^American 
 
 BY A. STONE 
 
 UNIV. OF CALIF. LIBRARY. LOS ANGELES
 
 R. J. S. MYSTERY STORIES 
 
 THE BLUE-EYED MANCHU. By Achmed Abdullah 
 
 VIA BERLIN. By Crittenden Marriott 
 
 THE LAST MANCHU. By Achmed Abdullah 
 
 SIX SECONDS OF DARKNESS. By Roy Octavus Cohen 
 
 DENYER'S DOUBLE. By Marriott Watson 
 
 TOLD BY TELEGRAPH. By George Saint Amour 
 
 AFTER MIDNIGHT. By Eric Levinson 
 
 THE GREEN OPAL RING. By El Comancho 
 
 THE MAN WITHOUT A TONGUE. By Charles F. Pidgin 
 
 THE STRANGE CRIME. By Ian Roy 
 
 THE SECRET OF THE SNOW. By Mildred Van Inwegen
 
 " The wireless continued to spell F.L."
 
 American "Pep 
 
 <ut Tale of ^America's Efficiency 
 
 BY 
 
 A. STONE 
 
 AUTHOE or "DRUMHEAD EQUITY' 
 
 Illustrated by 
 FRANK KEANE 
 
 NEW YORK 
 THE ROBERT J. SHORES CORPORATION 
 
 1918
 
 COPYRIGHT, IQlS, BY 
 THE ROBERT J. SHORES CORPORATION 
 
 COMPLETE MANUFACTURE BY 
 
 THE PLIMPTON PRESS 
 
 NORWOOD, MASS.
 
 List of Illustrations 
 
 "The wireless continued to spell F.L." . . frontispiece 
 
 PACING PAGE 
 
 "This car we have just opened is empty" . . . . 109 
 " The wretched man plunged headlong into the sea " 257 
 "He stood still, gripping the door casing" .... 329 
 
 2132825
 
 r
 
 ^American 
 
 BY A. STONE
 
 American 'Pep 
 
 Chapter One 
 
 SAVAGELY RAPID AND POWERFUL 
 the Government Wireless Station at Wash- 
 ington began instantly on a message to the 
 Malcom Powder Works. 
 
 ** French Ship, carrying your 
 explosive S. H. , blew up in 
 Halifax Harbor. Town totally 
 destroyed. Ten thousand killed. 
 Twenty thousand injured. Ruins 
 in flames and furious blizzard 
 raging. Deep snow and below 
 zero. Hold carload shipment of 
 S. H. until Marines arrive to 
 guard the sea coast. 
 (Signed). ' ' 
 
 Dorn, the operator, had answered the signal 
 with trepidation; his soul-destroying premonition
 
 io AMERICAN PEP 
 
 was reliable. Every flash of the instrument was 
 a stab. His knees knocked and his voice shook 
 as he telephoned the message to Mr. Malcom. 
 
 Only a hundred cases destroyed Halifax! 
 and was it accident or design? Two thousand 
 cases of it within pistol-shot! Dorn knew he 
 was not the craven coward. But the disastrous 
 holocaust unnerved him. The cause of the Allies 
 and the Nation was at stake! This mountain 
 town, so valuable to the Government, might 
 meet the fate of Nova Scotia's biggest city at 
 any moment, and it's tune for every man to 
 show At that moment he saw Betty Fraser, 
 his assistant, coming to work. He struggled for 
 composure. She need not get the shock not 
 just yet, anyhow. 
 
 Through the smoke grimed windows of the 
 ticket office at Malcom, Jack Dorn, the station 
 agent, looked out across the track toward Bald 
 Eagle Canyon. His long, thin legs upheld a 
 taut, healthy body, but the grip of his curled 
 fingers indicated at that moment a stress of high 
 nervous tension. 
 
 He turned from the bay-window toward the 
 girl operator who had just finished sending a 
 message. Betty Fraser left the instrument and
 
 AMERICAN PEP n 
 
 came to Dorn's side. She, too, looked across 
 the track in the direction of Bald Eagle Canyon. 
 
 "This place is getting on my nerves," Dora 
 exploded. "It's plain hell!" 
 
 The girl shivered. "Are you commencing to 
 feel it too?" she said. 
 
 "Commencing to feel it! I always have felt 
 it, from the first moment I ran old Number 1750 
 into that oozing, dripping inferno of the moun- 
 tains. It's no place for you, either," he ended 
 savagely. 
 
 "But I've lived here all my life," she reminded. 
 "It has been only lately I have minded. Some- 
 thing more terrible seems in the air." 
 
 Malcom was a powder workers' town. Cen- 
 turies before, Bruce Malcom, a Highland Scot, 
 had roofed over part of Bald Eagle Canyon and 
 had commenced to manufacture gunpowder there. 
 He invented and made Stag Brand rifle powder 
 stand for quality. The deep, narrow canyon was 
 an ideal place for the gunpowder works and 
 succeeding generations had continued to main- 
 tain the plant. Gradually the town of Malcom 
 was built up and continued to grow within a half 
 mile of the powder factory. 
 
 When the railroad finally elbowed Malcom
 
 12 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 River to one side of Bald Eagle Canyon, and 
 came up within a thousand feet of the gunpowder 
 works it took time for the town to recover from 
 the shock, but gradually they realized the added 
 market facilities. 
 
 The Malcoms were proud of the fact that in 
 every war for several generations they had furn- 
 ished Stag Brand gunpowder to the government. 
 Malcom IV shrewdly paid his men high wages 
 but down there in the dark, dripping canyon 
 nerves commenced to strain and snap. The 
 granite, vibrationless factory had commenced to 
 manufacture a new explosive for the government, 
 a composition twelve times stronger than any- 
 thing previously made. This explosive the men 
 had named Sky High, and even their years of 
 accustomed handling deadly ticklish products 
 failed to lessen their terror of this powerful new 
 menace to life. 
 
 "You're right," Dorn agreed, "something terri- 
 ble is in the air. I'm not superstitious, but I've 
 been feeling it all week." 
 
 The girl turned quickly to take a message from 
 the wire. Dorn watched her straight, young 
 body and the black splendor of her hair, delicate 
 ear and straight nose as she bent over the instru-
 
 AMERICAN PEP 13 
 
 ment. She had been his assistant only two 
 months and he had not yet even commenced to 
 fathom the mysteries of her womanhood. He 
 was unused to women and she had been to him 
 from the first both a puzzle and a delight. At 
 no time had he been able to read back of the dark 
 shaded screen of her eyes that protected the real 
 woman. 
 
 She turned now to read aloud the telegram she 
 just had taken. It was signed by the superin- 
 tendent of the road and Dorn gave full attention. 
 
 ''Agreeable with orders from constituted military 
 authorities, I am passing Lieutenant Pettingill with 
 a squad of ten marines to your station tomorrow on 
 Number 22, at 4.30 P.M. Pettingill and squad will 
 constitute an armed guard to seaboard for a carload 
 of special product from the Malcom Powder Com- 
 pany, which is reported ready for loading. If you 
 do not have a maximum forty ton car in perfect 
 physical condition, advise us and one will be attached 
 today to passenger train 72, as time is an important 
 element. The car must be loaded and ready to 
 attach to express freight 17, due to leave your 
 station tomorrow at 7.30 P.M. 
 
 J. C. CONSTANCE." 
 
 "I've got a car," said Dorn. "We're lucky 
 for once. There is a new B. R. & B."
 
 i 4 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Shall I tell him?" asked Miss Fraser. "I 
 still have his wire." Her slender fingers rested 
 on the instrument in front of her. 
 
 Dorn nodded, then turned to look again from 
 the window out across the canyon. His lithe 
 form shivered as from sudden cold, although the 
 head that he pressed against the pane was hot. 
 
 "He wants the number and initial of the car 
 you are giving them," the girl said. 
 
 "Just a minute." Dorn stepped quickly across 
 the room and consulted the record book. "Tell 
 him it is B. R. & B. 76533." 
 
 When she had sent her reply they stood together 
 at the window again looking down the track. 
 Presently Dorn frowned. Along the narrow 
 winding path beside the right of way a man 
 slouched slowly forward. 
 
 "There's Whaley," said Dorn. "I wonder 
 why I detest that man so, and I wonder even 
 more why Malcom can tolerate him at the office." 
 
 "Hush!" warned the girl. "He would make a 
 yellow enemy. But I know what you mean." 
 As she spoke Whaley shambled in and leaned 
 against the ledge of the ticket window. 
 
 "Mr. Malcorn wants to know how soon we can 
 have an empty to load," he drawled. "It must
 
 AMERICAN PEP 15 
 
 be in first class condition. It's to be loaded with 
 ' Sky High.'" 
 
 Dorn detected the smell of whisky on the man's 
 breath and stepped between him and the girl. 
 Miss Fraser shared Dorn's aversion and left the 
 window for air. 
 
 "I have a car," said Dorn. "I will have it 
 shifted to your canyon siding by noon." 
 
 "Do you know," confided Whaley, "this car 
 goes to seaboard for rush delivery to the army in 
 France. And a squad of Marines will go with it. 
 Some car, that!" he added with a sickly grin. 
 
 "I wouldn't talk too much if I were you," 
 snapped Dorn. "The least said about that car, 
 the better." 
 
 Whaley hunched his rounded shoulders, looked 
 about furtively for Miss Fraser, then left the 
 station. She and Dorn watched Whaley as he 
 walked back down the track. Ahead of him the 
 town spread like an immense checker board on a 
 smooth side hill. 
 
 "Somehow," said Dorn, "it just needed a 
 glimpse of that snake to complete today's emo- 
 tions. No other man would fit into the picture 
 so well." 
 
 "Do you know," she shivered, "it seems as if
 
 16 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 they were doing something all the time to make 
 that canyon a regular death trap." 
 
 "And this new stuff is the worst yet," agreed 
 Dorn. "It must be pretty dangerous and valu- 
 able to require a guard in transit. Such caution 
 is unheard of." 
 
 "I always dread it every time you go down in 
 there to check up the cars." She turned away 
 quickly, regretting her words. They held a 
 personal inference she had not intended. 
 
 , "I don't mind that part," he replied. "But I 
 do hate that canyon. I ran the mogul number 
 1750 six times a week over this division for more 
 than two years. I never went into Bald Eagle 
 Canyon from either end that I didn't feel as 
 though I were going into hell. Why, every bird 
 seemed to have a sad, mournful look; the crows 
 that were loud and rancorous enough elsewhere 
 never made a cry down there. I felt always as if 
 Bald Eagle would give it to me some day." He 
 stopped and paced back and forth with his eyes 
 always on the track. 
 , "And did it?" she breathed quickly. 
 
 "Yes, but it hasn't 'broke* me. It requires 
 death to do that. In the spring, March, I was
 
 AMERICAN PEP 17 
 
 coming down through here just after midnight 
 with fifty full loads of coal behind me. It was 
 raining so hard that a sheet of water was all I 
 could see in the headlight. Malcom River was 
 up to the track in places and running like a mill 
 tail with a sound almost a roar that grew worse 
 down by the powder mill in 'Malcom's Hole.' 
 It made me think of hell fire roaring under forced 
 draft. 
 
 "When I cleared the canyon on the other side 
 I drew a long, joyful, relieved breath but that 
 didn't last long for when I got to the bridge over 
 Malcom's River there was nothing but the ties 
 left. Number 1750 and I went in, with about 
 all of those fifty loads on top of us." 
 
 "And then ?" Her dark eyes fired admira- 
 tion and pity. 
 
 ''When I got out of the surgeon's hands I was 
 color blind and could not distinguish signals. 
 The company said they wanted to do the right 
 thing and gave me this station. That's all," he 
 ended. "But I guess you can get the irony 
 of it." 
 
 "Yes, I understand." She turned quickly, 
 fearing he would watch the tears that threatened.
 
 Chapter Two 
 
 W HALEY AT THE SENTRY BOX, AT 
 the entrance of the canyon on his 
 way back to the WorkSj stopped and 
 gave the countersign; the guards at each end of 
 Bald Eagle Canyon demanded it without varia- 
 tion. He proceeded down the canyon on the track 
 beside the little river with a grave-yard whistle. 
 The deathly stillness of the damp, oozing fissure 
 never failed to fling a load on his soul. Whaley 
 whistled louder as he neared the little switch that 
 had been blasted out of the solid granite side of 
 the canyon. There he turned directly right 
 into a narrower slit in the granite into Malcom's 
 Hole, where rubber-wheeled carriers on a narrow- 
 gauge track brought all Malcom's product down 
 from the works above, and transferred it to the 
 regular freight cars of the railroad on the switch. 
 Whaley slunk up this corridor in the solid rock 
 until he came to the high explosive buildings 
 where Sky High was manufactured. At this
 
 AMERICAN PEP 19 
 
 point he always had to flog his coward soul. 
 He was edging along on the track between the 
 concrete loading platform and the sheer stone 
 sides that mounted nearly three hundred feet 
 when he was startled to a shudder by a voice 
 from the shadows. 
 
 "Wait a minute, Whaley! Why are you in 
 such a devil of a rush?" 
 
 Whaley wheeled with a jerk to face Gregg, the 
 high explosive foreman. "What do you want?" 
 he whined a snarl. He approached the concrete 
 platform and leaned against it heavily. 
 
 "Was you down to the station to see about 
 that car?" asked the foreman. 
 
 "Yes, just came from there. Dorn says he 
 will have it on the switch before noon." Whaley 
 craned his neck to look in the warehouse. "But 
 where's your stuff? You're not ready to load." 
 
 "It's all ready. You needn't be afraid to 
 climb up on the platform and see for yourself." 
 The foreman grinned and jerked his thumb 
 toward the inside of the dark concrete room. 
 
 "I'll take your word for it. I don't want to 
 get any nearer the damn stuff. But what would 
 happen if it was to let loose down here?" Whaley 
 edged away as he spoke.
 
 20 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "I can't say for sure, but I am certain of one* 
 thing: Saint Peter would have a new hand at 
 his furnace, a fellow with a red nose, a liver as 
 white as snow, and a yellow streak up his back 
 as wide as your hand." 
 
 Whaley ventured a ghastly grin and continued 
 on his way without reply to this merciless taunt 
 and evidence that Gregg hated his coward soul. 
 He wondered what it was about the Scotch blood 
 that made it so unfeeling and why he had come 
 to hate it since the war. 
 
 He passed a long series of concrete powder 
 houses, the box factory and charcoal ovens, all 
 clinging to one side of the street-like bottom of 
 the 'hole' until he reached the upper end where 
 it narrowed to almost nothing. He then began 
 to mount a series of switch-back stairs used by 
 employees. This took him over two hundred 
 feet above, directly to the entrance of a one 
 story office building of the same dark granite. 
 This building was surrounded, as was the entire 
 canyon, by a tall spiked iron fence anchored to the 
 solid rock. The plan of the pioneer Malcom of 
 roofing over the canyon had been long since 
 abandoned for concrete constructions with in- 
 dividual roofs.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 21 
 
 Whaley, entering the office, passed into a big 
 room containing old-world counting-house desks 
 among book-keepers and clerks on high stools. 
 He went directly to the extreme rear corner 
 where Malcom IV's private office was partitioned 
 off. 
 
 Malcom looked up briskly as his messenger 
 entered. Whaley stood at respectful distance, 
 hat in hand. 
 
 "Dorn says he will have a car on our switch 
 before noon," he informed. "The local freight 
 will set it in. He has one in the station yard 
 that will do." 
 
 "Did he give you the name and number of the 
 car?" Malcom's sharp eyes looked out from 
 under a frame of gray hair above an angular 
 surface of rugged vitality. 
 
 "No." 
 
 "When is the local due?" 
 
 "It is due now. I heard it whistle at the 
 lower end of Bald Eagle just now." 
 
 "Go back to the switch, stay there until they 
 set that car in, examine it carefully for flat wheels, 
 take a good snap shot of it, and bring me three 
 prints. Come back by way of the post office 
 and get the eastern mail."
 
 22 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Yes, sir, Mr. Malcom," replied Whaley, and 
 cringed back out of the great powder maker's 
 office. He unlocked a drawer in the end of an 
 unused desk, took from it a large sized Kodak 
 and began an exact backtrack of the course he 
 just had followed to the office. As usual when 
 he approached the high explosive houses his feet 
 became lead. 
 
 "This whole damn plant ought to be in hell," 
 he whined, as craven fear thumped a drink-un- 
 paired stomach. He arrived at the switch just 
 as the engine was leaving and he noticed that it 
 had set in five cars. Only one was in position 
 beside the loading platform and the narrow-gauge 
 from the mill. * 
 
 Whaley took an exposure of both sides of the 
 car and another which included all of them. He 
 then passed the ends of his cigarette-yellowed 
 fingers carefully around the surface to detect 
 flat wheels on the car. After taking a furtive 
 look about him, he lighted a cigarette, an act 
 positively forbidden, and made his way up the 
 track through the canyon to the station. 
 
 He craned his neck through the ticket window. 
 "Mr. Dorn hi?" he inquired blandly of Miss 
 Eraser.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 23 
 
 "No, not just now. Anything I can do?" 
 
 "I just came from the canyon switch and you 
 set in several cars. I suppose the one in loading 
 position is intended for us?" He wondered how 
 it was that Betty Fraser appeared to be more 
 attractive today than usual. 
 
 "They were short of room on the warehouse 
 track here," she replied after consulting a memo- 
 randum on Dorn's desk, "and took several 
 cars down there, but the B. R. & B. 7^533 is 
 yours." 
 
 "All right. I just wanted to make sure." 
 Leering he left for the post office. 
 
 Whaley was lazy: he had a downright aversion 
 to anything except bibulous activity. He started 
 for a traveling photographer's tent on a vacant 
 lot not far out of his way. The man had gener- 
 ously offered to develop his films for the sake of 
 a friendship formed recently at the bar in the 
 Barrel House. 
 
 Malvoney, the black-mustached, middle-aged 
 photographer, who might be taken for an Italian, 
 a Frenchman or a Turk, rose as his visitor entered 
 the tent. 
 
 "I've got three shots here of some cars on the
 
 24 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 siding," began Whaley. "And if they're not 
 good Well, you know the Old Man." 
 
 "Most certainly, my friend, I can develop 
 them immediately," cut hi Malvoney. "Sit 
 down. It's a hot day, but you'll find it com- 
 fortable here." He offered the one camp chair 
 and fan he was using. The residents of Malcom 
 settlement had to rely on itinerant photographers 
 and this year they were fortunate in Mr. Mal- 
 voney's advent, for he had an especially complete 
 tent outfit and was manifestly a superior artist. 
 
 "No, can't stop. On my way to the post 
 office. If you don't mind I will stop on my way 
 back. If the negatives are good make four prints 
 from each one. That hole where I have to develop 
 is like a Turkish bath this time of year." 
 
 "Don't mention it. I was just wishing for 
 something to do. Go down to the post office 
 and I will have them ready by the time you get 
 back, if you don't hurry too much," he beamed. 
 
 "All right, Malvoney, much obliged. I won't 
 be gone long." Whaley lighted another cigarette 
 and started toward the post office. He stopped 
 several times to gossip and looked with almost 
 uncontrollable longing toward the Barrel House, 
 but fear of Malcom finally passed him on thirsty.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 25 
 
 At the post office a small package of mail carefully 
 tied was waiting for him. He retraced his steps, 
 again reluctantly passed the Barrel House and 
 did not pause until he reached the awning of a 
 hardware store. He sat down on a spool of 
 barbed wire which he carefully insulated from 
 his body by the package of mail. He proceeded 
 to visit with the gossiping proprietor, thus giving 
 his accommodating friend tune to develop his 
 films and make the prints. 
 
 When he reached the tent the photographer 
 greeted him with a smiling shake of his head. 
 "You are not improving in your camera work as 
 you should," he said. 
 
 "What's the matter now?" asked Whaley. 
 
 "Two of your pictures were good, but the other 
 was impossible." Malvoney produced the two 
 prints taken of the car at the loading position. 
 This was easily distinguished as both sides of a 
 new car, B. R. & B. 76533. 
 
 "Well, these will do. All the old man wants 
 is to see that the car is there, a new car, and to 
 make sure of the number. Foxy old guy ! These 
 pictures never lie." 
 
 "And you, my friend, who have become such 
 an adept at this kind of camera work, should not
 
 26 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 grow careless," purred Malvoney. "I have told 
 you often that you are an artist born. You have 
 the fingers as well as the instincts of the artist, 
 and if you would devote just a little time each 
 day to your natural cleverness, you soon would 
 make your mark." He spoke with full evidence 
 of sincerity. 
 
 "Don't fill me up with a lot of bunk. I am 
 dissatisfied enough now," replied Whaley. 
 
 "It isn't what you call bunk. I mean every 
 word. But we can talk it over up-town tonight. 
 I'll see you at the Barrel House?" 
 
 "You sure will. So long till tonight," and 
 Whaley started back to the office. 
 
 He made his report to Mr. Malcom and handed 
 him the photographs. Malcom at once called 
 Dorn by telephone and verified the number and 
 condition of the car. "And now, Mr. Dorn," 
 he concluded, "we have those cases ready in our 
 finished warehouse. I wish you would look 
 them over and count them there before we 
 begin loading tomorrow morning. It might save 
 delay." 
 
 "All right, Mr. Malcom. I can do even 
 better. I have late advice that Lieutenant 
 Pettingill is arriving early in the morning, ten
 
 AMERICAN PEP 27 
 
 hours in advance of the squad that will guard 
 the car in transit. I will bring him with me 
 tomorrow morning to see the cases where they 
 now stand, before they have been moved." 
 
 "Splendid, and then he will be sufficiently 
 impressed with the necessary caution. We will 
 leave it that way, Mr. Dorn. Goodbye." Mal- 
 com abruptly ended the conversation and returned 
 to his secretary. 
 
 "Whaley," he directed, "be sure and have 
 your camera outfit ready to get good pictures of 
 this car immediately it is loaded tomorrow after- 
 noon, for use on the bill of lading and copies, and 
 let there be no mistake." 
 
 During the remainder of the day the cunning 
 insinuations of Malvoney worked on Whaley 
 and it was with lively interest that he arrived 
 early in the evening at the Barrel House. 
 Glorious freedom from tile strict Scotch custom; 
 liquor without stint and the animal satisfied. 
 He found Malvoney waiting for him. They 
 selected a small table apart from the rest and 
 Whaley at once launched upon the problem 
 nearest his heart after an unduly liberal tipple 
 on Malvoney. 
 
 "Do you really think I could make a hit if I
 
 28 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 were to shake this dump and go out and hustle?" 
 he asked across the filthy board. 
 
 "I not only think so, but I know so, my boy. 
 All you need is a good start," assured the pho- 
 tographer. 
 
 "I know I never shall amount to anything here. 
 Sometimes I feel like taking the first train and 
 getting out of this damn place." Whaley's 
 enlarging pupils betrayed that he had taken 
 several drinks just to tune up before meeting 
 Malvoney. 
 
 "Whaley, what would you give if I could not 
 only fix it so that you could leave and take no 
 chances at all, but be kept up until you make 
 good?" Malvoney looked through the wide 
 open eyes clear into the craven soul of his com- 
 panion. 
 
