Whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
EZEKIEL 33:4
© 2014 by Grace Livingston Hill
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All scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
About the Author
Chapter 1
Eastern United States
1940s
Two men sat in an office of a large warehouse, at this hour almost deserted by the main force of workers who usually swarmed everywhere. Though they felt they were alone and safe from all listeners, they spoke in low tones, guardedly.
Weaver, the older man, was large and heavyset, with sharp eyes and firm lips. When he spoke he seemed to dominate the room, as if somehow he had acquired authority over the whole universe.
The other man was smaller, keen-eyed, with caution in his glance. His name was Lacey, and although he was subordinate, he was the more knowledgeable of the two. He was studying the other man as he talked, weighing his words, sifting his expressions.
“We have definite information that the model has been completed and is now in the hands of the manufacturer.” Weaver spoke with heavy emphasis.
“Has it been tested?” asked Lacey sharply. “Are they sure it will work?”
“Oh, yes,” said the boss impatiently, “it’s all been worked out. That’s why it’s important to get this thing going at once. If these things can be manufactured fast enough, it will simply revolutionize this war. Anyone with this equipment will be the winner. It depends on who gets there and gets it to working first. And that’s why we have to find out just what their secret is. We think we know, but we’re still a little vague over a few points. And that’s where you come in. It’s up to you to get drawings, measurements, dates when they plan to ship, all the items you think we will need.”
“You mean to plant me somewhere to find out those things? But man, that’s entirely out of my line.”
“Of course not, Lacey! I mean you’re to contact the man we suggest, or if that doesn’t work out, then find the right man. One with common sense to keep his mouth shut and work in the most casual way so there will be no hint of suspicion stirred up while he gets all the information we need. It’s nothing new to you, Lacey. It’s much along the line of your last job, only a thousand times more important. And we think we have the right man, but it will be for you to contact him through your usual workers.”
“I see,” said Lacey. “Who’s the manufacturer? Or isn’t that definite yet?”
“Oh yes, that’s definite all right. It’s not just one manufacturer, it’s two. The way they’ve got it worked out, Vandingham and Company have the main part of the work, and Windlass, Cooper, and Crane have the ‘accessories.’ That’s the way they are talking about it among themselves—‘Just a few small gadgets,’ they say. But it happens that we know these gadgets are the most important parts when they are in the main machine. And then there is a third plant involved, a smaller, insignificant plant that Vandingham and Company are secretly taking over. It’s a little dump, not well known, and there they mean to assemble the whole, and feel quite sure the world at large will never dream that anything important like that is going on there. The buildings have been somewhat altered so that they are quite inaccessible to the public, or even to other workers in the same operation, and it will not be known that it has anything at all to do with Vandingham’s. It’s been very cleverly thought out, and it was only by chance that we happened to hear about it through a man who delivers material to them, and he didn’t know he was telling us anything. One of our men worked it out of him bit by bit as they were loading up their trucks. He was canny enough to ask the right questions about where the material was being taken, and didn’t Vandingham buy that other plant? So we put two and two together. We’ve got ’em all watched.”
“And you mean I’ve got to get a worker in each one of those plants?”
“No, no, not that, Lacey. We’ve got it all worked out, I tell you. You see, it is rumored that young Vandingham is taking over the main office in his father’s place this fall. It might be part of a plan to keep him out of the draft, perhaps. But anyhow, he’s to be there this winter, and the idea is—”
“To try and get his father’s secrets out of him?” interrupted Lacey. “You could never do that! I know those Vandinghams. They’re proud as peacocks of their name and position. They would never give each other away, not even if they were having a real civil war in private among themselves.”
“No, they would never give away their own secrets. But someone else could do it. Someone who knew them well, who was in their confidence and hadn’t any idea how important it was. And I think I’ve found the very one for you. A young fellow who was in college with young Vandingham and is rather up against it financially himself. It’s up to you to offer him a good sum to get some of those figures and plans and formulas we need. First, that we may be able to produce the same thing, perhaps even better than they are planning, and second, that we shall know exactly where and how and when to strike in order that we may destroy their work before it ever gets to the Allies.”
“I see,” said Lacey. “A fine scheme, if it all fits. But I’d be leery about getting the right man into that outfit. I’ve always heard that gang are pretty doggoned smart, and they don’t take every Tom, Dick, and Harry in with them, even if they do happen to have gone to college with Papa’s little boy. However, I’ll do my best, of course. But who’s the lad? Do I know him? Is he known in the city?”
The big man looked at him keenly.
