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willing captive。 And if in covering the five miles to Judge Van Vorst's he
exceeded the speed limit； the fact that from the rear seat Jimmie held the
shotgun against the base of his skull was an extenuating circumstance。
They arrived in the nick of time。 In his own car young Van Vorst and a
bag of golf clubs were just drawing away from the house。 Seeing the car
climbing the steep driveway that for a half…mile led from his lodge to his
front door； and seeing Jimmie standing in the tonneau brandishing a gun；
the Judge hastily descended。 The sight of the spy hunter filled him with
misgiving； but the sight of him gave Jimmie sweet relief。 Arresting
German spies for a small boy is no easy task。 For Jimmie the strain was
great。 And now that he knew he had successfully delivered him into the
hands of the law； Jimmie's heart rose with happiness。 The added presence
of a butler of magnificent bearing and of an athletic looking chauffeur
increased his sense of security。 Their presence seemed to afford a feeling
of security to the prisoner also。 As he brought the car to a halt； he breathed
a sigh。 It was a sigh of deep relief。
Jimmie fell from the tonneau。 In concealing his sense of triumph； he
was not entirety successful。
〃I got him！〃 he cried。 〃I didn't make no mistake about THIS one！〃
〃What one？〃 demanded Van Vorst。
Jimmie pointed dramatically at his prisoner。 With an anxious
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expression the stranger was tenderly fingering the back of his head。 He
seemed to wish to assure himself that it was still there。
〃THAT one！〃 cried Jimmie。 〃He's a German spy！〃
The patience of Judge Van Vorst fell from him。 In his exclamation was
indignation； anger； reproach。
〃Jimmie！〃 he cried。
Jimmie thrust into his hand the map。 It was his 〃Exhibit A。〃 〃Look
what he's wrote；〃 commanded the scout。 〃It's all military words。 And these
are his glasses。 I took 'em off him。 They're made in GERMANY！ I been
stalking him for a week。 He's a spy！〃
When Jimmie thrust the map before his face； Van Vorst had glanced at
it。 Then he regarded it more closely。 As he raised his eyes they showed
that he was puzzled。
But he greeted the prisoner politely。
〃I'm extremely sorry you've been annoyed；〃 he said。 〃I'm only glad it's
no worse。 He might have shot you。 He's mad over the idea that every
stranger he sees〃
The prisoner quickly interrupted。
〃Please！〃 he begged； 〃Don't blame the boy。 He behaved extremely well。
Might I speak with youALONE？〃 he asked。
Judge Van Vorst led the way across the terrace； and to the smoking…
room； that served also as his office； and closed the door。 The stranger
walked directly to the mantelpiece and put his finger on a gold cup。
〃I saw your mare win that at Belmont Park；〃 he said。 〃She must have
been a great loss to you？〃
〃She was；〃 said Van Vorst。 〃The week before she broke her back； I
refused three thousand for her。 Will you have a cigarette？〃
The stranger waved aside the cigarettes。
〃I brought you inside；〃 he said； 〃because I didn't want your servants to
hear； and because I don't want to hurt that boy's feelings。 He's a fine boy；
and he's a damned clever scout。 I knew he was following me and I threw
him off twice； but to…day he caught me fair。 If I really had been a German
spy； I couldn't have got away from him。 And I want him to think he has
captured a German spy。 Because he deserves just as much credit as though
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he had； and because it's best he shouldn't know whom he DID capture。〃
Van Vorst pointed to the map。 〃My bet is；〃 he said； 〃that you're an
officer of the State militia； taking notes for the fall manoeuvres。 Am I
right？〃
The stranger smiled in approval； but shook his head。
〃You're warm；〃 he said； 〃but it's more serious than manoeuvres。 It's the
Real Thing。〃 From his pocketbook he took a visiting card and laid it on the
table。 〃I'm 'Sherry' McCoy；〃 he said； 〃Captain of Artillery in the United
States Army。〃 He nodded to the hand telephone on the table。
〃You can call up Governor's Island and get General Wood or his aide；
Captain Dorey； on the phone。 They sent me here。 Ask THEM。 I'm not
picking out gun sites for the Germans； I'm picking out positions of defense
for Americans when the Germans come！〃
Van Vorst laughed derisively。
〃My word！〃 he exclaimed。 〃You're as bad as Jimmie！〃
Captain McCoy regarded him with disfavor。
〃And you； sir；〃 he retorted； 〃are as bad as ninety million other
Americans。 You WON'T believe！ When the Germans are shelling this hill；
when they're taking your hunters to pull their cook…wagons； maybe； you'll
believe THEN。〃
〃Are you serious？〃 demanded Van Vorst。 〃And you an army officer？〃
〃That's why I am serious；〃 returned McCoy。 〃WE know。 But when we
try to prepare for what is coming； we must do it secretlyin underhand
ways； for fear the newspapers will get hold of it and ridicule us； and
accuse us of trying to drag the country into war。 That's why we have to
prepare under cover。 That's why I've had to skulk around these hills like a
chicken thief。 And；〃 he added sharply； 〃that's why that boy must not know
who I am。 If he does； the General Staff will get a calling down at
Washington； and I'll have my ears boxed。〃
Van Vorst moved to the door。
〃He will never learn the truth from me；〃 he said。 〃For I will tell him
you are to be shot at sunrise。〃 〃Good！〃 laughed the Captain。 〃And tell
me his name。 If ever we fight over Westchester County； I want that lad for
my chief of scouts。 And give him this。 Tell him to buy a new scout
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uniform。 Tell him it comes from you。〃
But no money could reconcile Jimmie to the sentence imposed upon
his captive。 He received the news with a howl of anguish。 〃You mustn't；〃
he begged； 〃I never knowed you'd shoot him！ I wouldn't have caught him；
if I'd knowed that。 I couldn't sleep if I thought he was going to be shot at
sunrise。〃 At the prospect of unending nightmares Jimmie's voice shook
with terror。 〃Make it for twenty years