 "I would give an arm, a leg, anything but my 
 life, if I could shake the place and get something 
 good outside." Whaley leaned forward with 
 inebriate frenzy. 
 
 "And I am fortunately in a position to help 
 you do it. I shall ask so little in return that 
 you will be surprised." 
 
 "I don't care what it is. I'll do it. Just 
 name the poison."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 29 
 
 "All right, Whaley, I will take you at your 
 word and I am going to trust you." He produced 
 an envelope from his pocket. "Here's ten ten- 
 dollar bills, and when you have helped me a 
 little, just a little, I will make it just ten times as 
 much."
 
 Chapter Three 
 
 WHEN DORN RETURNED TO THE 
 station after an early evening meal he 
 found Miss Eraser in a state of re- 
 pressed excitement. She rose when he entered 
 and spoke quickly. 
 
 "Mr. Dorn, several times since you've been 
 gone I have noticed something queer about the 
 wireless." 
 
 He showed instant concern and moved toward 
 the booth in the corner containing it. 
 
 "It may be nothing," she went on. "The 
 machine is new to me and I cannot tell, but I 
 think we should investigate. I have gained the 
 impression that other messages are being sent to 
 some nearby station." 
 
 "The nearest station of which I know is Pitts- 
 burg west," said Dorn, "Harrisburg east; none 
 south, or north either, until Rochester, Buffalo 
 or Ogdensburg." 
 
 "I don't believe it is as far away as any of
 
 AMERICAN PEP 31 
 
 those points; but I have heard them distinctly 
 and persistently, sometimes strong enough to 
 make a flash, all afternoon. At first I thought 
 atmospheric conditions were so good that we 
 were getting the signal calls from ships at sea. 
 They evidently are using the continental code 
 and you know you have not taught me that yet. 
 I wish they would begin calling now for you to 
 hear. As far as I could make out they have not 
 raised the desired station yet, and they may 
 begin again." 
 
 "Take the book home tonight," he suggested, 
 "and study the continental Morse code and we 
 will practice it every day. It is important that 
 you should know both." 
 
 Dorn gathered his long legs up under his change 
 drawer below the ticket window to make up his 
 cash for the day, but when the first stroke on the 
 wireless receiver sounded, he shut the cash drawer 
 with a snap and rose. 
 
 "There," she cried, "that is the very call that 
 has been on the receiver several times this after- 
 noon." She came to the door of the booth and 
 watched his face intently. 
 
 She saw Dora become immovable for some 
 minutes. Then cautiously he cut out the lightly
 
 32 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 charged wire ordinarily in use and carefully 
 switched in a hundred horse-power voltage that 
 set up a high resonance and gave the instruments 
 a radius of two thousand miles. 
 
 "They are "very close," he said, "and are calling 
 F. L. in international code." She stood tensely 
 alert. The discovery of another wireless station 
 up there at the top of the mountains in their 
 isolation was like finding an interloper, a huge 
 rattler in their path, a crirninal in their house. 
 
 For more than a quarter of an hour they re- 
 mained silent, both seeing and hearing the two 
 dots, dash and dot of the F, and the dot dash 
 and two dots of the L, reproduced with important 
 persistence. These two letters of the continental 
 code the girl would not soon forget. 
 
 "This fellow can't reach over two hundred 
 miles, so that he is reaching for an interior land 
 station," Dorn commented. 
 
 Soon after to their further intense excitement 
 an answer did come, faint but undoubtedly an 
 answer. "Who is calling? F. L. prove your- 
 self," the distant station slowly spelled out in 
 international code which Miss Fraser did not 
 know, but Dorn wrote plainly so she could see it 
 over his shoulder.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 33 
 
 "A friend, L. A.," came from the close-by 
 station. "And I give today's password." Lou- 
 vera was slowly spelled out. "Right; been 
 trying to get you." 
 
 "Heard you, was afraid until now," quickly 
 came from perhaps two hundred miles. \ 
 
 "Are you safe now?" asked the station Dorn 
 knew was very near. 
 
 "Yes, are you?" 
 
 "Perfectly, am trusted here," replied the near 
 station. 
 
 "Go ahead then, but in cipher, and hurry 
 through, as I might have to leave any time. I 
 draw so much power I weaken the lights on this 
 circuit," replied the distant station. 
 
 "All right, send this to New York by messenger 
 tonight if your relay is not safe," immediately 
 began Dorn's neighbor, and then followed a long 
 message in cipher which Dorn wrote on the white 
 paper in front of him. The message ended 
 suddenly without signature or any indication of 
 the sender's exact location, but the operator did 
 want it relayed or sent by messenger, New York, 
 as something of great importance. 
 
 "What do you make out of it?" she inquired 
 breathlessly, not realizing in her excitement that
 
 34 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 she was putting considerable weight on Dorn's 
 shoulder. 
 
 "It means," he hesitated in order to study the 
 words used in the code, "that there is another 
 wireless station right here, or within a few miles 
 of here, that has a dMerent password every day, 
 and," he narrowed the gray of his eyes as if to 
 pierce the mystery of the white paper he held, 
 "it means the enemy has established a wireless 
 station here, to report Malcom's powder and 
 dynamite deliveries and especially the new ex- 
 plosive and elsewhere, too." 
 
 "And what?" she asked, impatient at his 
 deliberation. 
 
 "And I don't know just what." He came 
 slowly out of the little booth and began to walk 
 the floor. " The audacity and boldness is start- 
 ling." 
 
 "Shouldn't we tell Mr. Malcom at once?" 
 she asked, her eyes firing. 
 
 "We should. But this message. perhaps 
 not until we are sure of its nature." 
 
 "Yes," agreed Miss Fraser, "it may not be 
 anything, but the station is illicit; that's a 
 Federal violation. How can we check this thing 
 up? Isn't there some way to discover who or
 
 AMERICAN PEP 35 
 
 what this is? How would it do to tell Washington 
 about it?" 
 
 "Not by wireless. How do we know," he 
 considered, "that one or more illicit stations 
 would not get us? The only way would be to 
 get the Washington telegraph wire." 
 
 "That wire is not open to us until after seven 
 at night." 
 
 "Was today the first you noticed of this strange 
 station?" he asked. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "I believe we should not be in too big a hurry. 
 They will grow bold with a little time," suggested 
 Dorn, seemingly relieved to be able to control 
 his inclination to undue haste. 
 
 "I believe you are right. Take time to think 
 about it. I'll be back soon," she promised as she 
 got her hat to go home to her evening meal. 
 This was her week to return at seven and stay 
 until Number 22, the passenger, went east at 
 ten-fifteen. 
 
 "I'll wait until you come back," he agreed but 
 greatly disturbed. 
 
 When she returned he noticed an increased 
 agitation in her manner. "Why is it," she began 
 abruptly, "that Mr. Malcom keeps about him
 
 36 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 such a man as that despicable Whaley? As I 
 passed the Barrel House he and that foreign 
 looking photographer were standing outside. 
 Both had been drinking and Whaley called out 
 to me." She shivered. 
 
 Dorn clenched his fist. " He'll do that once too 
 often," he said savagely. "I detest that whelp. 
 He's no kind of man to have round a place like 
 this. Mr. Malcom will wake up to that fact 
 sometime, and let's hope before it is too late. 
 Don't forget," he spoke more gently, "call me if 
 you want me." He hesitated near the door. 
 "But why is that photographer spending his 
 time with Whaley, I wonder? Guess I'll just drop 
 in at the Barrel House as I go by to my dinner; 
 but be careful it's best to think it over till 
 tomorrow."
 
 Chapter Four 
 
 THE NEXT MORNING DORN EN- 
 tered the station heavy-eyed and haggard, 
 yet tensely alert. Miss Eraser looked 
 up with a bright smile, simulating cheerfulness. 
 
 "You don't look as if you slept much last 
 night," she greeted. 
 
 "Neither do you." He returned her smile as 
 he unlocked the ticket cabinet. 
 
 "I didn't," she replied. "Has anything new 
 developed?" She set a tomato-can on the table, 
 by the bay-window, and proceeded to arrange 
 some wild flowers she had picked on the way. 
 
 "No. The first thing is to go over to Malcom's 
 Hole as soon as Lieutenant Pettingill shows up, 
 and inspect the goods." He moved to her side 
 as she bent over the flowers. "But somehow," 
 he continued, "I can't get over the promptings 
 of my sixth sense of evil omen. I felt the same 
 way the day I went through the bridge just below
 
 38 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 Bald Eagle Canyon." He looked from her face 
 to the flowers she was still arranging. "And 
 then, too," he added, "I wish you were out of 
 this hole. It's no place for a woman like you." 
 
 She flushed. "Nothing could make me leave 
 now," she said in a low tone. "Perhaps I can't 
 do much to help, yet it brings me into closer 
 realization of the barbaric realities of this war, 
 and I must do all I can." She looked at him 
 earnestly and watched the slight up-turn of the 
 corners of his strong mouth that indicated a 
 moment's return of his natural optimism. 
 
 "You are right," he agreed gently, "the only 
 way is to do the best we can without flinching, 
 and then let the devil do his worst." 
 
 Further conversation was prevented by a 
 heavy but lively tread in the waiting room, and 
 a strong good-natured voice at the ticket window. 
 
 "I am looking for Mr. Dorn." 
 
 "I am the man," replied Dorn moving forward. 
 
 "I am Lieutenant Pettingill, sent from Wash- 
 ington to guard a shipment to an Atlantic port." 
 The stranger offered his hand as he finished the 
 self-introduction. 
 
 "I have been expecting you, Lieutenant Pettin- 
 gill; come in." Dorn unlocked the door and the
 
 AMERICAN PEP 39 
 
 Lieutenant entered the ticket office. Power to 
 command men was stamped on his face. 
 
 "Lieutenant, the shipper has rather an un- 
 pleasant duty mapped out for us as a move 
 preliminary to loading this freight," said Dorn, 
 after introducing Miss Fraser and finding a chair 
 for the officer. 
 
 "What is that, Mr. Dorn?" came from the 
 clear-eyed, ideal fighting man. 
 
 "He thinks it advisable that both you and I 
 inspect the physical condition of the packages, 
 counting them while still in the factory, and he 
 also wants to acquaint you further with enough 
 of the nature of the stuff, so that unusual pre- 
 cautions can be used against accident." 
 
 "I want to do anything at all that will make 
 the safe delivery of this product more certain," 
 agreed the officer instantly. "If anything should 
 happen from any cause whatever, whether I am 
 to blame or not, it's hara-kiri for me. I wouldn't 
 have the courage to face my superior. For that 
 reason I was detailed nine picked men and a 
 Petty. Of course you know I am responsible 
 only when this car is incorporated in a train and 
 transit actually begun. However, I am glad to 
 go with you and learn more about this stuff."
 
 40 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "All right then, we'll go to the office first and 
 meet Mr. Malcom. Miss Fraser, I am uncertain 
 when I will return, but should you need me call 
 the powder works," he instructed as he and 
 Lieutenant Pettingill left. 
 
 "I am struck with the fascinating wildness 
 of this place," began the Lieutenant as Dorn led 
 the way on a short cut through the woods to the 
 powder mill office. "I notice, too, a foreign cast, 
 or at least a primitive appearance, of the people." 
 
 "Primitive," said Dorn, "but American for 
 over two hundred years. And patriots to the 
 last hair of their heads. A pro- German would 
 last as long here as a fly before a toad." 
 
 They emerged from the wood lot and came in 
 sight of the low stone office of the powder plant, 
 with its high spiked iron fence. 
 
 "This man Malcom," Dorn explained, "is 
 the last male descendant of the Malcoms. All 
 this section, underlaid with millions of dollars 
 worth of coal, still belongs to him as a part of a 
 royal grant, and this whole town is made up of 
 descendants of those Scotchmen who worked for 
 the original Malcom." 
 
 "I suppose he increases the size of his plant to 
 take care of the natural increase of the town's
 
 AMERICAN PEP 41 
 
 population, which must be several thousand," 
 ventured Lieutenant Pettingill. 
 
 "That's about it, and they are pretty good 
 breeders, but every soul here actually loves 
 Malcom, acknowledging him as a sort of ruler, 
 and each one takes a personal interest in the 
 works as though part owner." As Dorn talked 
 they entered the office. Whaley went to announce 
 them. 
 
 "This fellow here," said Dorn as they stood 
 waiting, "is the only exception to the rule. Take 
 a good look at him when he returns. To me he 
 appears like a sheep-killing dog." 
 
 "Don't you compliment him. I happen to 
 know what a sheep-killing dog is," replied the 
 Lieutenant. He evidently had taken Whaley's 
 measure instantly, who now approached and led 
 them to Mr. Malcom's office. 
 
 Malcom rose with outstretched hand. "Lieu- 
 tenant Pettingill," he greeted, "if all our navy 
 personnel is as well conditioned as you, my con- 
 fidence increases." He turned to Dorn with the 
 same sincerity. "And Friend Dorn, how do you 
 prosper this morning?" 
 
 "Following your yesterday's suggestions," 
 began Dorn at once, "I have brought Lieutenant
 
 42 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 Pettingill over to inspect and count with me that 
 load of cases before it leaves your warehouse." 
 
 "I still think it a wise precaution, and am very 
 glad you both came. I will send some one with 
 you, but before you go I want to explain the 
 nature of this product which has not yet revealed 
 itself completely even to us. It is a mighty force 
 which appears to resist analysis. Please step 
 out this way to the laboratory." 
 
 Malcom led the way to a small structure com- 
 pletely detached by two hundred feet, built like 
 a fortress of granite boulders on the solid rock of 
 the mountain top. He invited them through a 
 door that would resist common shot into a single 
 room perhaps twenty by forty feet whose small 
 windows had prismatic glass, preventing an in- 
 ward view. The room was fitted with every 
 possible device for working out problems in 
 chemistry. 
 
 "Now, gentlemen," began Malcom, as they 
 stood near a small table in the center of the 
 natural granite floor, "I will make short cuts, 
 for time is limited. This explosive we are shipping 
 has from twelve to twenty times greater striking 
 power than any other yet compounded in com- 
 mercial quantities. We do not claim this is a new
 
 AMERICAN PEP 43 
 
 invention. Its discovery was made a long time 
 ago by an English chemist, who after many 
 efforts made only one laboratory sample. This 
 feat he never was able to repeat, and was finally 
 killed hi the attempt. 
 
 "Urged by the necessities of this great war, 
 my chemist with three assistants, to whom all 
 the credit is due for its completion, worked on 
 what records were left by the discoverer until 
 he was able to produce in commercial quantities." 
 
 "You are generous to give your chemists 
 credit," Lieutenant Pettingill interrupted. 
 
 "There is plenty of honor left for all of us, 
 you included," replied he, beaming on both men. 
 "Unless it is safely transported it is the same as 
 though not made. Its use is the pivot upon 
 which the war will turn in our favor. However, 
 that is only my opinion. I want to demonstrate 
 to you the difficulties my men had in combining 
 the constituent parts to make this deadly ex- 
 plosive. This knowledge will aid you in the 
 handling of it." 
 
 He stepped to a shelf at the side, hesitated a 
 moment before selecting two half-gallon con- 
 tainers, which he brought to a table in the center 
 and then went to the far end for something else.
 
 44 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "He seems to know what he's about," said the 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 "I sincerely hope he does," shuddered Dorn. 
 "This is a place where chemists have worked on 
 explosives for two hundred years. It's too much 
 like a tomb to suit with those great boulders in 
 the walls and those little windows." 
 
 Malcom returned to them with two shallow 
 porcelain pans and placed them on the little 
 table, one in front of each of the glass containers, 
 and still silent and solely attentive to his own 
 movements he put a single drop in the dish 
 opposite each glass, then returned the containers 
 to the shelf. 
 
 "Now," he said, "to show what enemies the 
 two fluids are under ordinary conditions I will 
 touch the point of this rod to one and then to 
 the other." Motioning them away a little he 
 picked up a solid glass rod drawn to a needle's 
 point and hardly pierced the drop of one fluid. 
 Then hesitating a moment he placed the point in 
 contact with the other drop of liquid. There 
 was an instant flash that seemed to fill the room. 
 Dorn and Pettingill instinctively covered their 
 eyes and turned toward the door. 
 
 "A minute quantity unresisted is quite harmless,
 
 AMERICAN PEP 45 
 
 but you get an idea what might happen if even 
 the two whole drops were put together," smiled 
 Malcom as he replaced the glass rod in the drawer 
 from which he had taken it. 
 
 "And that flash came from just what was on the 
 point of that rod?" asked Pettingill, incredulous. 
 
 "Just so," assured Malcom solemnly. 
 
 "And others have made these two parts, but 
 were unable to combine and stabilize them?" 
 asked Dorn in excitement. 
 
 "Except one, and that was an accident from 
 which nothing could be deduced in the way of 
 practice, but was enough to prove its stupendous 
 importance as an explosive, and that is all with 
 which my man had to work. 
 
 "After long, dangerous and expensive experi- 
 ments he was able to unite those two elements 
 under certain favorable vibrationless conditions 
 only down in the bottom of the canyon where my 
 factory is protected by the natural granite walls. 
 And regarding its quick and safe arrival our 
 government as well as our allies are deeply 
 concerned." 
 
 "Then you were able to succeed, where the 
 others failed?" asked Lieutenant Pettingill. 
 
 "Yes, and our discovery was almost accidental,
 
 46 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 too. It is wholly a matter of vibration. You 
 might naturally think this laboratory, with its 
 solid stone walls three or four feet thick and its 
 granite floor would have no vibration, but it is ex- 
 posed to the open air which is a perfect medium 
 of conveying oscillations. Of this even wireless 
 telegraphy gives us only a hint. Then we blasted 
 a room out of the solid granite at the bottom of 
 the canyon. Here are only slight physical dis- 
 turbances. It was that room, deep in the solid 
 rock, my chemists asked for, to compound this 
 most powerful explosive. It took courage; they 
 faced death. Now it can be handled with com- 
 paratively little danger, but I warn you," Malcom 
 hesitated and raised his hand impressively, "that 
 while we know how to create one condition to 
 detonate it, there may be, and I think there are, 
 other ways to cause it to explode of which we 
 yet know nothing." 
 
 "And that is why you counsel great caution, 
 Mr. Malcom?" asked Dorn, realizing more com- 
 pletely what he had been dealing with every day 
 in smaller shipments. 
 
 "What would happen if some of the unknown 
 conditions were created or some mistake were 
 made in your factory?" asked the Lieutenant.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 47 
 
 "I never dare to speculate on that," said 
 Malcom gravely; "if I should attempt it, I'd 
 grow sick and dizzy. I believe that the whole 
 mountain top would go, with the town and 
 everything hi it. I assure you I consent to 
 make it only as a patriotic duty and that its 
 manufacture will be discontinued immediately 
 the war necessity is absent."
 
 Chapter Five 
 
 LIEUTENANT PETTINGILL AND 
 Dorn turned in quick appreciation toward 
 the grizzled manufacturer who thus had 
 delivered himself. Here was a man owning a 
 half county of coal lands, a good sized town with 
 the powder works and possessing, more than all, 
 the love and good-will of every man in it, doing 
 for peace with liberty for the world. 
 
 Silently by common consent they moved 
 toward the door of the fortress-like laboratory and 
 out into the sunlight. 
 
 "Will you come to the office a moment before 
 going to the plant?" asked Malcom. 
 
 "I am impressed with the fact," broke in the 
 Lieutenant, "that no soldier ought to complain 
 when he has to face bullets only part of the time 
 while you and the whole town are living in con- 
 stant danger and uncertainty." 
 
 "If there is merit in my work as you say," 
 said Malcom quietly, "I am glad. Yet I take no
 
 AMERICAN PEP 49 
 
 credit to myself. My people all know, and don't. 
 I believe there are millions of men who are doing 
 as much and who are looking for no reward." 
 His mind grasped business again placidly as they 
 reached his office. "Mr. Dorn, I am able to 
 know from a photograph that you have given 
 us a good car. Is this the one?" He produced 
 the print made by Malvoney for Whaley. "I 
 use the camera in such cases to make doubly 
 sure." * 
 
 "B. R. & B. 76533," Dorn read from the 
 photograph. "Yes, Mr. Malcom, that is the car 
 I intended for you." 
 
 "Very good. Now, Lieutenant Pettingill, in 
 bidding you goodbye I will express again my 
 earnest desire that you will be successful in your 
 mission." Malcom shook hands earnestly. "And, 
 Mi. Dorn," he added, "while I shall see you often, 
 for your sake I also wish a happy ending to an 
 enterprise we shall all follow with a fervent in- 
 terest until it is reported successful." Malcom 
 turned to his desk and the two men, in serious 
 thought, left him. 
 
 The officer looked about him curiously as 
 they left the building. " All the time I have been 
 here," he remarked, "I have been wondering
 
 50 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 where the big plant is. I have seen no signs 
 of it." 
 
 "You shall see in a moment," replied Dorn. 
 "There, you can get a pretty good view of it." 
 They halted where a long row of concrete build- 
 ings some several stories high could be seen. 
 These buildings clung to one side of the bottom 
 of the canyon for a thousand feet and resembled 
 a mud nest of swallows under the eaves two and 
 three hundred feet below them. The narrow- 
 gauge railroad on the other side looked like a 
 delicate decorative line. 
 
 "Great Heavens, man! Is that where it is? 
 It must be three hundred feet to the bottom!" 
 exclaimed the lieutenant as he stood in wonder. 
 "Now I can better understand what Mr. Malcom 
 meant when he said that the explosive was com- 
 pounded down in the granite, and I am sure if 
 there is a place on earth where there would be a 
 minimum of vibration it is down there." 
 
 "To me," said Dorn, "this deep slit hi these 
 solid rocks on the top of the mountain was created 
 expressly so that this factory might be worked in 
 the bottom of it." Dorn led the way to the 
 substantial stairs which extended to the bottom 
 of the cave-like place. "And before you get out
 
 AMERICAN PEP 51 
 
 of it you will see other things that will make you 
 wonder." 
 
 "Not to have an elevator is primitive," Pet- 
 tingill remarked. 
 
 "Yes, but in avoiding such up-to-date detail 
 Malcom is able to accomplish the profound," 
 smiled Dorn. 
 
 When they reached the bottom they walked 
 quickly past the charcoal ovens that nestled 
 like immense conical bee hives, each giving off 
 from its centre a rare incense of hickory wood 
 being converted to carbon. They passed the 
 many powder house buildings to enter the high 
 explosive plant where they were met by the 
 neat-coated foreman, Griggs. He gave a hand to 
 assist Pettingill up to the waist-high loading plat- 
 form, level with the car door and the storehouse. 
 
 "You want to see the freight we are going to 
 load this morning?" The foreman, who spoke 
 in a low pleasant tone, appeared chastened by 
 constant contact with the deadly material. 
 
 "Yes, Mr. Griggs. And shake hands with 
 Lieutenant Pettingill who will have personal 
 charge of this shipment while in transit," replied 
 Dorn while his long legs negotiated the platform 
 without effort.
 
