty pounds of muscle com ing at him. He released Grace and stepped back. He had not completed his step when he was lifted off his feet and unceremoniously deposited at the other side of the room, where he lay motionless. Barton еп turned his attention to Bauer. The latter was intent on his get-away. Не ran to the window, but swore fluently when he found a man pointing a revolver at him. He darted to the door and into an officer's arms. There was a click and ће was handcuffed. “It's all over, Bauer, so be good for a little while, said Barton. Не laughed and added, It will be a long while before you will be able to do any mischief again.” He bent tenderly over the form of the young man who had been Grace’s companion. Are you badly hurt, Jimmy?” they heard him ask. Jimmy chose this moment to open his eyes and mournfully ask, “What hit me? Is it all over?” Barton helped Jimmy to his feet and made him sit down. He then bade Grace and the officers to also be seated. When they were all placed he excused himself and left the room. A few minutes later Jerome Howard emerged from the room into which Barton had gone. You! gasped Grace. 'Oh, Jerome, how glad I am that you are here. Neither noticed that she had used his first name. “In a few minutes you will know how I happen to be here. He seated himself and began his story: When this country entered the war I was criti- cized a great deal and called a ‘slacker.’ I had not gone to fight for my country and had become a social outcast to be sneered at and shunned. But I had a reason for staying at home. I had seen that war could not be averted and I knew my work had to be hastened. I was working on a gas which was to be ten times the strength of that used by the Boche. At last I succeeded, as shown by an experiment used on a cat a few days ago. “The Huns’ secret service somehow learned of my work and dispatched two of their most trustworthy agents to obtain the formula. They did not, how- ever, reckon with our Secret Service, which had a spy planted in their midst. In this way Washington knew all of their plans almost as soon as the traitors them- selves. We also knew that a third man was to be sent to help the two already on the job. This third man was waylaid and in his place a young man, whom you know as Barton, came. [ had kept informed as to the latest activities of all of these people and at last it became necessary for me to d'sappear from Medford. Before going I assigned Miss Graham to watch Bauer and Brenner.