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He had been quite successful as a merchant and was reputed to be the wealthiest clothing dealer in Dorfield. "No," said Kasker, shortly, in answer to the request. Mary Louise was annoyed by the tone. "You mean that you won't help us, I suppose?" she said impatiently. He turned from his desk and regarded her with a slight frown. Usually his expression was stupidly genial.
Josie opened the gate, walked in and took a chair that stood beside the desk. "Good morning, Mr. Kasker," she said sweetly. He looked up, swept her with a glance and replied: "What's the matter? Can't one of the clerks attend to you? I'm busy." "I'll wait," was Josie's quiet reply. "I'd rather deal with you than a clerk." He hesitated, laid down his pen and turned his chair toward her.
"Met again!" he said with his broad smile. "You selling something?" "Brains," returned Josie composedly. "Good! Did Jake Kasker buy any of you?" "I've all my stock on hand, sir. I'm a newspaper woman special writer or advertising expert. Quit New York last week and came on here." "Wasn't New York good enough for you?" he asked, after ordering his dinner of the waitress.
The office was raised a step above the main floor and was railed in, with a small swinging gate to allow entrance. This was not the main business office but the proprietor's special den and his desk was placed so he could overlook the entire establishment, with one glance. Just at present Kasker was engaged in writing, or figuring, for his bushy head was bent low.
And if he don't if those cursed Germans put an end to him then folks will say, 'See Jake Kasker over there? Well, he gave his son for his country his only son. Seems to me, Colonel, that evens the score. America gives us Germans protection and prosperity, and we give our blood to defend America's honor. I'm sorry I couldn't find a place for any more flags."
She read to Josie the shorthand notes she had taken and supplemented all by declaring that such a man could be guilty of any offense. "You see," she concluded, "all evidence points to Kasker as the traitor; but Chief Farnum is stubborn and independent, and we must obtain positive proof that Kasker issued those circulars. Then we can put an end to his mischief-making.
"You force me to say, my dear young lady, that you are dabbling in affairs that do not concern you. I've plenty of those circulars on file and I'm attending to my duty and keeping an eye open for the rascal who wrote them. But there is no proof that Kasker is the man. The federal officers are also investigating the case, and I imagine they will not require your assistance."
It was the residence of Dorfield's social leader, Mrs. Charleworth. Josie squatted behind that bush for nearly half an hour. Then the glass door opened and Kauffman stepped out. "By the way," he said in a low voice, "it's just as well we didn't take Kasker in with us. He's a loud-mouthed fool. I've tested him and find he blats out everything he knows."
But in spite of all accidents and they're mostly our own fault I'm for America first, last and all the time. That's Jake Kasker. I don't like the Germans and I don't like the English, for Jake Kasker is a George Washington American. What are you doing, girl?" he suddenly asked with a change of tone.
Let him alone and in a few months you'll find Kasker making patriotic speeches." "Oh, Josie!" "Think of someone else." Mary Louise shook her head. "What, only one string to your bow of distrust? Fie, Mary Louise! When you were selling Liberty Bonds, did you meet with no objectors?" "Well yes; there's a wholesale grocer here, who is named Silas Herring, a very rich man, but sour and disagreeable."
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