 52 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Mr. Malcom sent word you were on your way 
 and I have been waiting for you to see the load 
 before I began to move it down to the canyon 
 switch into the car." Griggs led the way back 
 into the concrete warehouse to a stock of small 
 cases arranged on the floor in the exact manner 
 they would occupy a fifty-foot car. 
 
 "You seem to be pretty careful about packing 
 them," said the Lieutenant. 
 
 "Yes, the case is made of inch hardwood 
 material, carefully nailed and bound with strap 
 iron at each end." The foreman went to the 
 corner of the pile and pushed the top case out for 
 better inspection. 
 
 "Each one weighs about fifty pounds, I should 
 judge," said the Lieutenant. He raised the corner 
 of the little case. It would have been easy to 
 carry under the arm were it not for its lead-like 
 weight. The Malcom trade mark, a stag's head, 
 was burned in each end, with two letters, S. H., 
 below it. 
 
 "Yes, fifty pounds net," replied Griggs, "the 
 specific gravity of the product is so great that the 
 package is small. You can easily count them. 
 They are tiered seven high, and forty long and 
 seven wide, one thousand nine hundred and
 
 AMERICAN PEP 53 
 
 sixty in all. And, Mr. Dorn, from measuring the 
 car you have sent in, we calculate that this is 
 exactly the way they will be arranged, with a 
 little padding of the car sides. You can check 
 them up easily after they are loaded by this 
 arrangement." 
 
 "That makes it simple enough," approved 
 Dorn as he verified the amount by tiers. 
 
 At that moment as if propelled by a phantom, 
 a perfectly noiseless flat car about twenty feet 
 long appeared at the wide door of the warehouse 
 on the narrow-gauge track. Its motive power 
 was soon discovered when a half dozen lusty 
 workmen raised themselves to the platform and 
 approached the pile to begin loading. 
 
 "All right, boys, go ahead," said Griggs. 
 Each man took up a single case and started with 
 it to the rubber-wheeled flat car outside with a 
 sureness of foot and certainty of grasp and general 
 care that evidently had become a habit. 
 
 "These boys handle it carefully enough," 
 approved Lieutenant Pettingill as they moved 
 toward the door. 
 
 "Yes, they do," replied the foreman. "Each 
 man here knows full well what would happen if 
 they make a mistake."
 
 54 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Have you ever had accidents?" asked Dorn. 
 They now were outside on the platform watching 
 the pile of cases grow on the flat car. 
 
 "We don't talk of our inside work, Mr. Dorn," 
 replied Griggs respectfully, "we have our troubles. 
 I am willing to tell you that. For reasons we 
 know nothing about at tunes we are unable to 
 mix any of this stock for several days." 
 
 "You refer to natural causes?" asked Lieu- 
 tenant Pettingill. 
 
 "Yes, at such times the whole earth seems out 
 of tune. The regular rhythm of vibrations are 
 disturbed and to attempt then to combine the 
 ingredients of S. H. is death. And at no time can 
 we do anything when there is a train moving 
 through Bald Eagle Canyon. That it should 
 vibrate this whole granite mountain seems im- 
 possible, but we know that it does. We know we 
 have a sentry all the time at each entrance who 
 telephones the approach of a train going either 
 way, and we have to suspend operations until the 
 train has gone. And thanks to the way you have 
 your schedules arranged, Mr. Dorn, we have to 
 do most of this work at night." Griggs seemed 
 fascinated into freer speech by the stocky 
 officer in uniform and the tall, thin man with
 
 AMERICAN PEP 55 
 
 the eagle's beak and close cropped ears who 
 leaned toward him absorbing each word as he 
 uttered it. 
 
 "Why do you mark each case with S. H. 
 under the stag's head?" asked Dorn. The rub- 
 ber wheeled car before them had reached its 
 complement of load and began its progress 
 slowly, propelled by man power toward the 
 mouth of the 'hole' where it joined Bald Eagle 
 Canyon, Malcom River and the main line of the 
 railroad, and the switch where they loaded every- 
 thing for shipment. 
 
 "That means something to Mr. Malcom," 
 replied Griggs. "The boys here call it 'Sky 
 High.' And not a bad name, either, when you 
 know how wicked it is." 
 
 "You are far from comforting," smiled Pet- 
 tiiigill wryly, "when I am compelled to make 
 this lot of stuff my bed-fellow for about five 
 hundred miles. But let us hope for the best, 
 Mr. Griggs." Pettingill shook hands with the 
 foreman as he and Dorn started down toward 
 the switch. "Anyway, I have the comfort 
 of knowing I won't be simply wounded, which 
 after all is my only fear." 
 
 They approached the mouth of the 'hole'
 
 56 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 where the little flat car stood beside a small 
 concrete platform opposite the freight car. 
 
 "This 'hole' seems to get deeper as we go 
 farther down," remarked the Lieutenant. 
 
 "Yes, this is where it joins what is called Bald 
 Eagle Canyon and our main line. You see now 
 it is near mid-day and yet the sun hardly gets 
 into this hole. It resembles a well with its two 
 sides knocked out." 
 
 "Don't this whole thing get on your nerves, 
 Mr. Dorn? For my part, I'd rather face the 
 Bodies' cannon." Pettingill stopped as he heard 
 the gentle roar of the swift moving waters of the 
 little river in the canyon, where an ordinary 
 sound echoed with increasing volume. 
 
 "Yes, lately it has been getting me hard," 
 admitted Dorn. "But I should hate myself as 
 a coward if I quit." Then suddenly he changed 
 the subject. "Your Marines will be up on the 
 four-thirty tram this afternoon, Lieutenant?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "They will just about have the car loaded by 
 that time." 
 
 "As soon as they come I will detail a guard 
 for it, though you know it is fully understood
 
 AMERICAN PEP 57 
 
 I am not responsible officially until it is made 
 part of the train and actually under way." 
 
 They started up the canyon toward the station 
 with a feeling of relief that they were coming out 
 of the 'hole' once more without accident.
 
 Chapter Six 
 
 SOON AFTER DORN RETURNED 
 from his tour of inspection Mr. Malcom 
 telephoned that the car would be loaded 
 and ready for his seal about three. 
 
 "All right," Dorn answered briskly. "Lieu- 
 tenant Pettingill will be here by that time and 
 we will come down to the switch at once." 
 
 "That's good. Griggs will stay there until 
 you verify contents and conditions and give him 
 the bill of lading. Whaley will come also to 
 get photographs to attach to the bill of lading 
 and copies, as soon as you have sealed and for- 
 mally bound the railroad company for its safety." 
 
 "I shall use extreme care, Mr. Malcom. Lieu- 
 tenant PettingilTs squad of marines will arrive 
 on Number 22, the 4.30 passenger, and he will 
 send them to guard the car from the time they 
 arrive until it actually begins to roll." 
 
 "Tell the Lieutenant that I have provided a
 
 AMERICAN PEP 59 
 
 'feed' which will be brought to the men in the 
 canyon during their watch. I am going to give 
 them a Highland Scot style barbecued pig. 
 It is roasting now." 
 
 "They'll be tickled for that, Mr. Malcom," 
 Dorn replied laughing as he hung up the receiver. 
 
 Several times Dorn had been on the point of 
 expressing his suspicions to Malcom, but he 
 felt that to mention fears which might prove 
 groundless would add further to the man's al- 
 ready heavy worries. But he determined to 
 keep awake to the possibilities of the menace and 
 to ask for Mr. Malcom's assistance the moment 
 anything definite developed. 
 
 Lieutenant Pettingill came to the ticket office 
 on time and Dorn conveyed to him Malcom's 
 message. 
 
 "Shall we have time to go down and attend 
 to the bill of lading before the train with my 
 men arrives?" The Lieutenant consulted his 
 watch. 
 
 "Yes, I think so. It won't take long and we 
 have over an hour." Dorn then turned to Miss 
 Fraser. "If by any chance we do not get back 
 before the train gets in, the detail of marines 
 will wait here for Lieutenant Pettingill."
 
 60 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "I understand," Miss Fraser replied, with that 
 troubled softness that came to her tone every 
 time he went into the canyon. 
 
 They walked to the platform and turned west 
 toward the guard house at the mouth of the 
 canyon. The officer halted and faced about, 
 evidently attracted by the peculiar topography 
 where the canyon entered into the little valley, 
 the edge of the site for Malcom town. 
 
 "This is a most peculiar situation," he com- 
 mented. "The railroad and stream start down 
 here as if they were going straight to hell on a 
 solid granite bed, but this little valley and the 
 slope beyond make an ideal site for the town." 
 
 "Yes, being at the top of the mountain it is 
 very healthy. People never die up here. They 
 just dry up and quit. But do you see that cliff 
 off to the left there across the river from the 
 station? I found a way to use it. From its 
 top it is a sheer descent of nearly eight hundred 
 feet. When I first came up here, more to kill 
 time than anything else, I installed a private 
 wireless station. My sending and receiving wires 
 you can see coming down from its apex. It is 
 one hundred feet higher than any government 
 station and I am able to reach a long way with
 
 AMERICAN PEP 61 
 
 very little power. I felt that I thus was in 
 touch with the great outside world." 
 
 "Fine! And jtou still have it?" Pettingill 
 turned toward the guard whom Dorn approached 
 and gave the password. The man volunteered 
 that he had received telephone instructions to 
 pass the officer. 
 
 "Yes," resumed Dorn, as they started into the 
 canyon on the main track. "And when Malcom 
 heard of it, instead of making me tear it out, as 
 he could have done, he told me to make heavier 
 wire connections and draw on him for all the 
 power I wanted. I did that and when the new 
 law went into effect putting private wireless out 
 of business he helped me get an official O. K. 
 on this one as a military necessity. He uses it. 
 now secretly in all his important transactions 
 with the government and elsewhere." 
 
 They now rounded a little curve in the canyon 
 and found Griggs and Whaley waiting for them. 
 
 "Are you ready?" greeted Dorn. 
 
 "All ready," replied Griggs, vaulting to the 
 little concrete platform, on a level with the car 
 floor. "You see the cases are arranged as I 
 said exactly as I had them on the floor of the 
 warehouse, seven tiers, forty long and seven high."
 
 62 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 Captain Pettingill and Dorn joined the foreman 
 at the car door, leaving Whaley on the ground 
 to find a good angle from which to get his pictures. 
 "That seems quite right," replied Dorn, after 
 he had climbed in and carefully counted the cases. 
 
 "What is that material you have used between 
 the layers?" asked Lieutenant Pettingill. 
 
 "That is wool felt," replied Griggs, "the most 
 resilient packing we can find. It is a quarter 
 of an inch thick. I put four thicknesses on the 
 floor of the car and a single thickness between each 
 layer, and this three inch space at the sides and 
 ends is completely filled with it to protect the 
 cases from being jarred. The felt I have used 
 to pack this car with is worth almost as much 
 as a carload of ordinary powder." 
 
 "It ought to carry that way, Griggs. You 
 couldn't do much more unless we put in a baby 
 carriage," laughed Dorn. He shut the door 
 after Griggs had adjusted an immense pad of 
 felt to fill in the space between the cases and the 
 door. 
 
 "Mr. Dorn, how difficult would it be for any 
 one to duplicate that seal you are putting on?" 
 asked Lieutenant Pettingill. He watched Dorn 
 as he shut and locked the door, introduced the
 
 AMERICAN PEP 63 
 
 steel pin in metal hasp, introduced steel strip and 
 squeezed the leaden seal, thus fastening the ends 
 together and leaving the station's number plainly 
 stamped. 
 
 "It would be quite a bit of trouble," answered 
 Dorn. "But the main protection, and the men- 
 ace to any one contemplating such an act, is the 
 severe punishment entailed. Railroads consider 
 their seals as sacred and mercilessly prosecute 
 under special statutes provided for the slightest 
 infraction." Dorn dropped off the platform and 
 started toward the door on the opposite end. 
 Griggs and Lieutenant Pettingill followed. The 
 same process of sealing was repeated there in their 
 presence. 
 
 "Now as this car has solid pressed steel ends 
 with no openings," explained Dorn, "the two 
 side doors I have just sealed are all for which 
 we have to look out. It's all sealed now, Whaley," 
 he called, "you can take your picture." 
 
 "Isn't that an unusual precaution?" asked 
 Pettingill as he stepped out of range of Whaley's 
 camera. 
 
 "It's Mr. Malcom's rule, and a good one, too, 
 in the case of his dangerous freight. It proves 
 beyond doubt that each door was properly
 
 64 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 sealed and that the car was in first class con- 
 dition when loaded, showing that both the con- 
 signee and the consignor have taken ample 
 precaution against accidents." 
 
 "Now, Whaley," asked Griggs, "have you a 
 double exposure, showing both sides and ends?" 
 
 "Yes, sir," promptly replied Whaley. 
 
 "All right, now get a double exposure at close 
 range, showing plainly the doors locked and the 
 seals properly placed." 
 
 "From their attitude toward this stuff I believe 
 Mr. Malcom's statement that it was a ticklish 
 and uncertain proposition rather conservative, 
 ventured the Lieutenant with a wry smile. 
 
 "Now, Mr. Dorn, is that all?" Griggs asked 
 as he and Whaley returned. "Are we through 
 now?" 
 
 "Yes, it's our risk now, Griggs," replied Dorn. 
 "The up- train due here in a half hour will bring 
 Lieutenant Pettingill's marines and he will post 
 a guard on the car until 7.30 picks it up tonight." 
 
 Dorn and Lieutenant Pettingill walked back up 
 the canyon mostly hi silence. Dorn halted on 
 the track and looked over at the water's edge 
 at a huge water snake near the bank, and by
 
 AMERICAN PEP 65 
 
 odd coincidence at that moment Whaley, too, 
 slunk along the canyon side. 
 
 Pettingill shuddered. "I know I am not afraid 
 of bullets," he declared. "But I am of a snake." 
 He stared at the threatening forked tongue 
 that came out frequently. 
 
 "I, too, fear snakes," said Dorn, but his eyes 
 were not on the reptile, but on the man who 
 slunk past them. He stooped to select a 
 stone from the road bed and with unerring skill 
 hurled the stone and crushed the snake's head. 
 "I wish I could rid the country of all its enemies 
 as easily." 
 
 "Whom do you consider our worst enemies?" 
 asked the Lieutenant thoughtfully. 
 
 "Our worst enemies are not under arms, 
 but the cursed hordes we have among us, the 
 spies and the cowards. They are the snakes." 
 
 "Whaley turned, and for a moment the eyes of 
 the two men met,
 
 Chapter Seven 
 
 BEFORE DORN AND PETTINGILL 
 reached the station they heard the long 
 shriek of locomotive number 22 as it ap- 
 proached the lower canyon's entrance. 
 
 The officer shuddered. "That sounds like the 
 triumphant siren gloating over a lost soul." 
 
 Dorn shivered and tried to laugh aside his own 
 morbid presentiment. He hurried the Lieuten- 
 ant toward the depot where he saw Miss Fraser 
 beckoning. The girl handed him a telegram 
 she just had taken, also a wireless message from 
 Washington. 
 
 Before Dorn finished reading the messages the 
 train thundered into the station and stopped. 
 
 The next moment Petty Officer Starke, followed 
 by nine marines, left the rear car and gathered on 
 the platform. The Lieutenant approached the 
 little group and received their grave salute. He 
 issued his orders in a few words and the men
 
 AMERICAN PEP 67 
 
 on the instant formed a line and swung down the 
 track toward the car they were to guard. 
 
 Dorn found that the messages just received 
 were for Pettingill and handed them to the 
 Lieutenant with his explanation. "The super- 
 intendent says he will supply you with a car to 
 be attached to express freight seventeen. It 
 will arrive at 7.30 tonight which picks up this 
 load you will guard. He will give you a short 
 passenger car with bunks, a kitchen and a 
 station outfit used by civil engineers. 
 
 "And the wireless from Washington," Dorn 
 went on, "orders that every member of the tram, 
 crew shall be sworn into service. That is, the 
 engineer, fireman, conductor and the three brake- 
 men must be called in here to take tne same 
 oath that soldiers utter when they enter the serv- 
 ice. Both Miss Eraser and I were sworn into 
 military service before we were allowed to send 
 wireless messages to Washington." 
 
 "It's a fine idea," agreed the Lieutenant, "but 
 do you suppose they '11 object?" 
 
 "If they do it's pretty good evidence their 
 hearts are wrong. There's nothing we can do 
 now until the train comes in at 7.30." 
 
 "That being the case," said Pettingill, "IT!
 
 68 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 go back to the hotel and will show up before the 
 train is due. If you should need me, telephone. 
 Officer Starke will look after things down here." 
 As he left the station both Dorn and Miss 
 Fraser turned quickly to the wireless instrument. 
 
 "It's that same call," she cried, "and he's 
 been at it as persistently as yesterday. Although 
 I was working with Washington just after you 
 left for the canyon he seems entirely without 
 knowledge, or else is careless of our existence." 
 
 "He evidently is operating on stolen current," 
 said Dorn. "I have made arrangements with 
 our power plant to cut out certain wards during 
 the day, so we can get a line on the district this 
 fellow is calling from if he is right here. Did you 
 notice the new telephone I connected last night?" 
 
 "Yes. What is it?" \ 
 
 "To avoid any possible espionage I have a 
 private wire connecting directly with Parsons, 
 at the power plant." As Dorn spoke he made 
 connection and the next moment had his man. 
 "Mr. Parsons," he began, "our friend is calling 
 on the wireless now. You say you have four 
 feed wires lighting the town?" 
 
 "Yes, numbered one to four, one for each 
 ward. There are only four wards."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 69 
 
 " Can you cut out Ward one?" 
 
 "Yes, it's out now." 
 
 But the signals on the wire continued to spell 
 F. L. 
 
 The second and third wards were tried with no 
 better result. 
 
 "Now we will try the fourth, and if that don't 
 kill him he is not here or has his own power and 
 we are up a tree to locate him." Dorn and Miss 
 Fraser suppressed their excitement and watched 
 with bodies held rigid. 
 
 "The fourth ward now, Mr. Parsons," directed 
 Dorn. * 
 
 "We've got him!" cried the girl and Dorn 
 together, for the signals stopped instantly. 
 
 "All right, Mr. Parsons, restore the current 
 to Ward four." 
 
 Immediately the signals were resumed. 
 
 "Now cut it out again." And once more the 
 wireless calls died. 
 
 "That will be all, Mr. Parsons," directed 
 Dorn. "I'll come over and tell you about it 
 later." 
 
 ."Where is Ward four?" Miss Fraser ques- 
 tioned. 
 
 "It is this thinly settled section about the
 
 70 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 station and the mill. But we won't bother the 
 gentleman until we have learned more of him. 
 Only remember hereafter to have the fourth 
 ward cut out before sending or answering any 
 wireless call. I feel wonderfully relieved now and 
 will investigate Ward four just as soon as we get 
 this car safely on its way." He rose and com- 
 menced to pace the office. 
 
 "The fellow, whoever he is, certainly has 
 assurance to come into town right under our 
 noses," stormed Miss Fraser indignantly. "He 
 must be within a stone's throw of the mill. Why !" 
 she exclaimed, "I believe it is " She hesi- 
 tated as if reluctant to put her thought into 
 actual words. 
 
 "Never mind now," Dorn advised. "We'll 
 give the skunk to the hounds, but the stage for 
 the death scene isn't set yet. Just wait. I 
 should talk with Mr. Malcom now, but I don't 
 dare leave this machine without getting that 
 fellow's message when his station answers. I 
 wish you knew the other code." 
 
 "I do know it," she replied quickly. "I took 
 the code home last night and worked on it until 
 nearly morning. I can manage it while you are 
 gone, I know."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 71 
 
 "That's bully fine!" he praised and for a 
 moment rested his hand in sincere appreciation 
 upon her arm. She flushed her pleasure at his 
 approval and turned to the instrument. 
 
 He left at once fully confident that she would 
 be able to take his place.
 
 Chapter Right 
 
 AT SEVEN-TWENTY NUMBER 17 
 approached the lower end of Bald Eagle 
 Canyon and warned the guard officially 
 of her approach. When about half way past the 
 powder mill switch in the canyon she stopped, 
 cut in about the center at the surveyor's car 
 intended for the soldiers, went in on the siding as 
 ordered and got car Number 76533, Buffalo, 
 Rochester and Beaver. Officer Starke moved 
 his squad aboard, posted two marines on top the 
 tram, one in front and one in the rear of it. 
 
 While this was being done the Engineer Walsh 
 was disturbed by the thought that his big Mogul 
 would not be able to start his immense load up 
 the canyon grade. But by the tune they were 
 coupled she was hissing from her safety valve an 
 injunction magnified a thousand times by the 
 canyon walls. When he gave her the vapor she 
 let out a shout that pierced the deadly stillness 
 of the canyon and reached the heavens. Its
 
 AMERICAN PEP 73 
 
 shout echoed and re-echoed, as she labored with 
 resonant protests and emerged as a blazing, 
 furiously enraged dragon from its lair, barely 
 able to haul its long, snake-like body from its 
 rock retreat. 
 
 Miss Fiaser nodded to Dorn who was talking 
 to Lieutenant Pettingill. He went to the plat- 
 form and as the steel leviathan slowly passed him 
 he handed Engineer Walsh a note, asking him 
 and his fireman to come to the station as soon as 
 he stopped. 
 
 "Come in, Larz," he called when Larson, the 
 conductor, appeared at the window for train 
 orders. "Larz, this is Lieutenant Pettingill," 
 Dorn continued, introducing the two men. "His 
 Government orders supersede train orders over 
 the entire division so far as your train is concerned. 
 If at any tune they conflict ask the division super- 
 intendent for instructions. He wants the car 
 of explosives he is guarding on the end of the 
 train between your way car and the Surveyor's 
 car for his men." 
 
 "But," protested Larson, "we always carry 
 that stuff in the middle of the train. I can't 
 place it next to the caboose. What's the use 
 shifting? It's in the middle of the train now."
 
 74 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 The conductor evidently resented the Lieutenant's 
 superiority. 
 
 "That's his orders, Larz, old boy, military 
 orders, and have got to be obeyed." 
 
 Larson did not respond to Dorn's good-natured 
 slap on his broad shoulder. Miss Fraser watched 
 the men anxiously. To her Larson was a for- 
 eigner and his name indicated a Swede. Though 
 she had seen him nearly every day since she came 
 to the station she could not overcome a dislike 
 for his stolid face. She did not understand the 
 manifest attachment between this man and Dorn. 
 
 Engineer Pat Walsh's great bulk came through 
 the door followed by his fireman. 
 
 "What's up now, Dorney?" he called. 
 
 "Nothing very serious, Pat. This car you got 
 at the powder mill has a military guard, and as 
 a further precaution the whole tram crew must be 
 sworn into the service." 
 
 "Nothing wrong to that. Go ahead and 
 shoot!" grinned Walsh. He went to Lieutenant 
 Pettingill who stood back of Larson and shook 
 hands. 
 
 "It's only a military necessity, making every 
 man responsible. A protection really," explained 
 the Lieutenant.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 75 
 
 "Ail right, line up here and Lieutenant Pet- 
 tingill will administer the oath to every one at 
 once," said Dorn. He motioned the three brake- 
 men outside to come hi together with the big 
 engineer and the fireman. Larson made no move 
 to get up. 
 
