CHAPTER XXIV
THE BOYS BECOME UNEASY
For some moments after the officer had taken his departure, there wassilence in the room. Then Harris exclaimed:
"Now what do you think of that?"
"Well, I don't hardly know what to think of it," Jack replied. "Franktook most of the talking on himself. When he gave his parole there wasnothing left for me but to do likewise."
"That's what I thought. Otherwise I wouldn't have given mine," saidHarris.
"It may not be too late to call him back and tell him so," said Frank."I did the talking because neither of you seemed to want to do it. Youdidn't have to give your parole unless you wanted to. I didn't ask youto do it."
"Come now, don't get mad, Frank," said Jack.
"I'm not mad. I'm just telling you what I think. Certainly it can do usno harm. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose."
"That's so, too, when you stop to think of it," Harris agreed.
"Well, I stopped to think of it," said Frank. "You fellows didn't.That's the difference."
"But who on earth can he be?" exclaimed Harris. "He seems to know youtwo, all right."
"There is something strangely familiar about him," said Frank, "but Ican't place him."
"Nor I," admitted Jack, "though, as you say, there is somethingfamiliar about him."
"Seems to me that if I knew a man I could tell you who he was," saidHarris.
"Seems so to me, too," declared Frank, "but I can't."
"Well," said Jack, "I'm not as credulous as you are, Frank. I wager heis not doing this to help us out. I'll bet we land in Berlin and staythere until the end of the war."
"By Jove! Let's hope not," said Harris. "Still, all things considered,I'm of your way of thinking."
"If he was telling the truth," said Jack, "he would have let us knowwho he is. There was no reason for telling us he was English and thenconcealing his identity."
"I can't see any reason," Frank admitted, "but at the same time Ibelieve he was telling the truth."
The conversation languished. Frank curled himself up on a sofa at thefar side of the room and sought a little rest. Jack dozed in his chair.Harris also could hardly keep his eyes open.
They were still in this condition when the door opened several hourslater and their captor again entered the room. He walked quickly acrossthe room and shook Jack.
"Hello!" said the latter, sleepily, "back, eh?"
Frank awoke at the sound of Jack's voice and Harris also opened hiseyes.
"I had a little work that had to be disposed of immediately," saidtheir captor, "which is the reason I left you so abruptly. I can showyou a place to sleep now."
He led the way from the room and upstairs. There he ushered the threeinto a large, well appointed room, which contained two beds.
"Only two beds," he said, "but it's the best I can do. Two of you canbunk together."
"Anything, just so it's soft," said Frank. "I'm tired out."
"Then you had all better turn in at once," said their captor. "I havemuch work to do. It is probable that I shall not be back again untilsome time tomorrow night. Make yourselves at home. You are alone in thehouse. You will find cold meats, bread and some other things in thepantry down stairs. Remain here until I come."
"Very well, sir," said Frank. "And you say we shall leave here tomorrownight?"
"Yes; unless something develops to interfere with my plans."
"All right, sir. We shall remain here until you come tomorrow night.But that is as long as our paroles hold good, sir. After that, we shallescape if it is humanly possible."
"I will be back before midnight tomorrow," was their captor's reply."Until that time, goodbye. One thing, stay in the house and keep theblinds drawn. I do not wish to attract attention to this house."
"Very well, sir," said Frank.
The man took a last careful glance around the room and thendisappeared.
"Well, he's gone again," said Jack. "He may be telling the truth and hemay not, but one thing sure, these beds look pretty comfortable. I'mgoing to make use of one right now."
He undressed quickly and slipped between the sheets. Frank and Harrisfollowed his example.
All were up bright and early the next day, greatly refreshed. Theyfound food in the pantry, as their captor had told them they would. Itwas a tedious day, confined as they were, and the time passed slowly.But dusk descended at last.
"He should be here at any time now," said Frank.
The others said nothing, but when nine o'clock had come and gone evenFrank became uneasy.
"Don't see what is detaining him," he said.
"Nor I--if he really meant to come back," said Jack.
Eleven o'clock and still their captor had not returned.
"He said he would be back by midnight," said Frank.
"He said lots of things," said Jack, "but they didn't make the sameimpression on me they seem to have made on you. I don't believe he iscoming."
"I'll tell you what I think," said Harris. "I believe he expected us tomake a break for liberty before now. The house probably is surroundedand if we start out the door we shall most likely be shot down."
"By Jove! I wouldn't be surprised if you had hit the nail on the head,"Jack declared.
"Nonsense," said Frank. "What would be the advantage of a plan likethat?"
"Well, I don't know; but there is something queer about this business,"declared Jack.
Eleven thirty passed and still no sign of their captor.
Jack and Harris had kept up a steady flow of conversation regarding theprobable fate that was in store for them if they poked their headsoutside the door, and at last Jack rose to his feet.
"Well," he said quietly, "there is no need of staying here. We may aswell make a break for it Chances are, if we are quick enough, we canget into the open without being shot down."
"Not in these clothes," said Harris.
"True enough. We'll have a look for other clothing. What do you say,Frank?"
"I'm not convinced yet the man is not coming back," said Frank, "but Itell you what I will do. We'll hunt up some other clothes and get intothem. Then we'll wait until twelve o'clock. If he has not returned bythat time, I'm with you."
"Fair enough," said Harris. "Come on."
The three made their way upstairs, where they started a thorough searchof the house; and at last Jack ran onto a closet in which were storedhalf a dozen suits of civilian clothes.
He called the others.
"All right if they'll fit," said Harris.
Fortunately, they did fit; and fifteen minutes later the three weregarbed in plain citizens' attire. They left their uniforms in the roomwhere they had changed.
"Now to see if we can find a few guns," said Jack.
Again they searched the house.
Frank was the first to find a weapon. There were two revolvers in adrawer of a writing desk in the parlor and with them was a goodlysupply of ammunition. Frank gave one of the guns to Jack.
"We ought to be able to find one more," said Harris. "I've got to havea gun."
They ransacked the house from top to bottom; and at length Frank cameacross another weapon. Harris gave an exclamation of satisfaction.
"Let's divide up that ammunition, now," he said.
This was done and the three returned to the parlor. Frank glanced athis watch.
"Five minutes to twelve," he said. "We'll wait until midnight and not asecond longer."
To this the others agreed.
"I guess you were right after all," Frank told his companions. "Still Ican't understand this thing at all."
"You'll probably understand it better when you stick your head out thedoor and a bullet hits close to it," said Harris, grimly.
"No; I don't believe there is anything like that going to happen,"Frank declared. "Maybe he was detained and couldn't get back on time."
"When he gets back he'll find us missing," said Harris.
"He will unless he hurrie
s," Frank agreed.
The minutes passed slowly; but at last the hands of Frank's watchpointed to midnight.
The lad closed the case of his watch with a snap and rose to his feet.He examined his revolver carefully to make sure it was in working orderand then said:
"Time's up; may as well be moving."
The three advanced cautiously to the front door. Behind, the house wasperfectly dark.
"Careful when you open the door, Frank," Jack warned. "Stoop down.There is no telling what may be lurking out there."
Frank heeded this warning. Stooping, he opened the door, threw it wideand looked out.
"Coast clear," he announced.
He was about to step out when the sound of hurried footsteps came tohis ears.
"Wait a minute," Frank whispered. "Some one coming."
A man appeared down the street. He came nearer. Frank gave anexclamation of satisfaction:
"Come on back to the parlor," he whispered. "Here he comes now."