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Moving along hastily, the German soon came in sight of young Captain Jack Benson, of the Pollard Submarine Torpedo Boat Company. "Ach, there! Herr Benson!" shouted the Professor. Hearing the hail, Jack Benson turned, then halted. "You are Herr Benson, are you not?" demanded Professor Radberg, as soon as he got close enough. "Benson is my name," nodded Jack, pleasantly.
"But you'll go with me, of course, to Washington?" uttered Radberg, looking much taken aback. "I doubt it," muttered young Benson, shaking his head. "In fact, sir, I may as well tell you that it's waste of our time to carry this line of talk any further." "Ach! You are cunning," smiled Professor Radberg, no longer nonplussed.
"Officers?" repeated Herr Professor Radberg, slowly. "Well, no, Herr Benson. We could not exactly do that. Our officers are, as you will understand, very what is your English word? aristocratic. They could not be quite persuaded to take American commoners as their brother officers. That you would not expect, of course." "Certainly not," young Benson agreed.
"When an American barber gets wound up and started, all a fellow can do is to listen. It's no use trying to run away from a barber anywhere, I guess. He has you strapped down to the chair." "Barber?" repeated Professor Radberg, in disgust. "I don't understand you." "Oh, it isn't necessary," laughed Jack. "It's a sort of Yankee joke. And I beg your pardon, Professor, if I am wasting your time.
"Benson?" "That's him almost up to the corner," nodded Landlord Jabez Holt. "Run out and bring him back with you," directed Herr Professor Radberg. "Be quick!" "Waal, I guess you're spryer'n I be," returned old Jabez, with a shrewd look at his guest. "Besides, it's you that wants the boy." Running back and snatching up his hat, Professor Radberg made for the street without further argument.
But, really, how do I know that you have such authority from your own side of the water?" Radberg looked a bit puzzled, for a moment. Then, as he seemed to begin to comprehend, he replied, heavily: "Herr Benson, I have already told you that I am Herr Professor " "Now, don't hang out the striped pole again, please," urged Jack, his face as sober as that of a judge.
I have since been authorized to promise you that you shall enter the German service as commissioned officers, and that you shall all three be in line for promotion as merit earns it. So, then, it is all settled, is it not!" Herr Professor Radberg rubbed his hands with a self-satisfied air. "Yes," Lieutenant Jack admitted, "it is all settled.
"Ach, that is too bad!" muttered the German, in a voice suggesting severe disapproval of one who hadn't mastered his own native tongue. "However, you will soon learn." "Yes; if there's a big enough prize goes with it," agreed Jack. "Prize?" repeated Professor Radberg. "You will say so!"
"You expect me, of course, to turn my back on this country for good, to tell you Germans whatever I may know about submarine secrets, to drill with your navy, and be prepared to fight in your navy if war comes?" "Ach, yes! of course," replied Radberg. "Now, we are beginning to understand one another." "Professor," interrupted Captain Jack Benson, "we've had enough of joking." "Joking?
It all seemed a bit strange, but Captain Jack Benson had been through more strange experiences than had most Americans of twice or thrice his age. Besides, as he walked beside Herr Professor Radberg Jack imagined that he had guessed at least an inkling of the other's business. The German had announced himself as a professor; probably, therefore, he was a scientist.
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