 "Come on, Larz, you are delaying the game," 
 prodded Dorn good-naturedly. 
 
 But Larson sat glaring with a sullen resentment 
 from Dorn to Pettingill. 
 
 "You say I got to be sworn into the army?" 
 
 "Yes, and hurry up, Swede, we are losing time. 
 We ought to be rolling," broke in Walsh. 
 
 "And you say you want to put that load of 
 stuff back next to my way-car?" he asked, ignor- 
 ing Walsh. "I work for the railroad and not 
 for the government. I don't want to be a soldier." 
 
 "You don't understand, Larz," coaxed Dorn 
 resting his hand on his shoulder convincingly. 
 "It is only for this trip and is done to cover 
 one chance in a thousand that there might be 
 trouble." 
 
 Larson shook his head like a balky mule. 
 Miss Fraser, who was sitting at the operating 
 table rose and turned on the light, and then 
 resumed her seat, facing Larson.
 
 76 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "I'll go over the road and run my train as 
 I always do," the conductor growled, "but I 
 won't swear to be a soldier. I don't believe in 
 this war, 5 ' he finally blurted. 
 
 *"Larz, you aren't serious, are you? I am 
 under service oath, so is Miss Fraser." 
 
 "I meant it, and what's more I won't ride with 
 that car next to me. I know what the damned 
 stuff is. There is enough in that car to blow 
 everything to hell within twenty miles. It's 
 got to stay in the middle of the train where it is," 
 he ended desperately. 
 
 ^Larz, can it be possible," pleaded Dorn, "that 
 you are going back on the government at a time 
 like this?" He rested his hand more heavily 
 on his old comrade's shoulder. He bent low to 
 study his face. "I won't believe it. I have 
 thought of you as my life-long friend ever since 
 the time I went through WLLV Malcom's River 
 bridge and you swam into the water to drag me 
 out. Larz, a man who would do that must have 
 a heart big enough to serve the government that 
 is protecting you. Tell me it isn't so, and stand 
 up and be sworn with the rest of the boys." 
 
 Larson shook his head and looked down at the 
 floor.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 77 
 
 "Suppose there is some danger?" Dorn went 
 on. "I think there is, but are you better than 
 Lieutenant Pettingill and his men who are giving 
 up all their time to make this world a safer place 
 to live in? Are you better than the men who 
 work in the factory where this necessary evil is 
 made, or better than Miss Fraser who works 
 within reach of it all the time? Think, man, 
 think what you are doing! You are killing 
 yourself with the company and your friends." 
 
 "I may be killing myself with the company or 
 with any one else, but I'd rather live and let 
 them that want to, have this dead hero stuff," 
 Larson said between his teeth. Dorn's plea had 
 made no impression whatever. The conductor's 
 bullet shaped head seemed to shrink and settle 
 down in his bull-like neck. 
 
 "Dorn, you are wasting your time," cut in 
 Engineer Walsh disgustedly. "He has been a 
 complete damn fool lately. Only tonight before 
 we left I told him that if he didn't quit shooting 
 off his mouth about Germany he'd get a job 
 behind the barb-wire." 
 
 "Larz, think again," still pleaded Dorn with 
 a real tremor in his tone. He was unwilling to 
 give up easily a man who he believed had saved
 
 78 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 his life and with whom he had worked many 
 years. 
 
 "I don't care what you do," doggedly insisted 
 the Swede, "but I'll not swear to be a soldier." 
 
 "All right, Lieutenant Pettingill," said Dora, 
 "I've gone as far as I can with a man who won't 
 stand by his country. All other qualities sink 
 into insignificance. I am through. What do 
 you suggest?" 
 
 "First, I will administer the oath to the others 
 and then we will consider. For the time being 
 Larson will consider himself under arrest." Pet- 
 tingill proceeded to swear in the rest of the crew. 
 
 Dorn turned to the head brakeman. "While 
 we are waiting," he said, "shift B. R. & B. 76533 
 and the marines' car back to the tail-end, next 
 to the way car. Is that all right, Pop?" 
 
 "Sure!" agreed the big engineer, as they 
 started. 
 
 The entire crew seemed depressed by Larson's 
 attitude, not too sure that there was not something 
 sinister behind it. 
 
 Miss Fraser knew there was trouble ahead. 
 She remained sitting hi front of her instrument. 
 Dorn sat near her and bent his head in his hands, 
 suffering regret and disappointment. Lieutenant
 
 AMERICAN PEP 79 
 
 Pettingill saw only a big Swede who showed 
 hostility toward his country, but Dorn sensed 
 the loss of a man who had been his friend. 
 
 The girl glanced at the clock nervously. Its 
 hands were steadily measuring off the precious 
 time and no one broke the tensity of the stillness. 
 
 Dorn finally raised his face from his long, 
 powerful fingers, thrusting them through his 
 hair in a final effort to conquer himself. Then he 
 turned to Larson. 
 
 "Larz," he began, "are you going to disgrace 
 yourself by being a jackal for the country's 
 enemies? Are you going to be branded as a 
 pacifist, a conscientious objector, which is only 
 another name for a white-livered spineless stink- 
 ing skunk, willing to muddy the water in which 
 other men work, who ought to be put in the mines, 
 hi servitude, or to hear the crack of a rifle pointed 
 directly to that organ which pumps his tainted, 
 snakish blood? Pull yourself together, Larz. 
 Be at least a part of a man before it is too late." 
 As Dorn bent his long body to look into Larson's 
 face his peculiar nose and entire attitude re- 
 minded Miss Fraser of a motherly eagle pleading 
 with her recalcitrant young. 
 
 "I'm not going to die with my boots on, nor
 
 8o AMERICAN PEP 
 
 be blown to hell, either," Larson blurted. "I 
 can go back to the old country where they don't 
 want to fight. Yesterday, a train crew at the 
 other end of the division was in the way car, 
 and a car next them exploded. They found the 
 trucks of the car a mile away. The men went to 
 dust. You can do what you want with me, but 
 I won't ride next to that car." 
 
 "All right, Larz." Dorn rose definite, forceful 
 and disgusted. "The best I can say is that it 
 is miserable cowardice. I hope nothing worse. 
 Miss Fraser, please call up the division super- 
 intendent." 
 
 At that moment a Marine approached Lieu- 
 tenant Pettingill and saluted. 
 
 "Mr. Dorn," said the Lieutenant, "are you 
 through with this man?" he jerked his thumb 
 contemptuously toward the conductor. 
 
 "You have witnessed my attempt to save him. 
 He won't let me, or perhaps he is in too deep. 
 My duty now is plain enough." Dorn listened 
 as Miss Fraser called the superintendent's office. 
 
 "Dawson," called Lieutenant Pettingill to the 
 marine. "You are guarding this man. If he 
 attempts to escape, shoot him." He then turned 
 to Dorn. "Shall he stay here?"
 
 AMERICAN PEP 81 
 
 "Yes, until I hear from the superintendent." 
 Miss Eraser's hands paused and the operator at 
 the other end of the division opened the circuit. 
 Dorn motioned for her to give the message and 
 he heard her tell the superintendent that Larson 
 refused to put the car of explosives next to the 
 way car as ordered by Lieutenant Pettingill and 
 that he refused to take the soldier's oath. With- 
 out an instant's delay as though the information 
 had been anticipated, came the reply. 
 
 "Ask Washington for disposition of Larson and 
 wire what war office says. Will advise soon who 
 is to proceed in charge of the train." 
 
 Dorn repeated the message to Lieutenant 
 Pettingill. 
 
 "That is just what I was going to suggest. 
 If you " He stopped instantly at a sign from 
 Dorn, recalling that even to the trainmen the 
 wireless station was a secret. "Dawson," he 
 directed, "take your prisoner to the car where 
 you are quartered." 
 
 Larson was forced to the door with the pointed 
 steel not more than six inches from his back. 
 He did not have far to go. The car with its 
 erratic load was now directly in front of the 
 station. Miss Fraser and Dorn looked out upon
 
 82 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 the grim spectacle. The light from where they 
 sat focused on the scene. 
 
 Coupled to the menacing Number 76533 B. R. 
 & B. was a car with ten men who were laughing 
 and joking though they well knew the nature of 
 their charge and its full possibilities. Back of 
 them was the trainmen's way car with three 
 brave men who faced danger and death con- 
 tinually calm and good-natured. In contrast 
 was the cowering sullen prisoner who scowled his 
 rebellion and fear. 
 
 Miss Fraser looked up at Dora who stood by her 
 side and he smiled into her grave eyes. Sentries 
 on guard paced both sides of the car in front of 
 them with rifles at a suggestive angle. 
 
 Dorn stepped back to his desk and called the 
 powder-mill office and asked for the man in 
 charge of the power plant. 
 
 "I have to work with the coast," he said, "and 
 will pull on you pretty hard for a while. I am 
 suspicious of the fourth ward as I intimated 
 yesterday. Though it's quite dark now you can 
 cut it out while I am working?" 
 
 "That would leave the whole ward in the dark." 
 
 "Yes, but it may not be for long. I am afraid, 
 and it is imperative to work with Washington."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 83 
 
 "I can connect you with Mr. Malcom's resi- 
 dence. I'd rather you would get his consent." 
 
 "All right, do that as quick as you can." 
 
 In a moment more Mr. Malcom was called. 
 
 "Mr. Malcom," Dorn commenced, "I don't 
 like to disturb " 
 
 "I'm glad you called," interrupted the manu- 
 facturer. 
 
 "The train picked up the car in the canyon," 
 Dorn went on, "and has it here on the track now, 
 but is delayed because the conductor refused 
 to ride in the tram next to it, or to take oath. 
 He has been put under arrest. The superintend- 
 ent requested me to ask Washington for his 
 disposition but " 
 
 "That's bad. Do you think there may be 
 others involved?" 
 
 "I don't know. I hope not. But I would 
 like to play safe. One or two things have hap- 
 pened lately to make me uneasy, but I do not 
 think they have any connection with the conduc- 
 tor's attitude." 
 
 "I am sorry you didn't mention your suspicions, 
 Mr. Dorn. These are unusual times. What are 
 they?" 
 
 "I have reason to believe that there is an un-
 
 84 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 lawful wireless station near here using your cur- 
 rent. For that reason I have asked to have the 
 current cut off from the fourth ward." 
 
 "Why the fourth? They would be in the 
 dark." 
 
 "From my incomplete experiments I believe 
 the illicit wireless is in that ward and that he 
 does not know of our existence." 
 
 "Well, I think the people better be left without 
 lights than without a home. The train and 
 everything waits for that?" 
 
 "Yes. Unless we take a chance of revealing 
 ourselves to the stranger," replied Dorn. 
 
 "Go ahead, then. I will give orders immedi- 
 ately. Let me know the outcome of the matter." 
 
 "Just as soon as I can get this train away I 
 will call you, Mr. Malcom." 
 
 Miss Fraser, anticipating Dorn's wishes, went 
 into the wireless booth and threw in the switch 
 that gave the instrument access to almost the en- 
 tire world. First she listened a moment to see 
 if there was anything coming. As nothing was 
 evident she began to signal Washington. Dorn 
 dropped into a chair and commenced to write 
 the message. 
 
 The war office soon responded, received the
 
 AMERICAN PEP 85 
 
 message and asked her to hold the communica- 
 tion for answer. Their reply came in a few 
 minutes in the form of an order to Lieutenant 
 Pettingill. 
 
 "Deliver prisoner to marshal when you arrive 
 Harrisburg with names of witnesses." 
 
 "When do we get to Harrisburg?" asked Lieu- 
 tenant Pettingill. "Larson will have to ride in 
 that car for awhile, after all. And if there's a 
 plot he will be a victim, too." 
 
 "Harrisburg is on your route one hundred, 
 or one hundred and fifty miles from here," Dorn 
 replied. He then telephoned the power station 
 to restore the current to ward four. 
 
 Miss Fraser went immediately to the key and 
 called the superintendent to give him the orders 
 from Washington. 
 
 "Is seventeen ready?" he asked. 
 
 Dorn heard the question and nodded. He 
 wondered how he was going to supply a conductor 
 for the tram. As if in answer the superintendent's 
 order came. As the girl transcribed it she turned 
 to Dorn with a look of real apprehension. 
 
 "Jackson Dorn", she said aloud in reading the 
 message, "Take the place of conductor Larson 
 over this division, and then remain with car and
 
 86 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 guard until tidewater destination, in authority 
 over regular conductor." 
 
 "Well," she drew a sharp breath, "I wasn't 
 expecting that!" 
 
 But to Dorn the message came as a relief. It 
 meant action. As Betty saw his firm mouth set 
 and the light flame into his eyes, her own face 
 cleared and the color returned to her cheeks. 
 
 "After all," she said gently, "It's better 
 for you. It gives you a chance to do more for 
 the country. I almost envy you. I wish I 
 could go, too." 
 
 "So do I," said Dorn, but his eyes conveyed 
 a meaning which the girl's words had not ex- 
 pressed. 
 
 "And you'll see it through. I know you will," 
 she ended firmly. 
 
 "I'll try mighty hard," promised Dorn. "I 
 know you'll be watching."
 
 Chapter Nine 
 
 DORN HAD TIME TO GIVE MISS 
 Fraser only a few brief instructions 
 before he left with the train. After he 
 had gone she sat in the ticket office and watched 
 the red tail light of number Seventeen grow 
 smaller and smaller until it finally vanished 
 around a curve. Not until then did she realize 
 that the full burden and responsibility of two per- 
 sons were upon her, and though not frightened she 
 wondered if she would come through unscathed. 
 
 The first thing she did was to call Mr. Malcom 
 on his private telephone to comply with his 
 request to know results. 
 
 "That leaves you with double work until Mr. 
 Dorn returns?" he said solicitously. 
 
 "Yes, but he will be back in two or three days. 
 I think I can manage." 
 
 "I will send my man Whaley to you in the 
 morning. Use him for any kind of running about 
 you need."
 
 88 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Thank you, Mr. Malcom," she replied, al- 
 though she shuddered at the thought of Whaley 
 being near her. 
 
 "I suppose you know all of Dorn's suspicions 
 concerning an illicit radio station?" he asked. 
 
 "Yes, I called his attention to the first sus- 
 picious circumstances." 
 
 "Do you think you can protect yourself and 
 conceal our station?" 
 
 "I think so. I shall be very careful, Mr. 
 Malcom." 
 
 "Did Washington give you anything but bare 
 instructions?" 
 
 "Only a word direct to Lieutenant Pettingill 
 that a transport loaded for a port in France and 
 carrying a large number of soldiers was out in 
 the stream in Hampton Roads off Newport 
 News, waiting only for this freight before sail- 
 ing, and cautioned great care and every possible 
 dispatch." 
 
 "Thank you, Miss Fraser. Call me any time 
 for either help or advice while Mr. Dorn is away. 
 I will have all lines running to your station in- 
 spected tomorrow, to be sure our telephone 
 communications are not overheard, or your radio 
 connections interfered with. We also will try to
 
 AMERICAN PEP 89 
 
 discover where this stranger station is and what 
 he wants here." 
 
 Miss Fraser thanked the manufacturer and 
 turned from the telephone. She felt strangely 
 tired and locked up the station and went home. 
 
 The next morning Whaley was at the ticket 
 window as soon as she opened the office. 
 
 "I shall not need to bother you this morning, 
 Mr. Whaley," she said. "If I want you I will 
 telephone." 
 
 "Yes, certainly, just call me at the office any 
 time," replied Whaley quickly. "How long will 
 Mr. Dora be away?" "I don't know." She 
 unlocked the ticket cabinet and glanced at the 
 red nose that appeared more hectic than usual. 
 The hardening of her mouth informed Whaley 
 that further sociable overtures were useless. 
 
 "Well, any time you want me, just telephone," 
 he leered and left the station. 
 
 Later in the morning she saw Malvoney, 
 the photographer, approaching down the track. 
 She recalled with some misgivings the recent 
 intimacy she had noticed between Whaley and 
 the photographer. Malvoney entered the station 
 and asked for a telegraph blank. While he was 
 writing at the ticket window she took note of his
 
 90 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 dark, heavy face, his small eyes dulled by habitual 
 subterfuge and his long pointed nose above the 
 thick scarlet lips. 
 
 "I am anxious to have this message, an order 
 for supplies, rushed through," he began. ' 
 
 "Do you want to prepay?" she asked after 
 counting the words. 
 
 "I will prepay," he replied and produced the 
 sixty-five cents she named. She dropped the 
 silver in the drawer and turned to her instrument 
 table. 
 
 The man hesitated and for a few moments con- 
 tinued to consult a small note-book he held hi 
 his hand. 
 
 "Pretty tiresome work, isn't it?" he smiled 
 pleasantly. "Don't see you down in the village 
 much." " 
 
 Miss Fraser merely smiled and continued her 
 work at the table. 
 
 "Don't you ever have any photographs taken?" 
 Malvoney persisted. "I believe your name is 
 Miss Fraser. I have never been honored by you 
 yet. I do good work and as I send messages 
 occasionally I will be glad to favor you with 
 a special price." 
 
 "What are your prices?" she asked, yet without 
 interest.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 91 
 
 "If you come I will make the charge so small, 
 you will be surprised. In return you can favor 
 me by hurrying my telegrams." 
 
 A quick thought came to Miss Fraser and she 
 looked up with a more interested glance. "I 
 go near your tent on my way home and I may 
 drop in," she promised, wondering his order for 
 supplies were in cipher as she had just noticed. 
 
 She was secretly glad of this opportunity to 
 confirm suspicions that suddenly formed. 
 
 "I am there nearly all the tune and I shall look 
 for you. Can't you drop in today? It happens 
 I have little to do and I will give you special 
 attention." 
 
 "I'll see," she replied, then turned definitely 
 to her instruments. 
 
 Near noontime she received a code answer to 
 his purported order for supplies. When she 
 started for her noon meal she decided to deliver 
 the message herself. She felt the lure of adven- 
 ture. Her arrival at his tent excited another 
 exhibition of servility. 
 
 "I am twice delighted, Miss Fraser," he said 
 and skilfully opened the telegram. "Glad you 
 have honored me by bringing the message, and 
 glad to hear that my supplies are coming." He
 
 92 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 offered his chair and bent forward in exaggerated 
 supplication. 
 
 "I cannot stop, Mr. Malvoney," she protested, 
 but acknowledged his politeness by sitting on the 
 edge of the chair. 
 
 "Can't you spare me just a minute? I have 
 everything ready and I can get a negative or two 
 of you in just a moment. I know you will take 
 a beautiful picture. Won't you come in just 
 a moment now? Then when you return this way 
 after your luncheon I will show you the negative 
 and perhaps a proof." He moved suggestively 
 toward the canvas door into the space arranged 
 for his camera. 
 
 "I really shouldn't just now," she protested, 
 but followed him inside. In a moment more she 
 was sitting before Malvoney 's camera. 
 
 She was such a good subject he told her, and 
 after more hollow protestations of delight he 
 bowed her out of his tent. She went home with 
 a distinct feeling of uneasiness and dissatis- 
 faction and suspicion. Yet she retained such a 
 keen impression that the man practiced duplicity 
 that she decided to see it through. Therefore 
 she stopped on her way back as agreed to look 
 at the proofs.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 93 
 
 Her rap on the wooden door brought no re- 
 sponse. Evidently she had returned sooner than 
 he expected. She waited a moment, then caught 
 her breath and leaned forward against the door 
 to listen. Through the thin board and canvass 
 there came to her the distinct click of a wireless 
 instrument. As if transfixed she began to follow 
 the call and learned it was in code, but as if 
 burned with a branding iron in her memory came 
 the familiar letters H S, and then the mes- 
 sage stopped. 
 
 A louder rap on the door brought a quick scurry 
 from within and she heard the moving of some 
 heavy piece of furniture, evidently the shield for 
 the wireless cabinet. Malvoney's sleek face ap- 
 peared from the rear. He apologized profusely 
 for keeping her waiting and was noticeably 
 excited. 
 
 "I knew you would be in a hurry," he said, 
 "and as I had a good sun I printed from each of 
 the negatives. When you get into a mild light 
 examine them." He handed her a large envelope. 
 "Tomorrow you can tell me which one you like 
 best or I will be pleased to finish all of them, for 
 they are as I was sure they would be, magnif- 
 icent pictures. They couldn't be otherwise," he 
 flattered.
 
 94 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Very well, Mr. Malvoney," smiled the girl. 
 "I shall let you know as soon as I decide." She 
 sensed his hurry to have her go and she was as 
 eager to be gone. She hated herself for smiling. 
 She sped to the station and rushed to the wireless 
 cabinet. She threw hi the switch and the instru- 
 ment began its distinct story. She wrote, but 
 as before, the message was in cipher. 
 
 Although passengers pounded on the window 
 for tickets for an approaching train she stayed in 
 the cabinet, her breath coming quick and deep. 
 She felt as if she were in the presence of an im- 
 pending catastrophe, or within striking distance 
 of a venomous reptile. She secured in the cipher 
 reference to S H and also an evident reference 
 to Whaley. 
 
 She went about her duties for the next half 
 hour with weak knees and pounding heart. 
 Her nerves were at highest tension, for at any 
 moment either the wire or the wireless might 
 send out their halting dots and dashes and bring 
 to her some fearful information concerning tragedy 
 to Dorn and his train. 
 
 Vaguely she saw the passengers moving about 
 the station. She sold tickets and answered 
 questions with mechanical exactness. The mid-
 
 AMERICAN PEP 95 
 
 day passenger train arrived and departed and 
 the station was again deserted. When the last 
 person had gone she dropped into Dorn's chair 
 and rested her hot face on her hands. She 
 wanted him out there in the action. She was glad 
 he could serve, yet something within her seemed 
 choked and depressed. She wished him there. 
 
 But she was brought back to realities by the 
 first stroke of the wireless receiver as the station 
 east of her began calling for the ordnance depart- 
 ment of the government at Washington. She 
 waited for Washington to answer and receive 
 the message. 
 
 She steeled herself to bear bravely whatever 
 she might hear and went into the booth. She 
 shut the door as if to hide from prying eyes when 
 Washington replied "ready." Her pencil began 
 to trace the message. The light wood was as 
 heavy in her hand as a bar of steel, but it changed 
 in a moment to an instrument of inspiration as 
 the message ended. 
 
 "Harrisburg, Pa. 
 
 Ordnance Car B. R. & B. 76533 with guard 
 was incorporated in special freight and leaving 
 here without incident at 12.15. Prisoner Larson 
 
 delivered to marshal here. T , ^. 
 
 Jackson Dora.
 
 Chapter Ten 
 
 DORN REALIZED THAT IT WAS A 
 signal honor to be delegated to take 
 charge of a train in such circumstances. 
 Though unable to distinguish signals reliably 
 after his accident he could have the head brake- 
 man verify those that were important. Dorn 
 had run over the division for a long time and 
 knew every crosstie in it. 
 
 All through the night they were given the 
 right-of-way. The morning saw them rushing 
 down the western branch of the Susquehanna, 
 Stopping for nothing but coal and water. At 
 eleven-thirty they rolled into Harrisburg, where 
 they would get a relief crew that must be sworn 
 in as had the others. 
 
