long experience with criminals."
"I suppose the Kaiser is paying him," said the girl, bitterly.
"We've no grounds for that belief."
"He is helping the Kaiser; he is pro-German!"
"He is helping the Kaiser, but is not necessarily pro-German. We knowhe is against the government, but on the other hand he may detest theGermans. That his propaganda directly aids our enemies there is nodoubt, yet his enmity may have been aroused by personal prejudice orintense opposition to the administration or to other similar cause.Such a person is an out-and-out traitor when his sentiments lead toactions which obstruct his country's interests. The traitors are notall pro-German. Let us say they are anti-American."
Mary Louise was sorely disappointed.
"I think I know who this traitor is, in spite of what you say," sheremarked, "and I think you ought to watch him, Mr. Farnum, and try toprevent his doing more harm."
The Chief studied her face. He seemed to have a theory that one mayglean as much from facial expression as from words.
"One ought to be absolutely certain," said he, "before accusing anyoneof disloyalty. A false accusation is unwarranted. It is a crime, infact. You have no idea, Miss Burrows, how many people come to us toslyly accuse a neighbor, whom they hate, of disloyalty. In not a singleinstance have they furnished proof, and we do not encourage meretelltales. I don't want you to tell me whom you suspect, but when youcan lay before me a positive accusation, backed by facts that can beproven, I'll take up the case and see that the lawbreaker is vigorouslyprosecuted."
The girl went away greatly annoyed by the Chief's reluctance to act inthe matter, but when she had related the interview to Gran'pa, the oldcolonel said:
"I like Farnum's attitude, which I believe to be as just as it isconservative. Suspicion, based on personal dislike, should not betolerated. Why, Mary Louise, anyone might accuse you, or me, ofdisloyalty and cause us untold misery and humiliation in defendingourselves and proving our innocence--and even then the stigma on ourgood name would be difficult to remove entirely. Thousands of peoplehave lost their lives in the countries of Europe through falseaccusations. But America is an enlightened nation, and let us hope nopersonal animosities will influence us or no passionate adherence toour country's cause deprive us of our sense of justice."
"Our sense of justice," asserted Mary Louise, "should lead us to unmasktraitors, and I know very well that somewhere in Dorfield lurks anenemy to my country."
"We will admit that, my dear. But your country is watching out forthose 'enemies within,' who are more to be feared than those without;and, if I were you, Mary Louise, I'd allow the proper officials tounmask the traitor, as they are sure to do in time. This war has placedother opportunities in your path to prove your usefulness to yourcountry, as you have already demonstrated. Is it not so?"
Mary Louise sighed.
"You are always right, Gran'pa Jim," she said, kissing him fondly."Drat that traitor, though! How I hate a snake in the grass."
CHAPTER VI.TO HELP WIN THE WAR
The activities of the Liberty Girls of Dorfield did not cease withtheir successful Liberty Bond "drive." Indeed, this success and theapprobation of their fellow townspeople spurred the young girls on tofurther patriotic endeavor, in which they felt sure of enthusiasticencouragement.
"As long as Uncle Sam needs his soldiers," said Peter Conant, thelawyer, "he'll need his Liberty Girls, for they can help win the war."
When Mary Louise first conceived the idea of banding her closestcompanions to support the government in all possible ways, she was abit doubtful if their efforts would prove of substantial value,although she realized that all her friends were earnestly determined to"do their bit," whatever the bit might chance to be. The local RedCross chapter had already usurped many fields of feminine usefulnessand with a thorough organization, which included many of the olderwomen, was accomplishing a 'vast deal of good. Of course the LibertyGirls could not hope to rival the Red Cross.
Mary Louise was only seventeen and the ages of the other Liberty Girlsranged from fourteen to eighteen, so they had been somewhat ignored bythose who were older and more competent, through experience, toundertake important measures of war relief. The sensational bond sale,however, had made the youngsters heroines--for the moment, at least--and greatly stimulated their confidence in themselves and theirambition to accomplish more.