“No, he’s not very well known. You wouldn’t know him. He’s only a bright kid, just came to the city this summer to look after a sick grandmother. His folks are dead and he worked his way through college, but when his grandmother took sick he left a pretty good job he had in the West and came here to look after her. He’s been working around at anything he could get since he came, but he’d be open for a good job, because he wants to take care of the old lady. She hasn’t anybody else. She’s been a librarian for years, living alone, but she had a stroke or two, and I guess she’s pretty bad off. Anyhow, we found out he’s looking for something really good so he can take care of her properly. It seems she did a lot for him when his folks first died, but about two years ago she lost all her savings in some fool investme
nt, and now he feels it’s up to him. So, you see it would be easy to get a hold over him. He’ll probably snap at the chance. I want you to have him approached by a man who’s always been pretty successful getting such jobs across—perhaps Kurt Entry—and I haven’t a doubt but he’ll be putty in our hands. So now it’s up to you to place him and then keep in touch with him.”
“Where does he live?” asked Lacey.
“Just now he’s in the quarters where his grandmother has lived for some time—143 Burton Street. But I wouldn’t advise you to be seen going there. We’ve got to work this thing most cautiously, you know.”
“Oh, of course. But I’d want to look the lad over before I undertook this. Personally, I think a girl would fit into that outfit better than a young man. She’d be more likely to pick older men in a place like that, not a kid, especially for a job as particular as you say this is.”
“Wait till you see the fella. He’s very dependable—had to knock around a lot. And keen. Besides, I doubt if they’d let a girl get into the place, not on a job as secret as this one!”
“There are always ways for a girl to get places, especially if someone is sweet on her. I understand that young Vandingham likes pretty girls. I know a girl I believe could get almost any young fella to show her around the plant where he worked.”
“Not a plant like that!” said the older man. “Not a government secret! You try this fella first. Then if we can’t get him, or somebody better, we’ll see about the girl.”
“Okay,” said Lacey. “I’ll look him over. What’s his name? Where do I meet him? Has he a telephone? How do I contact him?”
“Name is Sargent. John Sargent. Here are the facts,” said the big man grimly, handing him a folded paper. “Better let your man contact him and feel around how he stands before you make an open proposition. If it’s necessary to offer a larger salary than I’ve suggested, go ahead, of course. The main thing is to get the right man and get him quick. We don’t want that invention to slip out of our hands. And Lacey, be sure you get him one of those new concealed cameras. They’re as inconspicuous as a coat button. Better instruct him to get pictures of everything, and absolutely on the QT. Of course, they wouldn’t let a camera pass the door if they knew it was there. It’s got to be mighty slick work, you know.”
“Of course,” said Lacey. “What do you think I am, Weaver? A child that needs a nurse?”
“Well, I’m just telling you,” warned the boss. “You know who we’re answering to, and you don’t want to get into trouble yourself, do you? Now go. I’ve got another appointment in five minutes, so I guess you’d better fade away before my next man appears. And Lacey, just remember, don’t come here unless I send for you. It won’t be good if we’re seen together too much.”
“But suppose I need to report to you. Do I phone?”
“Only at the prescribed times and places. You’ll find a note in your papers. That’s all, Lacey. Meantime, keep that girl you spoke of up your sleeve for an emergency. Good-bye!”
Lacey stole out a side entrance and disappeared into another part of the building, and a group of three were announced and took his place.
Lacey went by a back way to a rooming house and locked himself into his gloomy little room, where he sat down to study the paper Weaver had given him.
The paper was typewritten, largely in code.
For some time Lacey sat studying it, frowning, tapping his finger nervously on the arm of his chair, staring at the words on the paper until they were fairly imprinted on his vision. Then suddenly he was startled by the ringing of his telephone, and he hurried over to his desk to answer it.
“Are you number twenty-three of the troop of investigators?” a strange voice asked.
“Yes,” said Lacey sharply.
“Then the orders are for you to proceed to Main Street between Twelfth and Fourteenth at once, and observe the workers among the water company emergency men. You can see the person under discussion among them, bareheaded, wearing a blue shirt, with light curly hair and blue eyes. Walk slowly, pausing now and then casually to watch the workers, then proceed down the street to Filmore’s Garage, returning five minutes later, walking more briskly and not seeming to notice one laboring man more than another. You will receive another phone call at one thirty. That’s all.”
Lacey took his hat and hastened away.
Lisle Kingsley, walking with her father and mother from Filmore’s Garage, where they had left their car, to her father’s office, half a block farther on, was halted by an obstruction on the sidewalk. There had evidently been a burst water main that had flooded the street, and the men from the water company were working valiantly to open the road and find the broken pipe that had caused the trouble. Some of them were apparently new at the job and not as careful as they should have been to keep the mud and rubble from the sidewalk, flinging dirt and paving blocks and muddy water out of their way and not stopping to see where they landed until large piles had mounted up across the pavement.