 Marines guarded Larson hi regular watches 
 during the night, but at Harrisburg a marshal 
 came aboard with an order to take him into 
 custody, removing him to a military prison.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 97 
 
 "What sentence will he be likely to get?" 
 Dorn asked of the marshal. 
 
 " If nothing more develops than appears on the 
 surface he will be interned for the period of the 
 war. Do you know anything of him?" 
 
 "Nothing more concerning his recent attitude. 
 I have known him as a faithful railroad man, for 
 a long time. He is single, with no dependents of 
 whom I know." 
 
 "Our advice this morning from Pittsburg is 
 that he is identified with an alliance, the principal 
 function of which is to make trouble, a gang of 
 foreigners by whom liberty never has been com- 
 prehended. They are all locked up this morning. 
 It's funny how many rats come out of a hole 
 when they get the water in, isn't it?" The 
 marshal went into the Marines' car and reappeared 
 with Larson. Dorn had never entered the car 
 used by the Marines, as he did not want to see 
 his old friend in disgrace. 
 
 "So you finished my run last night?" Larson 
 sneered. 
 
 "The superintendent ordered it," replied Dorn. 
 "I had no choice in the matter." 
 
 "And are you going clear through with this 
 car?"
 
 98 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Yes, I have to stay with it." 
 
 "The railroad always has used you for a good 
 thing," taunted Larson. "And will keep on 
 doing so till you land in hell." 
 
 "I would rather part with you without hard 
 feelings, Larson," said Dorn. "I did all I could 
 to save" you last night, but don't start anything 
 now." 
 
 "You needn't be sorry for me. I am going 
 to havelthe best of it, for I will be out of danger. 
 You always have been a damn fool." 
 
 "No good can come of talk like this, Larz," 
 reminded Dorn. 
 
 "Perhaps not, but before I go I want to tell 
 you for your own good what kind of ninny you 
 are. After going down through that rotten 
 bridge, with your engine, which both smashed 
 and boiled you for a while, they kept you six 
 months hi the hospital. You signed a release 
 without getting damages on their promise to give 
 you a good station, and you let them land you 
 on a job around that damned powder mill where 
 no one else would stay. You are pulling more 
 nuts out of the fire for them by sleeping with this 
 cursed stuff, and it that don't get you in the end, 
 the company will. You are welcome to all you
 
 AMERICAN PEP 99 
 
 can get from them. I'm glad I'm through." 
 He stopped with a snarl as the marshal took his 
 arm and started away. 
 
 Dorn breathed a sigh of relief and shook him- 
 self erect. He now centered his interest in cou- 
 pling up without shock to car B. R. & B. 76533. 
 
 Leaving Harrisburg with passenger right-of- 
 way they made the run to Philadelphia in three 
 hours, and by using the cut-off they were in 
 Wilmington, Delaware, in another hour. Here 
 they would get another engine and crew that 
 would, by special arrangement, take them to 
 Cape Charles two hundred miles away. They 
 were due to arrive there early next morning. 
 
 In the Wilmington yards they were on the 
 main track with the way car coupled to the rear 
 and the soldiers' car in front of Number 76533, 
 waiting for the made-up train to come from a 
 switch preparatory to getting away. 
 
 As usual, the rear brakeman, acting as a flag 
 man, and a soldier were posted ten car lengths 
 in the rear, with Dorn and another soldier the 
 same distance in front. Two Marines paced on 
 either side, so that approach was impossible from 
 any direction without permission. 
 
 A switch engine and crew drew near Dorn and
 
 ioo AMERICAN PEP 
 
 the guard. The foreman said they must shift 
 them to another track. 
 
 "You can't pass," the guard warned. 
 
 "But we have to clear the main track for a 
 passenger train soon due." 
 
 "You can't pass," was all the reply from the 
 Marines. 
 
 But the foreman of the tram crew signaled the 
 engineer to proceed and the engine began slowly 
 to move toward them. The Marine, obeying 
 orders, raised his piece, discharged it full at the 
 foreman and then at the engineer in the cab. 
 They then knew more fully what a military order 
 was. 
 
 The ball pierced the cap of the foreman and 
 missed killing him by a quarter inch. The firing 
 brought a squad of six soldiers from their car. 
 They placed all the men about the engine under 
 arrest and took them to Lieutenant Pettingill at 
 once. They were to learn that nothing must be 
 taken for granted, and that permission must be 
 obtained from the officer in charge to pass a 
 military guard. And such vigilance had not 
 been relaxed for a moment since they left Mal- 
 com's station. The strain was telling on both 
 Dorn and Lieutenant Pettingill.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 101 
 
 "God help you if anything happens on the 
 way to Cape Charles!" the yardmaster said to 
 Dorn after the train was made up and coupled 
 to them with such care and skill that there was 
 no perceptible jar. " I have given you eight cars 
 of dynamite and thirty-two cars of smokeless 
 powder and these, with the pet car you have, I 
 think ought to keep you till you get to the Cape." 
 
 "A little more or less won't make any differ- 
 ence," smiled Dorn wearily. "A half dozen cases 
 from our car will outmatch for deviltry the whole 
 forty cars you have added." 
 
 Dorn started with the yardmaster down the 
 row of cars to examine the brakes on every one 
 and also the axle boxes to be sure there was 
 none that might run hot through lack of grease. 
 
 "You will have a pipe from here to the Cape," 
 said the yardmaster. "Only forty-one cars and 
 not a grade as big as a mole hill. I suppose it 
 was all right to put these eight cars of dynamite 
 on the tail end. The brakes don't hit them so < 
 hard there." 
 
 $ They made their way down the length of the 
 train to the locomotives on one end, then back 
 to the Marines' car with 76533 between it and 
 the way car, which was near the rear as usual.
 
 102 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 Dorn recalled the topography of the eastern 
 shore of Maryland and Virginia and was glad of 
 anything that would lessen the danger, and that 
 stood for dispatch. Another sleepless night was 
 ahead and he recalled that it would be the third 
 in succession. The train began to roll gently 
 and he waved goodbye to the yardmaster. 
 
 He climbed to the top of one of the rear cars 
 and sat down on the edge, his long legs a-dangle, 
 facing the setting sun. The forty-one cars 
 gathered speed after leaving Wilmington yards, 
 the last leg of a long and important journey. 
 
 The August evening sun, though still hot, 
 united with the gentle breeze made by the motion 
 of the train, to caress his face and head, heavy 
 and feverish from strain and loss of sleep. "'The 
 world is not so bad a world as some would like to 
 make it,'" came to him from the school books of 
 his childhood. 
 
 Farmers with one, two and three teams in a 
 row, going to the sidings with wagons loaded to 
 the top with watermelons waved to him good- 
 naturedly at crossings. Still more wagons with 
 racks, loaded with corn on the cob bound for the 
 various canneries for which Maryland is noted, 
 passed and gave greeting. Dorn felt a more
 
 AMERICAN PEP 103 
 
 normal and encouraging touch with everyday 
 living. 
 
 He looked at the long line of cars, each seem- 
 ingly possessing an individual motion of its own. 
 One was waving gently and others wobbled while 
 another bobbed up and down on its spiral steel 
 springs. All seemed sensible of the great and 
 dangerous lifting force of their burdens. 
 
 Dorn wondered if Miss Fraser heard the radio 
 message he had sent from Harrisburg announcing 
 to the war department "All's well!" and if she 
 possibly could have heard the one he just had 
 filed before leaving Wilmington. Would she be 
 watching his progress and the wireless for the 
 message he would file in the early morning an- 
 nouncing the safe arrival and the end of his 
 dangerous mission? 
 
 His thoughts wandered and he found his head 
 nodding. He rose and walked back to the 
 Marines' car, messed with them, drank strong 
 coffee and was again fit for another all night 
 vigil, that would end at Cape Charles. From 
 there they would go to the great channel at the 
 mouth of Chesapeake Bay, known as Hampton 
 Roads.
 
 IN THE EARLY MORNING LIGHT A 
 powerful deep-sea tug, harnessed to a fourteen- 
 car barge with four-Inch thongs of hemp, 
 apparently rose from the sea, and with the modera- 
 tion and silence of a specter, made its way into 
 the slip where such barges connect their tracks 
 with the switches and take on their burdens of 
 freight in unbroken carload bulk, at Cape Charles, 
 Virginia, about twenty-five miles over Chesapeake 
 Bay from Newport News. 
 
 She was made fast and hard with no more 
 play than was required by the flooding tide. 
 The only evidence of life was the red and green 
 signal lights which were allowed to burn, but 
 one with a keen ear could detect the muffled 
 hissing of steam giving hint of a full head of two 
 hundred eighty pounds of steam in the boilers. 
 Two men, who knew they were there at that time 
 in the morning for a definite and solemn purpose,
 
 AMERICAN PEP 105 
 
 were smoking and conversing in low tones in the 
 pilot house. 
 
 Out of the darkness of the north came a long, 
 resonant bold call from a locomotive, followed by 
 a muffled roar that changed momentarily to more 
 of a positive and metallic sound. Standing on 
 top of this train of forty-one freight cars stood 
 Dorn looking to the east with thankfulness in his 
 heart. 
 
 Lieutenant Pettingill, his Marines, and the train 
 crew were all equally thankful that their dangerous 
 and valuable freight would soon be delivered to 
 the sea. J 
 
 With the precision of passenger service the 
 road engine uncoupled and left for the round- 
 house. A shifting engine fastened gingerly to 
 the train hauled the thirty cars of smokeless 
 powder to another siding for later disposition, 
 entered the siding again, cut off the way car on 
 the end and took on the eight cars of dynamite, 
 the car occupied by the soldiers and last B. R. & 
 
 B. 76533- 
 
 Seven of the dynamite cars were placed on one 
 side of the waiting barge. The remaining car of 
 dynamite, the Marines' car and the B. R. & B. 
 went on the other track midway of the barge,
 
 io6 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 then the lighter and its dreadful burden of possi- 
 bilities with scarcely a sound left the slip and 
 seemed dissolved in the silent waters of the 
 Chesapeake. 
 
 "Well, Dorn," said Lieutenant PettingiU, "I 
 thank God it is over at last! Now, it's up to the 
 pilot." 
 
 "Yes, Lieutenant," agreed Dorn. "I am be- 
 ginning to feel the relaxation from the strain, and 
 after we get this stuff signed for I am going to 
 eat breakfast and go to bed. I feel now that I 
 could just sit and do nothing for a whole week." 
 Dorn stretched himself and began to sip some 
 coffee the Marines had prepared in then- car. 
 
 "You do well to relax. This damned trip will 
 be on me like a nightmare for a day or so. I 
 believe if we'd had another day of this my men 
 would have gone to pieces. It's not the idea of 
 being killed that unnerves them, but it is the 
 sensation that a man can do nothing to help 
 himself. In battle a fellow gets something of a 
 run for the chances he takes." 
 
 "You're right," agreed Dorn. "A man can 
 stand most anything that is positive, but the 
 indefinite leaves so much to the imagination that 
 it becomes torture." He wondered if he looked
 
 AMERICAN PEP 107 
 
 the Heed of a barber, clean linen and a shave as 
 wretchedly as did Lieutenant Pettingill. 
 
 "Do you know," said the Lieutenant suddenly, 
 "I feel as if I had known you all my life. It's 
 always so when men work together with common 
 purpose in times of uncertainty and danger." 
 
 "You have expressed my own feelings, Lieu- 
 tenant. I have felt more than surface friendship 
 and shall hope to hear from you occasionally." 
 
 "Well, if you stick to your friends as you did 
 to that Swede, your friendship is the genuine sort 
 which I shall prize greatly," warmly rejoined 
 Pettingill. He turned from Dorn to view from 
 the window the sunrise now well defined and 
 lifting gloriously from the midst of the Atlantic. 
 
 "I don't wish Larson any bad luck," said 
 Dorn. "But he seems to richly deserve anything 
 he will receive." 
 
 "The trouble is deeper than appears on the 
 surface, Dorn. Sweden, either in self defense, or 
 by reason of sympathy, seems universally pro- 
 German." 
 
 Dorn nodded and looked thoughtful, then 
 feeling the barge lose headway he leaned out of 
 the open window. 
 
 "Here we are now," he said. "I think this is 
 the transport into which we discharge."
 
 io8 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "I suppose we'll have to take our papers to 
 the purser to get a release signed," said the 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 "Yes, when he signs for the cargo, which he 
 will do as soon as he breaks bulk and checks up 
 for the quantity, you and I are through, thank 
 God!" 
 
 Dom and Pettingill mounted the companion- 
 way lowered to them at once and were met at 
 the gangway by Captain Browning, the navigator, 
 and Purser Peake of the transport "Tartar." 
 
 "Come into my room, gentlemen," cordially 
 invited Captain Browning, leading the way to 
 his spacious cabin. "I heard by wireless that 
 you had arrived at the Cape, and left there over 
 an hour ago. Been looking for you hard enough, 
 as this is the third day we have been washed by 
 Chesapeake water since they decided to hold us 
 for your cargo. Now let's see," he continued, 
 "you are Mr. Dorn, representing the railroad 
 company and have receipts for us to sign." He 
 moved toward his flat desk and motioned Dorn 
 and Pettingill to be seated. 
 
 Dorn nodded and produced a large envelope 
 with papers. 
 
 "Well, Mr. Peake," said Captain Browning,
 
 "This car we have just opened is empty."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 109 
 
 "suppose you take a copy of their bills and with 
 First Officer White break the seals, check up the 
 freight we are to take, and then we will sign for 
 it." The purser took the copy of Dorn's way 
 bill and departed hurriedly, as minutes counted 
 now. 
 
 "I suppose you have had a long hard rail trip, 
 gentlemen, likely without much sleep. After we 
 attend to business I will have you to breakfast 
 with me while they are transferring this peevish 
 leviathan you have been nursing." 
 
 "Thank you, Captain," replied Dorn. "I 
 think both Lieutenant Pettingill and I will appre- 
 ciate a change in food." As Dorn glanced around 
 he heard through the open door the reassuring 
 sound of the well charged wireless instruments. 
 In a few moments the purser returned evidently 
 greatly excited. 
 
 " What is it, Mr. Peake? " asked Captain Brown- 
 ing. 
 
 "There seems to be some mistake. This car 
 we have just opened is empty!" He spoke 
 laboriously, trying to suppress his excitement. 
 
 "You must have opened the wrong car," 
 laughed Lieutenant Pettingill looking incredu- 
 lously at Dorn. "Don't spring anything like
 
 i io AMERICAN PEP 
 
 that on us or you will cause us to have heart 
 failure. We saw our car loaded and it has hardly 
 been out of our sight since, and when we were 
 not there we had from two to four Marines on it." 
 
 Dorn shoved his chair so he could get a good 
 view of the purser who stood by the captain's 
 door. "Sure, you have the wrong car," he 
 smiled, although he squirmed uneasily. "If you 
 ask Officer Starke you can be sure of the position. 
 As Lieutenant Pettingill says, do not condemn 
 us to death by even intimating that car is empty. 
 Of the other eight cars of dynamite I am not so 
 sure, as we had nothing to do with them, but 
 this car you say is empty has one thousand nine 
 hundred and sixty cases of Stag Brand, S. H." 
 
 "Oh," hesitated the purser, "I must be wrong, 
 of course. I will look again and get the right one 
 this tune sure." He turned on his heel and left 
 the room briskly. 
 
 "What a row it would start if anything like 
 that was to happen," said Lieutenant Pettingill. 
 He looked from Captain Browning to Dorn with 
 a suddenly pale face. 
 
 "It would -be me for the sharks," shivered 
 Dorn. He looked haggard and rueful with his 
 growth of beard and untidy linen.
 
 AMERICAN PEP . in 
 
 "He has likely got the numbers confused," 
 comforted Captain Browning trying to speak 
 easily, but he looked tensely anxious when the 
 purser entered, followed by First Officer White 
 and Officer Starke. 
 
 "Captain Browning," said the purser, "I had 
 the right car, the only B. R. & B. 76533 on the 
 barge. I have broken the seals and have examined 
 it thoroughly. And as First Officer White and the 
 Marine here also saw, the car is completely empty ! " 
 
 Dorn's long body shot erect as a powerful steel 
 spring relieved from tension. He led the way 
 without words to the companionway. Lieutenant 
 Pettingill followed quickly with Captain Browning 
 and the rest. Every one was shocked and tensely 
 alert. 
 
 Dorn darted down the adjustable stairway 
 that rested on the barge and with a few reckless 
 steps was before the side door of the car. For 
 the thousandth time he stopped to read on its 
 freshly painted side the words Buffalo, Rochester 
 and Beaver and the number 76533. He knew 
 this was the car. 
 
 "Here is the seal I just took off," said the 
 purser. 
 
 Dorn slowly took the metal straps on which
 
 ii2 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 was' the lead ball that fastened the ends together, 
 making a perfect seal, and looked for the number 
 embossed on the lead. There was the number of 
 Malcom's station, seventy-nine. There could be 
 no possible mistake, for here was the seal he had 
 pressed on the lock in the presence of Griggs and 
 Lieutenant Pettingill, and which had been pho- 
 tographed by Whaley. Then, with the litheness 
 of desperation, he threw the door open, but 
 instead of the felt cushion that Griggs had so 
 carefully fitted to the door space he found only 
 the bare, mocking floor. 
 
 Without a word, as though the action meant 
 life or death, Dorn placed his hands on the floor 
 of the car and vaulted into it as a stag hound, 
 oblivious to everything but his lead. He walked 
 rapidly from one dark end to the other, and 
 returned to the door slowly, dropped his long 
 legs outside and sat on the floor facing all those 
 who now appeared to him as his accusers. He 
 realized with a pang that seemed to part his heart 
 his responsibility to the railroad, the Govern- 
 ment, to the cause of freedom, to his own con- 
 science. With his elbows on his knees and with 
 his face bent in his long, powerful hands he sat 
 motionless with eyes closed.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 113 
 
 "Lieutenant Pettingill," he said in a voice 
 hoarse with self-condemnation and weary terror, 
 "we have been tricked and sold." 
 
 Captain Browning had not been given com- 
 mand of a great transport by accident. He was 
 a great man and knew at once there was no 
 acting. He recognized the grave culmination in 
 the lives of two men, recognized the responsibility 
 to them and the Government. 
 
 "Gentlemen," he said firmly, breaking the 
 stillness that followed Dorn's outburst, "come to 
 my quarters where we will talk it over."
 
 Chapter Twelve* 
 
 EVERY ONE WHO HAS LIVED KNOWS 
 what it is to have the hand of hell upon 
 his heart, gripping it to the point of suffo- 
 cation. Dorn experienced this touch of hell 
 when he realized the full significance of the 
 situation facing him. 
 
 Lieutenant Pettingill, mercifully less sensitive 
 and upheld by a practical philosophy, was for the 
 time stronger than Dorn. He was moved by the 
 apparent collapse of the man he had learned to 
 admire. He took Dorn gently by the arm, and 
 helped him from his seat in the car doorway, to 
 the deck of the barge. From there Dorn was 
 guided by him up the companionway to the 
 deck of the "Tartar" and forward to Captain 
 Browning's capacious stateroom as a criminal 
 going to execution. 
 
 "Lieutenant Pettingill and Mr. Dorn," said 
 Captain Browning taking a chair at his desk, 
 "what you have been through during the last
 
 AMERICAN PEP 115 
 
 three days is apparent to me, and this unfortunate 
 ending calls for sober judgment and the best we 
 have in us. You have had no breakfast, neither 
 have I. It will be served here in my room. That 
 will give us a chance both to brace ourselves and 
 to collect our wits." He telephoned his order 
 to the galley and then excused himself as he 
 entered the adjoining wireless room. 
 
 "Dorn," said Lieutenant Pettingill, "there is a 
 big conspiracy working against us. More caution 
 could not possibly have been exercised by living 
 souls." 
 
 Dorn turned his head wearily toward Lieu- 
 tenant Pettingill. His nose and close cropped 
 ears appeared more prominent against his pale 
 unshaven face. 
 
 " Other folks are not going to see it so leniently, 
 Lieutenant Pettingill," he reminded. His voice 
 was labored and hoarse. "I have been an 
 unlucky devil ever since I was bom. From child- 
 hood in the clay-washed mountains of West 
 Virginia my ambition has led me into one pitfall 
 after another. But, damn it ! " he ended savagely, 
 "I'm not through yet!" 
 
 "Of course you're not through," encouraged 
 the Lieutenant heartily.
 
 ii6 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Yet," groaned Dorn, "I seem to be possessed 
 by devils in everything I undertake. I came to 
 the railroad and began firing, and several times 
 escaped death only by a hair. Then as soon as 
 they gave me an engine the cursed genie had its 
 hand on the throttle with me, and now, I am 
 cursed again." Dorn broke off in miserable 
 futility. 
 
 "Dorn, that is just weakness. It's just useless 
 self-pity, and in a few moments you will wonder 
 that you have spoken thus. You daily walk 
 hand in hand with death. Your courage far 
 exceeds mine, and I know I am not a coward. 
 Why, man, pull yourself together. Stop this, 
 I say! Your country needs brave men, not 
 whiners. Besides you have the heart of a lion. 
 You cannot be condemned for something you 
 have not done." 
 
 At this point they were interrupted by the 
 cabin boy who entered with a tray of food. 
 Captain Browning joined them from the wireless 
 room and Pettingill wondered if they had over- 
 heard their talk. 
 
 "Gentlemen," Browning invited cordially, "sit 
 up to the table. You both look as if a little 
 stimulant would not harm you after your trying 
 period."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 117 
 
 Dorn rose with an effort, as a man three times 
 his age, at first unable to straighten his long, thin 
 body. 
 
 "I suppose the first thing to do is to inform 
 Washington of this matter," said Captain Brown- 
 ing, "so that they can get in action. I am in a 
 bad fix just now about that. I gave one operator 
 shore leave until ten this morning and the man 
 who should be on duty has just been injured. 
 I will have to send ashore for an operator. Wash- 
 ington undoubtedly heard the radio from Cape 
 Charles notifying me that you had arrived with 
 the. cargo. They will soon expect a report that 
 both the dynamite and S. H. are alongside the 
 'Tartar' and being transferred." 
 
 "I am an operator and will send your message," 
 replied Dorn instantly, shoving back from the 
 table, ready to go into action again. 
 
 "Is that so? Good! But not another thing 
 until after breakfast." Captain Browning ad- 
 mired the fire that came into Dorn's smarting 
 eyes at the first call to duty, and the kindling of 
 the dinted haggard face. 
 
 The cabin boy placed before them ham and 
 eggs, coffee and hot bread in ample quantities and 
 of reviving savor.
 
 n8 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 Dorn ate in silence yet listened keenly to the 
 captain's story. Pettingill took pains as he told 
 Browning of the entire journey to stress the care 
 and precaution used by Dorn all along the line, 
 from the first moment of loading to the last 
 delivery. 
 
 "It's the Hun's work without doubt," decided 
 Browning. 
 
 "Have you prepared your message for Wash- 
 ington?" Dorn asked as he rose and pushed 
 back his chair. "And you will wish to send 
 one, too, won't you?" he added turning to 
 Pettingill. 
 