Mary Louise Burrows was an orphan; her only relative, indeed, wasColonel James Hathaway, her mother's father, whose love for hisgranddaughter was thoroughly returned by the young girl. They were goodcomrades, these two, and held many interests in common despite thediscrepancy in their ages. The old colonel was "well-to-do," andalthough he could scarcely be called wealthy in these days of hugefortunes, his resources were ample beyond their needs. The Hathawayhome was one of the most attractive in Dorfield, and Mary Louise andher grandfather were popular and highly respected. Their servantsconsisted of an aged pair of negroes named "Aunt Sally" and "UncleEben," who considered themselves family possessions and were devoted to"de ole mar'se an' young missy."
Alora Jones, who lived in the handsomest and most imposing house in thelittle city, was an heiress and considered the richest girl inDorfield, having been left several millions by her mother. Her father,Jason Jones, although he handled Alora's fortune and surrounded hismotherless daughter with every luxury, was by profession an artist--akindly man who encouraged the girl to be generous and charitable to adegree. They did not advertise their good deeds and only the poor knewhow much they owed to the practical sympathy of Alora Jones and herfather. Alora, however, was rather reserved and inclined to make fewfriends, her worst fault being a suspicion of all strangers, due tosome unfortunate experiences she had formerly encountered. The littleband of Liberty Girls included all of Alora's accepted chums, for theywere the chums of Mary Louise, whom Alora adored. Their companionshiphad done much to soften the girl's distrustful nature.
The other Liberty Girls were Laura Hilton, petite and pretty andbubbling with energy, whose father was a prominent real estate broker;Lucile Neal, whose father and three brothers owned and operated theNeal Automobile Factory, and whose intelligent zeal and knowledge ofwar conditions had been of great service to Mary Louise; Edna Barlow, awidowed dressmaker's only child, whose sweet disposition had made her afavorite with her girl friends, and Jane Donovan, the daughter of theMayor of Dorfield and the youngest of the group here described.
These were the six girls who had entered the bond campaign and assistedto complete Dorfield's quota of subscriptions, but there was one otherLiberty Girl who had been unable to join them in this active work. Thiswas Irene Macfarlane, the niece of Peter Conant. She had been a cripplesince childhood and was confined to the limits of a wheeled chair. Farfrom being gloomy or depressed, however, Irene had the sunniest natureimaginable, and was always more bright and cheerful than the averagegirl of her age. "From my knees down," she would say confidentially,"I'm no good; but from my knees up I'm as good as anybody." She was anexcellent musician and sang very sweetly; she was especially deft withher needle; she managed her chair so admirably that little assistancewas ever required. Mrs. Conant called her "the light of the house," andto hear her merry laughter and sparkling conversation, you wouldspeedily be tempted to forget that fate had been unkind to her anddecreed that for life she must be wedded to a wheeled chair.
If Irene resented this decree, she never allowed anyone to suspect it,and her glad disposition warded off the words of sympathy that mighthave pained her.
While unable to sally forth in the Liberty Bond drive, Irene was nonethe less an important member of the band of Liberty Girls. "She's ourinspiration," said Mary Louise with simple conviction. Teeming withpatriotism and never doubting her ability to do something helpful indefeating her country's foes, Irene had many valuable suggestions tomake to her companions and one of these she broached a few days afterthe bond sale ended so triumphantly. On this occasion the Liberty Girlshad met with Irene at Peter Conant's cosy home, ne
xt door to theresidence of Colonel Hathaway, for consultation as to their futureendeavors.
"Everyone is knitting for the soldiers and sailors," said Irene, "andwhile that is a noble work, I believe that we ought to do somethingdifferent from the others. Such an important organization ought torender unusual and individual service on behalf of our beloved country.Is it not so?"
"It's all very well, Irene, to back our beloved country," remarkedLaura, "but the whole nation is doing that and I really hanker to helpour soldier boys."
"So do I," spoke up Lucile. "The government is equal to the country'sneeds, I'm sure, but the government