Mr. Kingsley stepped out into the road to investigate and ask a few questions, as the obstruction was almost in front of his office. A number of people were hesitating in dismay, gazing anxiously down at their shoes and wondering which was the best way to get across. Traffic had been stopped by the spouting water and its consequent flooding of the street, and the road was pretty well congested with trucks, delivery wagons, and cars. It was also very muddy, as in places the pools were still quite deep, though the water had been turned off for several minutes now.
Just ahead of Mrs. Kingsley and Lisle were a group of irate ladies, one of whom was storming at the men who were working so frantically to put things right.
It was at this moment that Lacey arrived among the crowd.
“I think this is perfectly inexcusable!” said Mrs. Gately, a recently rich woman who had married wealth and intended everyone should understand her importance. “Why can’t you men keep this rubbish off the sidewalk? It could just as well be left in the road. Just look at my dress! All spattered with mud and filth! And it’s an imported dress! Probably the last one I shall ever be able to get from Paris unless this horrid old war stops pretty soon. And they say Paris will be practically destroyed before it does. That is, the old Paris, where all the fashions come from! There! Now you’ve done it again! Flung a lot of slushy mud over my shoes! I think you men ought to be arrested! I shall ask my husband to have your names taken and see that something is done about this. I shall certainly report you to the officials of the water company, and you men will all lose your jobs! Then perhaps you will learn that you can’t obstruct the sidewalk from the garage to the shopping district. I mean what I say! You’ll find out! What’s your name, young man?”
She pointed her beautifully manicured, crimson-tipped forefinger straight at a young man in a light blue shirt, who was shoveling vigorously in the forefront of the workers. He looked up with a quick amused glance.
“Yes, you! You’re the one I mean! You flung that water right on my foot! I saw you! How long have you been working for this water company?”
He gave another quick grin and answered in a clear young voice, “About twenty minutes, madam. They were short of help and this thing was getting ahead of them. They asked me to lend a hand. But madam, if you would just step back a little, or go around the other way, you wouldn’t be in danger of getting your shoes any wetter.”
“You’re impertinent!” said the lady, stepping a little nearer instead of backing away. “Don’t you dare throw any more water on me, or I’ll have you in jail before you know what it’s all about.”
The young man did not answer. He kept right on working and then suddenly lifted his eyes and swept the crowd with a quick questioning look, and his eyes met Lisle Kingsley’s. Their glances held for an instant in mutual amusement and contempt for the woman who persisted in trying to hold the center of the stage.
It was just for a moment, and then the boy dropped his gaze and went on with his work. He had nice eyes, Lisl
e decided. It seemed that suddenly they were acquaintances in understanding, one in contemptuous amusement.
Then the boy lifted his eyes for another fleeting look, saw a tiny hint of a smile on the girl’s lovely lips, and there was an answering grin on his own face. Lisle had time to notice that his blue shirt was just the color of his eyes, and his close-cropped curls caught the bright sunlight like a spot of beaten gold. He certainly was a personable-looking young fellow, even if he was doing the work of a day laborer, and she noticed that he was not slinging mud toward the arrogant, expensive shoes of the brawling woman, who continued to address him as though he were the chief offender in her world. Though the same could not be said of two or three other men who were working shoulder to shoulder with him, for they seemed to make a special point of slinging all the slime of the street toward the offending women. And one aimed a neat shovelful of dirty water and stones full on the tiny foot of the lady, soaking her delicate hosiery with a great black stain.
“There!” she shrieked, turning a baleful glance at the blue-eyed boy again. “Look at what you have done! Now I’ll have it back on you. These were absolutely new stockings and shoes, and you’ve simply ruined them! And you did it just for spite. You shan’t hear the last of this in quite a while! And I was going to luncheon this noon! How unbearable! Well, you’ll have plenty of chance to think this over in jail and be ready to apologize, and then work after you get out to pay for them, too! It’ll cost you plenty!”
Suddenly the big lowering man turned on her.
“You’re all wrong, ma’am! You’re completely off base! You’re barking up the wrong tree! That kid didn’t sling that mud on you. I done it myself, and I’m glad I did, do ye hear? If you don’t know enough to get out of the way when you’re hindering our work, it’s too bad for you! And if you stick around here any longer, I’ll do it again! Now, get out of the way, unless you want some more of the same kind, and I don’t mean mebbe! You can go talk to the water company if you want, but you can’t get nothing on us. We’re not the water company! We’re just volunteers, passersby, helping out in an emergency! The head man of the water company is standing over there in the road in the middle of all that water. If you want to talk to anyone, paddle over there and talk to him. Now, scram!”