 "Yes, I will have mine ready by the time you 
 get Captain Browning's off," replied Pettingill 
 rising and following the others into the wireless 
 room adjoining. 
 
 "Do you know how your operator was injured 
 this morning?" asked Dorn as he went to the 
 instruments and threw in the switch connecting 
 them with the ship's generator. 
 
 "No," said the captain thoughtfully, "I don't. 
 Got a severe shock somehow. We have tre- 
 mendous power, but never have had such an 
 accident before." 
 
 Dorn was wondering if there could be any
 
 AMERICAN PEP 119 
 
 connection between the fact that one operator 
 asked for shore leave and that the other had 
 been injured. "It looks all right," he said 
 mechanically, and then shifted his thoughts to 
 the work in hand. Mechanically he opened the 
 key and began calling S H, his private call for 
 Malcom's to test the break on the instrument. 
 He noticed that it was half past eight o'clock. 
 He had only twice issued that call when Like the 
 instant response of a guardian angel there came 
 as clear as the ring of steel, a reply that could 
 issue but from one station. The touch of Betty 
 Fraser undoubtedly was on the key. She had 
 replied instantly and Dorn knew she had been 
 waiting faithfully for his signal. It was a private 
 call and had no significance to any official operator. 
 Dorn fully interpreted her reply. "Malcom 
 station answers. What do you want?" He felt 
 almost as if his body were the powerful current 
 that enabled him to signal his mountain station 
 five or six hundred miles away, so deep was his 
 thrill at the sense of her nearness. He felt as if a 
 comforting and reassuring hand had rolled the 
 film of fear, self-depreciation and self-pity from 
 his eyes and bade him see the wonders of a 
 beautiful morning, and look at the world as it
 
 120 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 was, as he had seen it the night before in the 
 glories of a closing day while he rolled hopefully 
 to his destination. 
 
 Both Captain Browning and Lieutenant Pettin- 
 gill wondered at the instant change as Dorn 
 stiffened in his chair. - The fire of an eagle's eyes 
 came over the bridge of his great nose like two 
 rifles pointed at them. And as he looked an 
 interrogation to them he replied to S H. 
 "Stay cut in and stand by." 
 
 "The instrument appears all right. I can see 
 nothing wrong," he said to Captain Browning. 
 "Shall I signal Washington?" 
 
 "Yes, get them as soon as you can. I wrote 
 my message before breakfast." Captain Brown- 
 ing handed him a message written in the cipher 
 of the navy. 
 
 As Dorn was sending the two messages carefully 
 prepared by Lieutenant Pettingill and Captain 
 Browning he felt as if he were pronouncing his 
 own sentence, but with faith that a square deal 
 would finally triumph now, he was firm, and his 
 touch on the instrument was unfaltering. He 
 knew that his radius was at least two thousand 
 miles and also that as soon as his call was sent 
 out on the morning air for Washington that
 
 AMERICAN PEP 121 
 
 every radio operator within that immense sweep 
 was at attention and compelled to register. 
 
 "I can well imagine how it will flatten them 
 out at Washington," commented Lieutenant 
 Pettingill. "It makes me feel that if spies can 
 do that, they could accomplish almost anything." 
 He was watching Dorn who was alertly waiting 
 for the next stroke on his receiver. 
 
 "I can't comprehend it yet. I can't realize 
 that it actually has happened," Dorn cut in 
 savagely. "I still visualize my trip with this car 
 as an actual certainty that it was not tampered 
 with. It is impossible. Why, there seems the 
 uncanniness of the supernatural. The cleverest 
 legerdemain multiplied a thousand times in 
 (mining could not remove fifty tons of freight, 
 guarded by two seasoned Marines with loaded 
 rides." 
 
 "And the worst phase of it is," said Captain 
 Browning, " that they need this stuff on the other 
 side badly, or I would not have been held here 
 with five thousand soldiers and a full cargo of 
 supplies. It seems strange that Washington 
 doesn't reply quickly. Wouldn't you think they'd 
 ask some questions?" He stroked his long 
 beard anxiously and glanced at Dorn who sat
 
 122 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 as a statue resting his head in his hand, seem- 
 ingly boring holes where he gazed at the polished 
 table. 
 
 "But even worse than all that," said Lieu- 
 tenant Pettingill, "is the devilish power of this 
 explosive. The full import of this you cannot 
 understand until you have seen as I have the 
 unusual precautions under which it is made. 
 It is called an explosive, but that don't convey 
 an adequate idea of it. It possesses in a drop as 
 big as a pea all the lifting powers and devilishness 
 of the hells that have existed for a million years. 
 This manufactured devilism has been stolen, 
 diverted or lost. In any case it is loose, and I 
 believe it is in the hands of the bandit criminal 
 Hun who makes Beelzebub or Lucifer appear like 
 a wrist watch sissy slacker. One little case of 
 fifty pounds would scatter to dust all the gold 
 of the treasury at Washington, with the war, 
 state and navy thrown in." 
 
 As Pettingill finished speaking Captain Brown- 
 ing stirred uneasily and watched the unresponsive 
 instrument. "But why don't they say some- 
 thing? " he fumed impatiently. 
 
 "I think you underestimate the time it will 
 take to have the message translated and placed
 
 AMERICAN PEP 123 
 
 in the hands of the responsible heads," replied 
 Lieutenant Pettingill, looking at Dorn who 
 assented with a nod. In his mind's eye Dorn 
 could see every operator or clerk at every radio 
 station feverishly going over his book to put the 
 words into readable shape. 
 
 At last the stroke for which Dorn was waiting 
 came as a savage dog snapping at his chain. 
 The response was so powerful and assertive that 
 he knew it was from a radio fully as powerful as 
 the "Tartar's." , The message, which was signed 
 by one in high authority whose name cannot be 
 divulged, was as follows: 
 
 "Washington advice intercepted on board the 
 'Mayflower.' Steaming toward you. Hold every- 
 thing intact until I arrive." 
 
 When Dorn finished writing he tore the paper 
 from the pad and handed it to Captain Browning, 
 giving no hint of its import, and then resumed 
 his watch of the instrument. 
 
 "Great Heavens! what a piece of luck! I had 
 something of a hint that he might come down 
 here before we got away," exclaimed Captain 
 Browning, handing the message to Pettingill. 
 
 "Yes, I am glad," said Pettingill, "his advent 
 here will dispose without red tape in a half an
 
 124 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 hour, more than an inquiry would accomplish in 
 a year. Eh, Dorn? Didn't I tell you something 
 would come out of the sky to save our faces?" 
 He went to Dorn's side and grasped his shoulder 
 affectionately.
 
 Chapter ^Thirteen 
 
 HOW FAR AWAY IS THE 'MAY- 
 flower? ' " asked Captain Browning. 
 "Hard to guess," Dorn repKed, "but 
 I judge very close. Only a few miles." 
 
 "I will have a boat lowered to go out to it," 
 Captain Browning said and left the room, fol- 
 lowed by Lieutenant Pettingill, to issue his 
 orders. 
 
 Left alone, Dorn walked to the open window. 
 His eyes smarted and ached for sleep, but that 
 was of minor importance now. The "Tartar" 
 was swinging on her chain with the tide, bringing 
 his view to the northward. He could see coming 
 toward them a lead gray vessel without name or 
 flag. The next moment it swung about to anchor 
 near them and even before the hook went into 
 the mud a gig was leaving it and making directly 
 toward them. 
 
 Waiting in suspense Dorn remained in the 
 wireless room. Washington knew that the right
 
 126 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 man had immediately taken the reins and they 
 waited for a decision. How would that decision 
 affect Dorn? , Did it mean disgrace, even prison? 
 
 His period of wretched waiting was broken 
 when Captain Browning appeared at the door 
 and motioned him to enter the stateroom where 
 the conference was being held. 
 
 Dorn was introduced to a clear eyed, strong 
 faced man of powerful physique. This official 
 motioned him to a chair near by. 
 
 "Mr. Dorn," he began, "we have received a 
 verbal account of the loading and attempted 
 transportation of the car which, as established by 
 the photographs taken after loading and sealing, 
 was brought to this point under strict military 
 escort. I have heard that its contents have been 
 removed in a manner entirely a mystery, but 
 which could not have been accomplished without 
 the aid of persons having a knowledge of this 
 transaction. Is that the case as you understand 
 it, representing the railroad? " 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Have you any theory as to the motive for 
 the removal?" continued the official, taking a 
 careful measure of the haggard and weary Dorn. 
 
 "Three days of constant watchfulness and
 
 AMERICAN PEP 127 
 
 nights without sleep, added to the shock of this 
 discovery, have left me almost without power to 
 reason," replied Dorn. ."I need time to think." 
 
 "Have you formed any impression of possible 
 motive that might aid us in the solution of this 
 problem?" 
 
 "This explosive's value as a medium of destruc- 
 tion in the hands of the enemy gives us cause for 
 reasonable suspicion," said Dorn slowly, "yet 
 the intrinsic value is great, and might tempt a 
 criminal to take chances." 
 
 "You are a licensed wireless operator, as well 
 as the station agent of the railroad? Also owing 
 to the rebellion of the regular conductor you were 
 placed in charge absolutely over the first division 
 and as a supernumerary with authority over all 
 conductors during the entire trip here?" 
 
 "Yes, sir," replied Dorn promptly. He felt 
 that even though the evidence seemed piling up 
 against him, both Captain Browning and Lieu- 
 tenant Pettingill were on his side. 
 
 "Am I right in my conclusion," went on the 
 official, "that you and Lieutenant Pettingill both 
 checked up and verified the contents of this car, 
 and that they were then sealed in the presence of 
 at least two employees of the shipper? "
 
 128 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "And that immediately afterward Lieutenant 
 Pettingill's squad arrived and an armed guard was 
 posted on that car, which has remained there up 
 to this moment?" 
 
 "Well I know that within a half hour after 
 the loading and sealing the car, the train bringing 
 the guard arrived, and that I heard Lieutenant 
 Pettingill instruct his officer Starke to post the 
 guard on it. I have no doubt that it was 
 done." 
 
 "In addition to that, this factory, as well as 
 the switch on which this car was loaded, is in a 
 deep canyon, and can be reached only through 
 the office of the factory, and the two entrances of 
 Bald Eagle Canyon, which are protected by an 
 armed guard, as well as a mounted patrol above?" 
 
 "Yes, sir," replied Dorn with the same positive 
 candor. 
 
 "Mr. Dorn, you are not under oath, nor is 
 this an inquisition, but I don't want you to give 
 information you may at any time be sorry for. 
 For that reason you may refuse, if you wish, to 
 answer any more personal questions." 
 
 Dorn flushed. The significance of the official's 
 words became only too apparent. "I know of
 
 AMERICAN PEP 129 
 
 nothing that I wish to withhold under any circum- 
 stances," came from Dorn like a shot. 
 
 "I felt that way, yet wished to warn you. 
 Now, as I understand it you have been on the 
 road some tune and were a locomotive engineer 
 and are now in good standing with the Brother- 
 hood?" 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 "Do you believe that this conductor Larson's 
 attitude is significant, beyond his personal 
 feelings? " 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Are you equally sure of Malcom, the powder 
 manufacturer? " 
 
 "Yes, sir," came from Dorn without a moment's 
 hesitation. 
 
 "Have you reason to suspect any of his em- 
 ployees?" 
 
 Dorn hesitated. There flashed across his mind 
 the weak inefficiency of Whaley, but his slight 
 suspicions would seem ridiculous in this grave 1 
 crisis. His answer was an evasion, however. 
 He suddenly wanted to carry through his in- 
 vestigations his pwn way though at this time he 
 knew nothing positive about Malvoney's wireless 
 instrument as did Miss Fraser.
 
 1 30 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "All of Malcom's employees are simple moun- 
 tain people," he replied. "They take pride in 
 their blood origin and their hazardous employ- 
 ment. They resent the intrusion of outsiders 
 and worship Malcom as their acknowledged head. 
 To point to any one actually disloyal would be 
 difficult." 
 
 "Have you any information however slightly 
 bearing on this matter that might lead to the 
 discovery of this great crime? " 
 
 "I have none now I feel worthy of repetition 
 to you. In my present state of mind I might 
 do irreparable harm by mentioning mere im- 
 pressions." 
 
 "But you realize that in the face of all these 
 undoubted facts there is negligence, and a weak 
 place somewhere, that has made possible a crime 
 punishable with death?" 
 
 "I do realize it, and will aid in every possible 
 way to unearth the culprit," answered Dorn 
 gravely. 
 
 "That's aU, Mr. Dorn," the official said in 
 dismissal. Dorn returned to the wireless hi a 
 dizzy, conflicting state of mind, wholly without 
 power to analyze the course events were taking. 
 Apparently they did not intend to hold him
 
 AMERICAN PEP 131 
 
 under suspicion; he was watched, undoubtedly, 
 but had received reasonable consideration. He 
 did not care if they did watch every move. 
 This did not lessen his own sense of heavy re- 
 sponsibility and defeat. Some one had tricked 
 him because of lacking alertness. He had in 
 some unaccountable way failed in a trust. This 
 was the unbearable thought. Was he a dead 
 one? and the Hun so much more astute and 
 cunning ! His jaws fairly snapped at the thought. 
 In a short time the wireless operator whose 
 shore leave had expired came to relieve him. 
 Dorn looked around the transport for Lieutenant 
 Pettingill, but his friend was not within sight. 
 The ship appeared more crowded than ever with 
 soldiers and every one seemed excited and alert. 
 Dorn walked slowly along the crowded deck to 
 the companionway and down to the barge. Each 
 door of all the cars was wide open and every car 
 was empty. The contents had been swallowed 
 up by the great ship to which the barge still was 
 lashed. The converted passenger car used by 
 the soldiers was still there though deserted, and 
 next to it was the hideous nightmare whose name 
 and number were stencilled as with red hot 
 letters on Dorn's memory.
 
 132 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 As he came from the Marines* car he met 
 Officer Starke. 
 
 "Well, Mr. Dorn," the officer greeted, "the 
 Hun has put one over us in spite of all our finesse." 
 
 Dorn flushed, but made no retort. "Where is 
 Lieutenant Pettingill?" he asked. 
 
 "He's busy on board. We didn't know it till 
 just now that we must stay on board and go to 
 the Azores for war zone duty. This war game 
 makes sudden changes in plans and we don't 
 always have time to say goodbye. The Lieuten- 
 ant's been looking for you, though." 
 
 "How soon do you sail?" 
 
 "There goes the first line now. We'll be 
 under way in one minute more. Goodbye," 
 cried he, running to the companionway just 
 before it was hauled up loosing the ship from 
 the barge. 
 
 The great ocean tug, still lashed to the barge, 
 evidenced signs of activity. There was a clang 
 in her engine room, and yeasty water began 
 foaming about her powerful propeller. When 
 Dorn looked again at the immense ship crowded 
 with soldiers its anchor was coming out of the 
 bay and she with great majesty and power was 
 heading toward the Battle Field, preceded by
 
 AMERICAN PEP 133 
 
 the two fretful and swift pilot convoys who 
 beckoned her on to the open sea. 
 
 On deck Dorn finally discerned Lieutenant 
 Pettingill hastening to the rail. He knew that in 
 kindness his friend had wished to wave goodbye. 
 A lump rose in Dorn's throat. He felt a sense of 
 desertion and loneliness. He must go back to 
 the mountains, without open censure it was true, 
 yet without praise, disgraced in his own sight, 
 and a failure before men. He wished that he 
 could have gripped the Lieutenant's hand in 
 parting, yet he realized that stern duty must 
 come ahead of the finer considerations of friend- 
 ship. The Lieutenant would have come to him 
 if he could. So Dorn tried to find comfort in 
 this, and watched the great ship, until the men 
 on her decks became mere dots in the distance. 
 
 With bent head he v/alked slowly along the 
 deck of the barge now moving back rapidly to 
 Cape Charles. No one had even intimated that 
 he was culpable, yet they could not hold him 
 blameless. He was in it. He was left to go his 
 way, but he felt that men must look at him 
 askance. Even definite blame or punishment 
 would have been more bearable. His railroad 
 superiors were venturing no new orders, were
 
 134 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 asking no questions, and evidenced a disturbing 
 lack of interest in him. 
 
 His thoughts turned to Betty Fraser. She had 
 answered his call on the wireless. He had asked 
 her to stand by. With the cipher hi her possession 
 she now must know the substance of the messages 
 to Washington. Perhaps at this moment he 
 stood to her as a failure, too, maybe even worse, 
 a traitor. Yet even as his mind formed the word 
 he felt again the unseen soothing hand and 
 strength came back. After all, he had his freedom 
 and with twenty-four hours' sleep he would be in 
 perfectly fit condition to work out his own salva- 
 tion. He was squarely thrown on his mettle. 
 That was some advantage. Time and prodigious 
 effort he felt capable of must bring the answer: 
 that would clear him. 
 
 He went again to look at the cursed car. As he 
 passed it his hands clenched and his teeth set. 
 He stood before it with a new, more personal 
 interest. They evidently intended to let him 
 alone; they thought he, unhampered, would help 
 himself, and the Government; he was grateful 
 for the privilege. 
 
 With the sudden tensity of a new thought he 
 bent closer and studied the number on the trucks,
 
 AMERICAN PEP 135 
 
 the foundry number and the chalk marks still 
 remaining. He made careful records in his 
 pocket note-book, then walked to the other side 
 of the car and continued his minute study. 
 
 He stood before the car a long time as the 
 barge splashed through the bay, as if he would 
 wring from the fabrication of steel the secret of 
 how an astute manufacturer, an entire railroad 
 with an unfailing system, the Government and a 
 part of the United States Service could have 
 been outwitted, cheated and flaunted, and how 
 he miserable he the partial instrument of 
 each, had been spit on as a numskull, and by 
 whom?
 
 Chapter Fourteen 
 
 DORN WENT ASHORE IMMEDI- 
 ately Cape Charles was reached to 
 inquire about the first train to Phila- 
 delphia. He felt that his movements were noted. 
 But he found satisfaction in the thought that he 
 could stand watching. He had nothing to con- 
 ceal. He might have been a fool; a dupe but 
 not more. He found he had a little over two 
 hours to wait. He would have time for a bath, 
 a shave, some new linen and a square meal. 
 Once on board the train towards the mountains 
 he would sleep if he had to stand up. 
 
 Bathed, clean shaven and again fed, Dorn 
 went early to the train that was made up there, 
 threw two seats together in the smoking car, 
 folded his long legs into a letter S and using his 
 arms for a pillow he entered the deep mysteries 
 of sleep. Thus insensible as though dead he re- 
 mained until he reached Philadelphia eight hours
 
 AMERICAN PEP 137 
 
 later. Here, only half awake, he changed trains 
 and relapsed into complete unconsciousness while 
 animated steel took him steadily during the long 
 night back to his mountain home. 
 
 Before sunrise the next morning when the 
 long passenger train paused at Malcom's Sta- 
 tion as if to take a long bracing breath before 
 entering the gloom of Bald Eagle Canyon, Dorn 
 left the train. He filled his lungs with the pure 
 bracing mountain air as he watched the lights 
 disappear around the granite walls into the 
 canyon. He was still free: delighted though 
 fierce for achieving his vindication and bagging 
 the criminals. 
 
 With new virile vigor that he had acquired 
 from sleep he felt that he could overcome pro- 
 digious obstacles. His jaws set hard as he slipped 
 his key into the door and entered the station, 
 two hours before Miss Fraser was due. 
 
 He noticed first the perfect order of the office 
 and then saw on the instrument table the same 
 tomato can filled with wild flowers. They were 
 still fragrant and with the fragrance came a 
 sense of Betty's nearness. 
 
 He went to the wireless cabinet, opened the 
 door, and reached inside to turn on the light.
 
 138 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 Before him on the stool, her head resting on her 
 arms, unconscious in sleep, sat Betty Fraser. 
 He was about to reach out his hand; then, sens- 
 ing the possible shock to her if wakened thus 
 suddenly and by him, he closed the door gently 
 and returned to the telegraph instrument. He 
 threw in the switch that opened the wires over 
 the line, hoping the click of the instruments 
 would bring her gradually back from sleep. 
 
 As he expected, the heavy hammering on the 
 highly charged wire awakened the girl and she 
 came slowly from the cabinet, rubbing her eyes 
 as she walked toward him. She stared at him 
 for a breathless moment, then checked a de- 
 lighted relieved cry. 
 
 "Well," she substituted more calmly, "I 
 thought you'd be on this train, but I did not 
 intend to sleep." She wet her handkerchief 
 from the small water pitcher and bathed her 
 eyes. 
 
 He leaned across the instrument table and 
 eagerly scanned her face. "You know all that 
 has happened?" he asked. 
 
 "I know that the car arrived empty, and I 
 guessed that you would be home on this tram." 
 Her manner seemed guarded and a bit strained.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 139 
 
 She leaned her elbow on the letter press and did 
 not meet his eyes. 
 
 Dorn felt a sudden sense of returning weak- 
 ness and depression, as if his strength was being 
 wrung from him by her apparent indifference. 
 
 "And you think that I " 
 
 She checked him with the lifting of her hand. 
 
 "I am so dazed I don't know what to think," 
 she said. Her voice was low and strained. 
 
 "How does Mr. Malcom feel about it?" he 
 asked, watching her carefully. 
 
 "At first he became nearly insane, but is 
 calmer now. He does not blame you yet." 
 She ended with a significant pause. 
 
 "Has anything happened? Is there anything 
 new to work on here? Has any evidence shown 
 up?" 
 
 "Small things have happened, but the mystery 
 is still as great. We have been tricked and out- 
 witted on our own ground, at our own game." 
 
 "How far am I to blame, Betty? What 
 have I failed to do?" There was a tinge of help- 
 lessness in his tone, almost boyishness. 
 
 She looked at him steadily, but made no 
 reply. Dorn straightened and looked away. He 
 could not believe that doubt rested back of the
 
 i 4 o AMERICAN PEP 
 
 seriousness of her eyes, yet he did not seem to 
 be receiving from her the comfort and help he 
 had expected. 
 
 "What theory does Mr. Malcom advance?" 
 
 "He has none. He says his manifold duties 
 prevent him from making specialized analysis 
 of the situation. That it is work for a strong 
 man with daring and initiative." 
 
 "How long have you been here?" he asked. 
 
 "I felt more like being here," she evaded. 
 "I was too excited to sleep at home." 
 
 "Has anything happened to help you locate 
 the illicit wireless plant?" 
 
 "Well, Malvoney, the tent photographer, has 
 a wireless instrument." She then proceeded 
 to tell him briefly all the circumstances of her 
 discovery. 
 
 "What do the trainmen think of Larson?" 
 
 "They think him a rat and a fool, but not 
 connected with this plot." Then she scanned 
 him closely. "How much sleep have you had 
 since you left here?" 
 
 "I slept all the way home. I am rested now." 
 
 "Go get your breakfast. I will stay until 
 you come back. I think it unwise to leave 
 this station one minute alone until "
 
 AMERICAN PEP 141 
 
 "Until what?" he asked with softened tone, 
 wondering what there was about her wavy brown 
 hair and honest forehead that attracted him 
 more than usual. 
 
