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"Colonel Totten and I will busy ourselves with the despatches that must be sent to Washington about this affair. But I trust, lads, you will not fail to realize the importance of prompt success." "It's a special duty to the Flag, sir," Captain Jack answered, simply. The automobiles were waiting outside. Lieutenant Ridder was given a three minutes' start.
Facing about, she marched weightily around to the rear of the saloon and began laboriously to climb the steps that lead to the hall. At the door she paused and made a rapid survey of the room until she found what she was looking for. "Joe Ridder!" she called peremptorily. Joe, haggard and listless, put down his billiard-cue and came to the door.
"Good enough, young man," applauded Major Woodruff, while Lieutenant Ridder gave Jack a hearty slap across the shoulders. "But, to go to the Navy Department, you'll want citizen's clothes not your present uniforms, which are not official. I can send my auto to your boat, and you can be back here in forty minutes, if you dress quickly."
He may come over here, or he may order us all over to headquarters." Colonel Totten elected to come over to the major's quarters. He arrived just after Lieutenant Ridder, who proved to be a rather boyish looking young man, not long out of West Point. The plans were quickly laid by which Lieutenant Ridder was to take an automobile up to Radford, going to one of the hotels and registering.
Presently a clamour from the crowd outside, sharper and fiercer than any that had preceded it, announced some new and unexpected danger close at hand. White-faced, Mr. Ridder stepped to the edge of the platform and lifted his hand impressively. "Let me speak," he said.
"Now, roll over on your face, if you want us to believe you're going to be good," ordered Jack. Though he swore, under his breath, Millard obeyed. Then something flashed in the night handcuffs that Jack had brought away from his meeting with Lieutenant Ridder at the hotel. Click! The steel band snapped into place around Millard's right wrist. "Hold on not that!" protested the prisoner, hoarsely.
"Yes," muttered Eph, disgustedly, "and I guess I have been enjoying the fool's part of the adventure!" "How so?" demanded the Army officer quickly. "I met that same woman, I'll bet a cookie," growled Eph, "and and I " "Well, sir?" demanded Lieutenant Ridder, briskly. "I carried that bag for her carried it nearly two blocks!" "What's that?" cried Jack Benson, leaping up. "How "
"Then shall I leave the fellow with you, sir?" inquired the policeman. "Yes, of course; and thank you." "You'll give me a receipt for the fellow, as a United States prisoner?" hinted the policeman. "As a United States suspect," corrected Lieutenant Ridder, going to a table on which were writing materials. The policeman was handed the desired document, then withdrew.
As this room was equipped with a telephone, the young Army man was in touch both with Fort Craven and with the submarine boys, should the latter find anything to report over the talking wire. Here in the room Captain Jack found Ridder, for the boy had felt it best to go direct to the hotel.
"We will show you where to make fast at the ordnance dock." "Very good, sir," Eph responded, with a salute. A little later in the forenoon both boats docked at the water front of Fort Craven. "You'll come up to my quarters, now, and meet Lieutenant Ridder," announced the Major, when he had gathered the submarine boys together, and when Jack had given necessary explanations to Williamson.