 "Until these human snakes are dragged from 
 hiding and destroyed," she replied. 
 
 "Wouldn't you rather go now and get your 
 breakfast first, I " 
 
 "I cannot get my breakfast for almost two 
 hours. You go now and return by that time." 
 
 He moved to the door, then hesitated. " Betty," 
 he said, looking back, "are those cars on the 
 powder-mill switch? I mean the same cars that 
 were stored there the day this hoodoo car was 
 set in for loading?" 
 
 "No, I got an order for Number 18 to take 
 them west last night." She looked at him, 
 puzzled by his tensity. "A record would be 
 made when the cars went into the Pittsburg 
 yard, wouldn't it?" she added. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "But what good will they do you?" 
 
 "Perhaps none, but I have an idea, that's 
 all." 
 
 "Last night," she said, "Mr. Malcom went 
 over the matter by telephone. He found that
 
 i 4 2 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 there were about twenty minutes elapsed between 
 the act of sealing the car and the arrival of the 
 Marines, too short a time for any manipulation. 
 He insists that fifty tons of that kind of freight 
 could not be spirited from one car to another in 
 that length of time, or be manhandled in any 
 way whatever. For that reason he insists that 
 the contents must certainly have been lost in 
 transit." 
 
 "Which," cut hi Dorn, "puts the yoke squarely 
 on my neck." 
 
 "Don't the Marine Guard assume some part 
 of the responsibility? " 
 
 "I see little use in trying to locate the blame 
 now. What every one wants to know first is 
 where the mighty explosive is, that immense 
 incomprehensible damage may not be done." 
 
 Dorn slowly closed the door behind him and 
 started for his room and breakfast. He was 
 depressed again by Betty's strange aloofness, 
 but after a bath and a good meal he felt a return 
 of his fighting spirit. 
 
 When he arrived at the station again he saw 
 Malvoney leaving the door. He passed close to 
 the man and nodded curtly. His ten fingers 
 instinctively longed to clasp the throat of the
 
 AMERICAN PEP 143 
 
 sleek photographer whom he believed to be his 
 enemy. When he entered the station there was 
 a dangerous gleam over his hooked nose and his 
 muscles twitched in anticipation. 
 
 "A customer so early in the morning?" he 
 asked Miss Fraser -as he tossed his hat on its 
 hook. 
 
 "Yes, he left a telegram to be sent rush, but 
 the station for New York doesn't open for fif- 
 teen minutes." She reached for her hat and 
 moved toward the door. 
 
 "Are you positive you heard a wireless instru- 
 ment in his tent?" 
 
 "I am positive." 
 
 "What do you think of him?" 
 
 "I think he is an unusually good photographer, 
 yet does not fit his business. His wireless may 
 be only a fad." 
 
 She cut off further questions by leaving the 
 office. Something in the girl's attitude puzzled 
 and troubled Dorn. Her old frankness seemed 
 to be held in leash. 
 
 As soon as he could get the station he sent 
 Malvoney's message. Just before the morning 
 local train from the east arrived he was inter- 
 ested to see Malvoney and Whaley talking ear-
 
 144 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 nestly together on the station platform. Malvoney 
 evidently intended to take the train. Dorn noted 
 his unusually expensive bag. After Whaley saw 
 Malvoney on board the local he stepped 
 to the ticket window. 
 
 "What kind of a trip did you have, Mr. Dorn?" 
 he leered. 
 
 "Hello Whaley," Dorn greeted, but made no 
 reply. 
 
 "There's hell to pay down in the 'hole,'" 
 Whaley went on. "The old man is driving every 
 one crazy to get out more of the stuff, and my 
 Lord what a temper he has on him these last 
 few days! Can't hardly live with him, though 
 he's quieted down some now. He's about nutty 
 to get another shipment of Sky High off. Must 
 be good demand for that stuff." 
 
 Dorn looked into the small red-rimmed eyes 
 steadily. They shifted under his glance. 
 
 "We want three cars today," Whaley went 
 on. "Two for powder and one for dynamite. 
 But the old man's crazy about Sky High. I 
 suppose when another car is ready there will 
 be more Marines to feed barbecued pig?" 
 
 Dorn knew that the man had been drinking, 
 and he looked down into his craven soul through
 
 AMERICAN PEP 145 
 
 unguarded windows. Had Whaley been sober 
 he would not have twitted Dorn so boldly of his 
 failure. 
 
 "I will see that you get the cars today," Dorn 
 said shortly, and turned from the window to 
 end the interview. 
 
 "All right, I'll report that you'll have the 
 three cars on Bald Eagle siding soon," said 
 Whaley as he torpidly moved away. 
 
 Dorn could not reconcile the apparent cunning 
 and artifice of Malvoney with the fact that he 
 would lean on such a rotten support as Whaley. 
 But possibly he was the only yellow material 
 at hand. 
 
 In a short time Miss Fraser returned, refreshed 
 by her breakfast and brief rest. She took her 
 place at Dorn's desk without words. For a time 
 they worked in silence. Now and then Dorn 
 turned to watch the serious lines of her profile. 
 
 Finally she looked up sharply. "Do you 
 know," she said, "I am beginning to believe this 
 man Malvoney has been using Whaley?" 
 
 "WTiy?" he asked quickly. 
 
 "Just now I saw Whaley go into the photog- 
 rapher's tent. He had a key and seemed familiar 
 with the place."
 
 146 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 She rose suddenly and came to his side. For 
 the first time since his return she threw off re- 
 straint. "Oh!" she cried out passionately, "I 
 wish I were a man. There's a big man's work 
 to do here. You can do it if you will. You 
 aren't going to just to just sit there, are you? " 
 She was excited and a bit exasperated. 
 
 Dorn's eyes met hers steadily and he smiled. 
 "No, Betty, I am not going to just 'sit here.' 
 Not one minute longer than I must. I am going 
 to count on you, too, not as a man, but as a 
 woman, with all a woman's instincts and wit. 
 You do not need to be a man to help in this." 
 
 "But you must be doubly a man," she spurred. 
 "Don't you see how it looks for you, for us, 
 unless you solve this thing? Think of the 
 service you can do the country, the whole world! 
 Think of the cloud hanging over the railroad 
 men, the most loyal band of men in the country! 
 Do you realize the power you have, the privi- 
 lege?" Her cheeks were flaming, and under the 
 lash of her stimulating challenge his eyes flashed 
 again to hers. 
 
 "I do realize, Betty, and I am going through 
 to the last notch for our country and for our 
 honor, and I need your help."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 147 
 
 "You'll have all I can give to the last ounce 
 of my strength. Why, it means more to me than 
 anything else ever has meant." 
 
 "What means more, Betty, just what?" 
 
 "All of it. Our privilege to help, your honor, 
 your fight, your victory." 
 
 "That was what I needed to have you say, 
 Betty. Now I can fight, as you say, with the 
 strength of two men. We are fighting the 
 Hun. The battle here is more important than 
 the one in Flanders." 
 
 "But," she cut in with a woman's swift fear, 
 "you will be careful?" 
 
 "Shall I pussy-foot?" he jerked out. "No, 
 caution will not win this fight. Every American, 
 every soul on earth who loves justice, must forget 
 carefulness of self and destroy this hellish menace 
 that now threatens." 
 
 Betty bent her head. "I was wrong to speak 
 of carefulness," she said gently. 
 
 "We are dealing with the dogs of Hell united 
 with the cunning of the serpent," he went on. 
 "One must get the steel and the other the heel, 
 and I am going to do my share. If I come out 
 with a whole skin, all right; if I do not I shall 
 have my own approval, and I hope yours."
 
 148 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 He went slowly out of the station, leaving the 
 girl white and shaken at the tempest she had 
 roused. 
 
 He went directly to Malvoney's tent. The 
 door was closed but unlocked. He entered with- 
 out knocking. He heard no sound at first, but 
 later could detect v heavy breathing beyond the 
 thin partition. He entered the second room 
 and found Whaley stretched unconscious on the 
 settee in a drunken stupor.
 
 Chapter Fifteen 
 
 DORN SHOOK WHALEY WITHOUT 
 results. Swiftly and in silence he pro- 
 ceeded to examine thoroughly the in- 
 terior of the tent. He found plenty of evidence 
 that connections for a wireless instrument had 
 been made, but the apparatus itself had been 
 removed. Further careful search also failed to 
 reveal any of Malvoney's personal belongings. 
 Only the camera and photographer's equipment 
 remained. Evidently that had served its pur- 
 pose, like the wireless, and was abandoned or 
 destroyed. 
 
 Dorn kicked aside the debris in the dark room 
 and among other things revealed a bundle of 
 films. On examination he recognized these as 
 some cars Malvoney had developed for the lazy 
 Whaley for Malcom's bills of lading. He slipped 
 these into his pocket for more careful investi- 
 gation and continued his search. Finding noth- 
 ing more he left Whaley unconscious, with the
 
 150 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 bluebottle flies buzzing about his purple face, and 
 returned to the station. 
 
 He entered the station briskly and found 
 Miss Fraser at her post. 
 
 "Whaley is in Malvoney's tent, drunk," he 
 began, "but could not wake when I went in. 
 Malvoney himself went west on the local this 
 morning." 
 
 "Did you learn anything of the wireless outfit?" 
 
 "There is no instrument there now, but I 
 found evidence of it. He has used Whaley for 
 God knows what," he ended. 
 
 "I still cannot comprehend," she pondered, 
 "why Mr. Malcom, usually so far sighted and 
 shrewd, is blind to him, surely a menace. Did 
 you find anything else?" 
 
 "Probably nothing of importance. I picked 
 up a package of old films." He reached into his 
 pocket and tossed the bundle over to her. 
 
 "These are mostly films taken by Whaley 
 for use on our bills of lading," she said after a 
 few moments' scrutiny. "Didn't you inquire 
 of me concerning the cars on the siding when 
 that fateful car was loaded?" 
 
 "Yes, I did," he replied quickly. "What 
 have you there?"
 
 AMERICAN PEP 151 
 
 "There's a film among these showing the row 
 on the switch, including the 76533 B. R. &B." 
 She held the film to the light. He took it from 
 her and examined it closely. 
 
 "We'll have an enlargement made from that," 
 he said. "I am going to follow any hunch I 
 have, however nebulous, until I get the curves 
 of that crooked mind. First, I have to go to 
 Pittsburg. I want to see one of those empty 
 cars that was on the siding." 
 
 "Do you really think there is a clue in this 
 picture?" 
 
 "Hardly a clue," he hesitated. "It is so hazy 
 I can't even put it into words, except as a sort 
 of sixth sense prompting." He turned to her 
 gently. " I don't like to leave you alone 
 with double work again, yet every minute I 
 wait will make it harder for me to get what 
 we are after." 
 
 " I have rested enough," she assured him quickly. 
 "You must follow every possible clue. I am well 
 able to do double duty." She was excited, yet 
 did not bother him with farther questions. 
 
 "You are a brick," he said, "and I shall not 
 stay away a moment longer than necessary." 
 He turned back at the door. "Several men
 
 152 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 may be here from both the railroad and the 
 government. Tell them everything you actually 
 know, but nothing of our suspicions. Let them 
 look around for themselves until I get back." 
 
 His first act on arriving at Pittsburg was to 
 go to a photographer, who agreed to give him an 
 enlarged print of his film in two hours. 
 
 While he was waiting he went to the car ac- 
 countant of the road. He questioned him con- 
 cerning the car he was trying to locate. 
 
 "The conductor's slip shows that all five of 
 those cars brought from Bald Eagle siding were 
 foreign empties," replied the accountant. "They 
 have been turned over to their roads to stop the 
 per diem charge. Two of them were B. R. & B's. 
 and two were Wheeling and Lake Erie and one 
 Pan Handle." 
 
 "What were the numbers of the B. R. & B.?" 
 
 The man consulted a slip. "76537 and 76538," 
 he replied. 
 
 "Does your record show that the B. R. & B. 
 have actually received them?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Then then* record will show their disposition?" 
 
 "Surely. Their man will be able to put his 
 hands on them at once, as they just got them."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 153 
 
 After a long tramp to curb his restlessness 
 Dorn returned to the photographer. The en- 
 largements were ready, as agreed. Dorn studied 
 the pictures with every sense alert. He then 
 went to the B. R. & B. accountant and asked if 
 he could see the two empty B. R. & B. cars. 
 
 "They're empty," replied the man; "what do 
 you want of them? " 
 
 "Just a sort of thousand to one shot that I 
 could get some information if I saw them, that's 
 all," replied Dorn. 
 
 "Isn't it one of our cars that was loaded at 
 your station with some kind of explosive, a case 
 or two of which would be strong enough to blow 
 the roof off of hell?" the man asked with a serious 
 sort of grin. "There were two federal agents as 
 well as two detectives from your road here this 
 morning getting the history of that car, but that 
 has nothing to do with these two empties, has 
 it?" 
 
 "Probably not," smiled Dorn. "But they aren't 
 losing much time, are they? That car was re- 
 ported in trouble only yesterday noon. Where 
 did you say those two cars were stored?" 
 
 "Our storage yards are out about three miles. 
 Take a street car and ask for Barney Dunn.
 
 iS4 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 You'll find him in a shanty near the track. He 
 has a record of every car, also a freak memory, 
 and knows the physical condition of every car 
 there." 
 
 Dorn thanked the clerk and strode out. He 
 had no difficulty in finding Barney Dunn in his 
 castle between a three hundred acre storage 
 yard and a dirty river. He opened his business 
 at once. 
 
 "The car accountant said " 
 
 "Well, what did that jackanapes say?" in- 
 terrupted Barney, anticipating an argument, and 
 shifting his black clay pipe to the other side where 
 the tooth was gone. 
 
 "Well, Barney," Dorn ventured again, "as a 
 matter of fact he spoke well of you, that is I guess 
 he thinks well of you, but he said ' 
 
 "Now what DID he say?" 
 
 Dorn's eyes twinkled. "He said he sent two 
 of your cars out here yesterday and .that he would 
 bet you had forgotten all about them by this 
 tune." 
 
 "Did he say that? DID he say that now? I 
 suppose he didn't tell you what cars?" 
 
 "Yes, he said they were of a new series just 
 delivered, 76537 and 76538."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 155 
 
 "Well if that spalpeen clerk will come out here 
 I will show him those cars quick enough over 
 there on twenty-six ready for the first call for 
 empties," said Barney, savagely chewing the 
 black clay stem. "But let me see, yes, that's 
 the same number what is there about those 
 cars ? you are the second man inquiring about 
 them this morning." 
 
 Dorn sobered instantly and his heart leaped. 
 
 "There was a sort of Roosian fellow here this 
 morning said he wanted two new cars to load 
 said something about cork or life preservers for 
 the navy that had to go to New Orleans, or 
 somewhere down there, and he lit on those two." 
 
 "What kind of looking fellow was he, Barney?" 
 
 "Kind of a squat, and the grease was runnin' 
 out of his jaws, a dark fellow and great on the 
 blarney." 
 
 Dorn's heart continued to pound. He believed 
 the man described was Malvoney. 
 
 "The shippers are more agreeable than they 
 used to be," he grinned to conceal his interest. 
 
 "Well, I never heard of a shipper coming out 
 here and picking out a car before, but these are 
 bad times. I explained to the yardmaster about 
 it."
 
 156 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Where is the yardmaster? " 
 
 "Working at the other end of the yard, but 
 he'll be up in a half hour, if you want to see him." 
 
 Dorn said he would wait and walked slowly 
 down the yard. 
 
 So there was, sure as hell, something to his 
 hunch after all!
 
 Chapter Sixteen 
 
 DORN HAD NOT LONG TO WAIT 
 for the yardmaster, but the man seemed 
 unwilling to talk. Dorn felt some sus- 
 picions that Malvoney might have bought him, 
 so did not press the matter further. He waited 
 until next morning and went directly to Carson, 
 engineer of the switching crew. He identified 
 himself to him as a brother engineer in good 
 standing. 
 
 Carson instantly recalled Dorn's accident at 
 Malcom's River and his transfer to the station 
 there. 
 
 "Now, Dorn," he offered, "let me get it straight. 
 Why do you want this car?" He delayed the 
 whole crew to listen to the brief history Dorn 
 gave. He examined the photograph and the 
 bill of lading that Dorn handed him. 
 
 "I want to get that car back on the Bald Eagle 
 switch at Malcom's Station," answered Dorn.
 
 i$8 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "But you don't make it quite clear why you 
 want it there," the engineer insisted. 
 
 "I know I don't, because it isn't yet clear to 
 me. But now that I have found Malvoney 
 also is interested in that car, I am more than 
 doubly anxious to get it safely away to Malcom's 
 Station." 
 
 "Are you absolutely sure Malvoney is a Ger- 
 man conspirator?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Then why don't you jug him at once?" 
 
 "It is one thing to know he is a German worker 
 and quite another to prove it." 
 
 "I'll help you, Dorn," promised the engineer. 
 "We can trust this conductor here. I will call 
 him and see how much he can tell. Hey, Pete," 
 he called, "shake hands with Mr. Dorn." 
 
 The conductor accepted the request as com- 
 plete endorsement. 
 
 "This man is in trouble," went on the engineer. 
 " He is on the level and between us I want a little 
 dope that will go no farther. Have you one of 
 our cars here in which the yardmaster has seemed 
 to take special interest?" 
 
 " Yes, it's 76538. He told me not to use it for 
 anything at all."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 159 
 
 "What do you make of that, Pete?" 
 
 "Nothing more than a few smokers, I guess," 
 grinned the conductor. 
 
 "Which is the quickest way to get a car from 
 here to Malcom's?" 
 
 "Send it to Allegheny Junction, and then over 
 the Bald Eagle spur. It's only about ten miles 
 across from there. The engine is coupling on a 
 train now. She can take one more car." The 
 switch conductor turned his head toward an 
 immense mogul road engine moving slowly back 
 to its train. Carson caught the slight suggestion 
 and glanced significantly at Dorn. 
 
 "Where is that car now, Pete?" he asked in a 
 low tone. 
 
 "Over on switch twenty-six, about ten cars 
 back from the main track." 
 
 "And I have known you to be very forgetful 
 sometimes, Pete." 
 
 "Indeed, yes, my memory is bad at times; 
 then there is the night crew, you know; I can't 
 keep track of them." 
 
 "All right. Forget that I said anything to you 
 concerning that car, and go about your business." 
 Carson started quickly across the tracks to 
 where the road mogul stopped, talked in low
 
 160 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 tones for a few moments with its engineer, then 
 motioned to Dorn. He looked cautiously about 
 and pointed toward track twenty-six, where the 
 car was. Dorn needed no further hint. He 
 darted forward to the road engine, cut the air 
 connections just made, pulled the pin releasing 
 the mogul from the train, and gave the ahead 
 signal. Carson in the meantime had quickly 
 climbed into his own cab, and was apparently 
 paying no attention to Dorn's movements. As 
 though self-constituted, the engine moved down 
 the main track to switch twenty-six and in an- 
 other two minutes returned with the coveted 
 car, 76538, which Dorn coupled to the waiting 
 train. There were three short blasts from the 
 whistle, and express freight train 249 was off to 
 Allegheny Junction. 
 
 Dorn climbed up the side of the great five- 
 hundred-horse-power steam plant, which carried 
 with it coalbins, waterworks and machine repair 
 tools, starting up the mountain with over sixty 
 full loads. He went to the right side of the cab 
 and approached the gray-haired engineer, who 
 looked at him with a keen eye well back under a 
 bushy brow. 
 
 "Dorn," he began, "you know it is positively
 
 AMERICAN PEP 161 
 
 against the rules for us to carry any one on the 
 engine." He had to speak close to Dorn's ear 
 so his voice could be heard above the mighty 
 shouts of the engine getting headway. 
 
 Dorn nodded. 
 
 "But I am very glad you are here," winked 
 the engineer, "for my fireman reports that he is 
 sick. At least he will not work, and if you will 
 fire in his place you can help us out." 
 
 Dorn nodded again with a smile. He recog- 
 nized that Carson served him well; here was a 
 friend. He went to the fireman's side of the 
 engine and found the man taking off blouse and 
 overalls. These he handed to Dorn. 
 
 "Buddy," he grinned, "how do you suppose 
 you are going to negotiate nine tons of coal 
 going up the mountain with- those soft lily 
 whites?" 
 
 "A few blisters never hurt any one much," 
 replied Dorn, looking at the big pile of coal on 
 the tender. He put his coat and hat in the 
 fireman's box and adjusted the greasy cap, blouse, 
 and overalls of the fireman. 
 
 "It isn't so bad if you know how to favor your- 
 self, and I guess you do," said the fireman as he 
 started back to the way car, where he was to stay
 
 162 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 a sick man until they arrived at Allegheny 
 Junction. 
 
 Dorn took the shovel, altogether familiar to 
 him, and began to feed the insatiable maw of 
 the motive power that was snaking on its ten 
 wheels the unbelievable load up the mountain. 
 Things were coming pretty fast but none too 
 rapid to suit him. He could see the car just 
 behind the tender where he was shoveling coal 
 and he was more certain that Malvoney was 
 interested hi that car. While coupling it up 
 he had paused long enough on one side to notice 
 that the door was shut and sealed, and that the 
 seal bore his own station number. But how 
 in God's name did it get there? This was not 
 the car he had loaded; this was number 76538. 
 This car left the siding as an empty, and had 
 been handled as an empty. At the first stop 
 he would see if it were sealed on the other side. 
 When he coupled it on it felt as if it had a load, 
 but of this he could not be certain. Between 
 shovels there was little time to spare, as it required 
 nine tons to keep the engine steaming for seventy- 
 five miles. A ton of coal every six miles had to 
 be spread skilfully through a door little larger 
 than a porthole over a 7 x 10 grate.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 163 
 
 They were leaving a few minutes after ten. 
 With good luck six hours would be required to 
 climb those seventy-five miles. As Dorn shoveled 
 with his long body bent almost like a jack-knife 
 to see inside the small opening, he thought that 
 unless Malvoney had paid a confederate in 
 the yard they were leaving he would have to be 
 pretty lively to keep up with him now. They 
 would be likely to reach Allegheny Junction 
 at four in the afternoon, and if this luck was 
 still with him he would have the car back on the 
 powder-mill siding in Bald Eagle Canyon before 
 dark. 
 
 The passenger train that would pass them in 
 three hours was the only means that Malvoney 
 could use to follow, but it was leaving two hours 
 behind them. Unless he was right on the spot, 
 however, and had quick and secret information, 
 there was no way for him to learn that he had the 
 car and catch the passenger train. Dorn was 
 positive no train record had been made of it. It 
 was done so quickly that Dorn did not even have 
 time to see if both doors were sealed after train 
 bills were made. 
 
 When they came to the siding to allow the 
 passenger to pass, it took them to the left of the
 
 164 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 depot off from the main track to the coal chutes 
 and water tank. Here five more tons of coal 
 were piled on top the depleted tender and the 
 water tank was refilled. This done they lay 
 on the track, the engine some hundred feet from 
 the station, waiting for the passenger. Dorn 
 now had opportunity to climb down and examine 
 the other side to see if his car were sealed there. 
 Again he saw, affixed in the end of the pin holding 
 the sliding doors firmly shut, the wire and metal 
 seal bearing the imprint of Malcom's Station. 
 
 With the habit and instinct of an old engineer 
 he touched the tender and sensitive backs of his 
 now blistered fingers to the car's journal boxes, 
 and had to withdraw them immediately, as there 
 was considerable warmth. Such heat could not 
 come unless the car had a load. He was almost 
 uncontrollably moved to rip off the seal and at 
 once settle the question, but he realized such a 
 thing would be very unwise there. The pas- 
 senger was whistling, and in a minute more pulled 
 up with the smoking car abreast them as Dorn 
 climbed back. 
 
 He leaned idly against the water tank waiting, 
 his hands now blistered and black, his jacket 
 and overalls more dirty and greasy. The tight-
 
 AMERICAN PEP 165 
 
 fitting cap was no blacker than his face, which, 
 with its peculiarly shaped nose, suggested an 
 immense black parrot. He was unrecognizable as 
 Dorn, the neat ticket agent at Malcom's Station. 
 
 His idle curiosity in the passengers in the 
 smoking car did not last long. For his eyes 
 recoiled as from the thrust of a knife when he 
 saw Malvoney step springily from the front end 
 of the car, not twenty feet away. He evi- 
 dently was searching for something he knew 
 just how to locate. With him was another 
 brutal-looking man of undoubted Teutonic origin. 
 Both men came directly to the car next to the 
 locomotive, looked to see if the seals were intact, 
 exchanged cock-sure glances, and returned to the 
 platform of the smoker. They also looked fur- 
 tively about, probably in search of Dorn, but 
 failed to recognize or connect him with the 
 grimy fireman, who began to take on a fire-box 
 heat. 
 
 Murder entered the heart of Dorn as he scanned 
 them, with fierce desire for justice and maybe 
 revenge. To him they were bandits and mur- 
 derers of nations who would ruin him and her. 
 Was there not a time when murder justified 
 murder !
 
 166 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 Every man on this railroad was doing his 
 duty. Malcom and his wonderful plant flashed 
 before him. His own wearing and tearing ex- 
 perience of the last few days came back. His 
 mind also went out to a girl's face, distinct to 
 him in the bright sunlight. It seemed to have 
 grown wan and thin for want of sleep and from 
 over-effort. He heard the three blasts of the 
 signal whistle, and the passenger train started 
 to move. Malvoney would be brought close, 
 but still too far away from the engineer's long 
 arms. In Dorn's sight Malvoney's sleek face 
 and greasy jowl changed to a fox, then to a wolf, 
 and finally to a jackall. 
 
 Dorn stooped for the only available weapon 
 as the train brought his man nearer him. His 
 long, blistered fingers encompassed a big chunk 
 of coal, and with the unerring skill of boyhood 
 he let go from an arm as flexed as though made of 
 steel. The missile struck Malvoney full in the 
 forehead with such force as to smash the coal 
 into bits. As the train gathered speed Dorn 
 saw his enemy reel and fall into the arms of his 
 companion, or he would have leaped as a tiger 
 man on the fast-moving train and let his blis- 
 tered fingers choke his life out and throw his 
 body to the dogs.
 
 Chapter Seventeen 
 
 DORN WATCHED THE PASSENGER 
 train move rapidly out of their way, 
 and saw the switch open to let them on 
 the main track, as from a stupor. The lean 
 hand of Collins tugged at the throttle, giving 
 the great mogul the breath of life. Thus they 
 began the last lap of his trip to Allegheny Junc- 
 tion, where he must devise some way to get his 
 car over a mountain spur or branch track to 
 Malcom's. He had surely left his mark on 
 Malvoney, if he had not killed him. He was 
 glad and began stoking the fire with a decisive 
 grimness. 
 
 After a short time they had the first level 
 track, and having a good fire he took a moment 
 to see Collins, who viewed him with a knowing 
 twinkle hi his eye. 
 
 "You've had practice. You'd make a good 
 bomb thrower," he said. "Your arm is as 
 steady as your eye."
 
 i68 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Did did you see him?" Dorn asked, at 
 first apprehensive. 
 
 "Yes. Was that your man? He is right on 
 your heels. But maybe you have finished him. 
 That was an awful shot." 
 
 "That was him," Dorn replied ruefully. "If I 
 have finished him it's a good job. May have 
 to pay but you are the only man who can 
 prove it. Anyhow, I know now that I have 
 the right car. I'll save it for the Government, 
 from Boche. What jury would convict?" 
 
 "I've a poor memory," grinned the engineer. 
 
 "If he gets over that knock-out he'll be wait- 
 ing for me at the Junction with the slugger he 
 has with him, I suppose," said Dorn. 
 
 "Yes, but if we work it right, he can stay 
 there and wait for some time." 
 
 "How's that?" 
 
 "You know, of course, that this track down 
 the mountain to Malcom belongs to him. He 
 wanted your people to build a switch into his 
 coal mines, but they sidestepped until he began 
 building it himself. Before they knew what he 
 was doing he had built it to Allegheny Junction, 
 and to a competing road. It cuts off from us 
 one and a half miles from the station. I will
 
 AMERICAN PEP 169 
 
 set you in there and you wilt roll every foot of 
 the way if you can manage the other end. There 
 is a shanty you can open with a switch key if 
 you want to telephone ahead, as you should, to 
 find if it's clear before you start." 
 
 " Are you sure about the grade all the way? " 
 
 " I've been in there many a tune after coal. 
 I know and as I understand it he wants this car 
 worse than you do and will clear it for you." 
 
 " Yes, he needs it just as bad as I do." 
 
 " Then you will be stronger on his track than 
 here. Use a club, a gun, anything if attacked, 
 but be sure your brakes are right before you 
 start on that track. It has bad grades and is 
 crooked as a snake." 
 
 "It's a new car. The brakes should be all 
 right." 
 
 "If you find them slipping, say your prayers. 
 But you ought to know the game, you have run 
 the mountains long enough," consoled Collins. 
 
 "I'll take a chance. Malvoney is spending 
 lots of time and money to keep that car in sight. 
 It is either the car I want or holds the key to 
 the situation. I am going to have it or go 
 railroading on the big Cut Off. And when I 
 get it back, there will be murder if it don't stay
 
 170 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 there." Dorn returned to his firing, eager to 
 try out the man's hazardous and daring plan, 
 and now little impressed that he had seriously 
 injured Malvoney by breaking the chunk of coal 
 between his eyes. 
 
 Dorn knew that this ten or twelve miles of 
 mountain side road was not intended for much 
 more than a switch to reach coal and hickory 
 wood for charcoal. It was a bad road, a suc- 
 cession of reverse curves; there would be extreme 
 danger. Yet were not those who traveled the 
 seas in constant danger, were not those in the 
 trenches and aeroplanes, those who were fighting 
 the world's battles, hi danger? What right had 
 he to give peril more than a passing thought? 
 He noticed for the first time blood on the shovel 
 handle from his blistered hands, but the coal 
 went in just the same. He did not feel the hurt. 
 He was thinking again of the tired girl standing 
 at the window of Malcom's Station looking out 
 upon the track. Perhaps at that moment she 
 might be wondering why she had not heard from 
 him since he left her yesterday at noon. 
 
 In about an hour the fireman came forward 
 and said he was recovered sufficiently to go to 
 work and would let Dorn off at Allegheny Station.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 171 
 
 "Do you know it is harder to loaf than to 
 work?" he growled as he took the shovel even 
 before he changed his clothes. "Hell, man, 
 what have you been doing?" he added as he 
 noticed the blood on both ends of the shovel 
 handle. 
 
 "That's nothing," laughed Dorn, drawing water 
 from the tank to wash. "Bleeding blisters on 
 your hands don't count. It's the hurt hands 
 that move the world and win wars." He handed 
 the fireman his jacket and took the soap he 
 offered. 
 
 The engineer had turned to watch them both 
 as the fireman stooped to give the mogul her 
 carbon diet. "It's only about ten miles more 
 to Allegheny Junction," he said, "but the 
 worst grade we have." 
 
 Dorn had time to finish washing and take a 
 short rest before the intersection with Malcom's 
 road was reached. This was something over a 
 mile from the station and town known as Alle- 
 gheny Junction. 
 
 The great mogul set Dora's car in on the little 
 branch at a place where it could be set in 
 motion merely by taking off the brake. Then 
 the engine returned to the train, coupled up
 
 172 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 quickly, and went on, with Collins and the fire- 
 man waving good luck. 
 
 Dorn found the telephone as the engineer had 
 said in a little shanty which he opened with a 
 switch key. In a few moments he had Miss 
 Fraser on the wire. In order to get her he had 
 to take the risk of going through Malcom's 
 office. He thought he recognized Whaley's voice 
 on the wire when he asked to be connected with 
 the station. 
 
 "Is there anything new there?" he asked the 
 girl. "This is the first time I have had a chance 
 to call you. " 
 
 "No. Everything here is quiet," she replied. 
 "Where are you now?" 
 
 " I am at Allegheny Junction. I've got a car 
 I think the car and I am going to ride it down 
 the mountain. I will be at your switch in about 
 twenty-five minutes. Can you be there to open 
 the switch and let me out on the main track so 
 .that I can make it by gravity to the canyon 
 switch?" 
 
 "But how do you know the main track will 
 be clear then?" 
 
 "I don't, but I can't wait here. Malvoney 
 and his slugger are right on top of me. They
 
 AMERICAN PEP 173 
 
 are bold and may be here any moment. See if 
 there is any train due and if there is ask the dis- 
 patcher to hold everything out of Bald Eagle 
 both ways of this track. Tell him you have 
 heard of a runaway car. Can you do that?" 
 
 "Yes, if you must take such risks, I will manage 
 some way. How do you know you have the right 
 car?" 
 
 "I am not certain, but pretty sure. I'll know 
 before I start down. Have the switch open hi 
 twenty minutes. Every half minute is impor- 
 tant here. Goodbye." He hung up the re- 
 ceiver and snapped the switch lock on the shanty 
 door. 
 
 He now was fully resolved to break the seals 
 and see what was in that car. He must know. 
 But he knew he must move quickly, as Malvoney 
 or his manhandler or both might be there at 
 any moment. 
 
 He ran to the car standing on the grade strain- 
 ing at the brakes. He examined them all care- 
 fully and found new shoes on every wheel. He 
 then picked up the stout limb of a tree about 
 two feet long to use as an additional leverage 
 on the brake wheel. When he was ready to start 
 he looked carefully about. Seeing no one he
 
 174 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 tore the seal and wire from the end of the pin 
 holding the door shut. 
 
 He trembled with anticipation as he put his 
 weight on the sliding door to open it. Yes, 
 by heaven, there was the pad that he had put 
 next to the door, and there was the great stag 
 head on the end of the little iron-bound cases! 
 That was enough. He shoved the door shut, 
 inserted the phi to hold it, went up the ladder 
 like a monkey, brandished the stout club in his 
 hands in defiance to danger below, and let off 
 the brake with a great sigh of relief, but this 
 was not the car they loaded it was a different 
 number. 
 
 The car began to move down the grade, as soon 
 as he let off the brake, into a deep ravine of rock 
 and trees, down to Malcom's Station, where 
 Betty would have the main track clear and the 
 switch open, so that he could ride the car back 
 to the canyon switch from whence it had started, 
 and then but he refused to take more than a 
 sip from the cup of delight. Such a triumph 
 and vindication of every one and himself! He 
 had played the game hard and on the square, 
 and it could end hi no other way if he had not 
 killed Malvoney.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 175 
 
 He had shoveled about ten tons of coal, a 
 tiring task even to those used to it. His hands 
 were still bleeding and tender as the exposed 
 nerve of a tooth. Also, from facing the furnace 
 all that time, his cheeks were hot and blistered. 
 There was the fearful effect of the heat on his 
 eyeballs, unused to the glare of the fire box. 
 But now he was insensible to all this, intoxicated 
 with triumph as the car gained headway slowly, 
 creating a cool, soothing breeze in the ravines 
 and woods. He raised himself, threw out his 
 chest, and drank in the delightful air as if it were 
 nectar. 
 
 He knew that great care must be exercised. 
 He had the evidence for which he had fought, 
 and in his possession were fifty tons of explosive 
 that would level the whole mountaintop if let 
 loose. The warning of the old engineman, Collins, 
 came forcibly to him and froze the contempla- 
 tion of anything but the track ahead that seemed 
 terminating every moment against a solid wall 
 of rocks and trees it wound about. He was 
 forced to attend closely to the brakes and he 
 realized that the load was fully the maximum 
 for the car. 
 
 He inserted the club he had brought in the
 
 176 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 spokes of the brake wheel, but this had little 
 noticeable effect and the car continued to gain 
 speed rapidly. Perhaps, he hoped, it was only 
 a temporary grade, after which the brakes would 
 hold better. But his speed increased until he 
 had to brace himself at each new curve. He 
 could hear he tracks sing and crack ahead of 
 him, as if to warn of the approach of a hurtling 
 body of wood and steel loaded to its full capacity 
 with a sleeping volcano that if excited by suffi- 
 cient jar or heat would but he allowed his 
 mind to go no farther. He took up several 
 notches on the brake and leaned over to see its 
 effect on the wheel that in the diminishing light 
 of the canyon gave out a flame of sparks, as 
 does a great emery wheel. 
 
 Dorn was now compelled to hold to the brake 
 wheel to retain his position on top of the car. 
 He believed the speed would diminish when 
 the grade was less, but the great load carried 
 over the lesser grades like a toboggan and went 
 against the little one-and-a-half-inch flanges on 
 the wheels that held them to the track with 
 thuds that he knew were positively precarious. 
 
 The car swayed and trembled as it acquired 
 express speed and Dorn felt the sickening terror
 
 AMERICAN PEP 177 
 
 of one who has lost control of elements which 
 he knows will destroy him. One moment he 
 seemed headed for a solid wall and then the car 
 would plunge around a sharp curve to escape 
 it with such force that Dorn could feel the out- 
 side wheels rise from the track and fall back 
 again with a jar that made him think in terror 
 of the effect upon his load of explosive. His 
 terror grew to a point where he was unable to 
 look down at the deep canyon declivities beside 
 the track. 
 
 He realized that he had tightened his brake 
 to the last notch with the addition of his club 
 and his long body as a leverage, and yet his 
 speed increased frightfully. He began to think 
 despairingly of his long, intensive effort to vindi- 
 cate others and himself and save such value for 
 the Government; was it going to end there in 
 the canyon with the destruction that fifty tons 
 of explosive would work! Such fear paralyzed 
 him. 
 
 A few mountain folks who could hear him 
 coming for a long way stood well back from the 
 track frozen with fear as the runaway car passed 
 them so fast that they appeared to Dorn as 
 blurred figures slightly resembling human forms.
 
 1 78 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 Dorn had driven a locomotive on the mountains 
 and knew when speed became unsafe. He rea- 
 lized that now his car might leave the track at 
 any moment, and then at this point there came 
 a calm in his mental turmoil. He gathered his 
 long legs and arms about the brake wheel and 
 waited for sure death. He began to wonder how 
 long it would be after the car left the rails before 
 the hellish charge of explosives would go off. 
 Betty would be there at the switch waiting but 
 his mind could not focus on that added horror. 
 Even though miles away the explosion would kill 
 or mutilate her. 
 
 When he pulled himself together he realized 
 that the terrifying thumping on the flanges had 
 grown less. He opened his eyes slowly hoping 
 against hope to see before him a comparatively 
 level track ahead. The car was .slackening its 
 speed and a mile and a half below him he could 
 see the town of Malcom's. The brakes were 
 holding. He loosened his hold of the wheel and 
 leaned over to see if the car actually were stopping. 
 He found that the brakes were red hot. Still 
 dazed and uncertain he realized he must release 
 them slightly or they would freeze to the wheel 
 and stop him completely. But when he attempted
 
 AMERICAN PEP iy 9 
 
 to release the brakes he learned that his strength 
 of first desperation had left him. He felt weaker 
 than a child, yet not to release the brakes would 
 mean another catastrophe that must be pre- 
 vented. Iron will flogged his body again. It 
 required every atom of strength he could muster 
 to release it enough to allow the shoes to cool for 
 an instant. He then brought them up firm again, 
 and now his feeling of relief knew no bounds 
 though he still flew to the edge of the village 
 where the track intersected with the main line. 
 In a moment he would be at the switch. Betty 
 would be there to let him in on it and on the 
 canyon switch of the powder works. Here the 
 canyon would be guarded and a special guard 
 must be placed over this car until the mystery 
 of the theft could be solved. 
 
 Then he rounded the last curve and from behind 
 a clump of trees he could see the switch to their 
 main track some fifteen hundred feet above the 
 station. Yes, thank God, Betty was there! 
 He knew she would be, and the target over the 
 switch showed that it was open, right. He 
 adjusted his brake, bringing his speed down no 
 more than he was sure would carry him to the 
 main track, and into the canyon. He ran down
 
 i8o AMERICAN PEP 
 
 the ladder to the last step, held on with one 
 hand, and with his free hand touched Betty's 
 in an instant clasp as the car passed her and 
 took the switch. 
 
 "I've got it this time sure," he cried c-iit as he 
 pointed to the car. There was intoxication in 
 her look of approval as she pointed toward the 
 station, indicating that he was wanted there. 
 He nodded that he understood and climbed back 
 to the top of the car as it rolled along driven 
 by gravity down past the station and the guard 
 standing at the mouth of Bald Eagle Canyon. 
 
 Dorn had lived a lifetime in the last thirty 
 minutes and emerged from a hair-turning experi- 
 ence into the Heaven of Betty's approval but 
 now entered what always had seemed to him 
 the granite roadway to hell, the powder-mill 
 switch in Bald Eagle Canyon.
 
 Chapter Eighteen 
 
 BETTY FRASER AGAIN HAD BEEN 
 left alone with double duties to perform. 
 She was commencing to feel the intensive 
 strain effected by the incredible miscarriage of 
 the valuable and dangerous freight, and evident 
 bold daring crime. 
 
 Every time the train dispatcher or super- 
 intendent came in on the wire she felt the appre- 
 hension of uncertainty. And when there was a 
 wireless message she trembled for fear it might 
 be some order affecting Dorn. 
 
 Mr. Malcom had surprised her by his quiet 
 attitude, yet she felt sure a volcano would break 
 any time with terrible force upon the guilty. 
 
 Like nearly all the residents of the mountain 
 community she regarded him with deep respect. 
 As soon as Dorn's telephone call reached her she 
 at once hastened to tell Mr. Malcom the great 
 news. To her relief the powdermaker himself 
 answered the telephone.
 
 1 82 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "He asked me to have the switch from your 
 line open," she ended, "to let him out on the 
 main track with the car he is to ride down the 
 mountain. He said he would be there in twenty 
 minutes." 
 
 "I am sorry he did not wait to have us send him 
 an engine. There are grades for considerable 
 distance, and I am fearful no hand brakes will 
 hold a loaded car on them." 
 
 "He explained that every half minute counted 
 and that he could not delay, Mr. Malcom. He 
 spoke as if he knew just what he was doing." 
 
 "He is indeed brave to start down the moun- 
 tain track with that car if he knows the nature 
 of the grades," Mr. Malcom replied with grim 
 anxiety. 
 
 Before Betty opened the switch she must 
 ascertain if there were anything on the road going 
 in either direction. The dispatcher replied 
 promptly that there was nothing. With only a 
 few moments left she hurried up the track almost 
 a third of a mile, unlocked the switch, opened it 
 to the main track, and not a moment too soon. 
 The speed that seemed to Dorn as moderate 
 appeared reckless to her as she stood at the 
 switch. Out of the trees around the curve the
 
 AMERICAN PEP 183 
 
 car came. She saw Dorn adjust the brake, run 
 down the ladder, hold out his hand which she 
 touched with delight, and heard his assurance 
 that he had the right car. The wheels bumped 
 over the switch and Dorn disappeared in the 
 canyon. 
 
 Betty's joy at his deliverance and the knowl- 
 edge that he had the right car, added to even a 
 fleeting touch of his hand, filled her with new life 
 and courage. She remained motionless even after 
 she saw the car disappear, but suddenly realizing 
 insistent duties she grasped the lever and closed 
 the switch. As she clasped the heavy padlock 
 she found it wet and sticky. Examining it 
 closer she found that it was covered with fresh 
 blood. She glanced incredulously into her stained 
 hand which had held the lock. Then came to 
 her the fearfully depressing fact that it was 
 Dorn's blood from his bruised and aching hands. 
 Yet he had been exultant and cheerful as he 
 called to her in passing. But in her active 
 imagination she saw his day's activities as she 
 slowly walked back to the station. Tears that 
 she never could have shed for her own pain now 
 came in a flood and mingled with his blood on her 
 handkerchief.
 
 184 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 Mr. Malcom seldom came to the station except 
 to take a train and Betty was astonished to see 
 him waiting there. 
 
 "I came down to witness the bravest work ever 
 performed," he explained. "No man on battle- 
 field has shown greater courage and exercised 
 such skill and judgment. I want to be the first 
 to shake his hand and tell him that we are proud 
 of him." 
 
 Betty glowed al his praise and flushed as if it 
 had been directed toward herself. "Yes," she 
 stammered, "it was magnificent courage." She 
 went to the basin to wash the stain from her 
 hands. "And look!" she cried, pointing to the 
 dark red blotches, "see what it has cost him!" 
 
 "He will return here at once, won't he?" 
 
 "Yes, I told him he was wanted here and he 
 signalled that he would come." 
 
 "I shall be glad to see him. For the last few 
 days I have actually found myself suspicious of 
 those I thought true as steel, but this cursed 
 mystery has almost unseated my reason." 
 
 "Everyone will be relieved," she said. "Wash- 
 ington has been asking for Dorn for more than an 
 hour and I am so glad he now can reply to them. 
 I feel as if some important information about
 
 AMERICAN PEP 185 
 
 this matter must have developed." Betty moved 
 to the bay window and anxiously watched the 
 track, expecting to see Dorn appear at any 
 moment from the canyon. 
 
 "Have you sent a guard to watch that car?" 
 she asked suddenly. 
 
 "Yes, I left orders with Whaley to send men 
 down there at once, and I heard him telephoning 
 my order. I want to ask Washington for another 
 squad of Marines. My men should be with the 
 car by this time, doubtless before Dorn left it. 
 They will stay until relieved by the Marines." 
 
 Betty had wheeled from the window while he 
 was talking and now came to him with troubled 
 eyes. "You say you left that order with 
 Whaley " she faltered, then bit her lips hard. 
 She remembered Dorn's orders to utter no sus- 
 picion without proof but there was proof now. 
 "Then, oh then, come," she pleaded with a 
 sharp breath, "we must go down there at once 
 and make sure everything is all right. I am 
 commencing to feel frightened." 
 
 Malcom studied her white face and knew that 
 she was checking great fear and suspicion of 
 Whaley to more definite form. "He must have 
 reached the siding," he said gravely, "and it is
 
 1 86 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 strange he does not return. Yes, you are right, 
 we better go down." 
 
 She turned quickly. " I can leave now at once," 
 she said and adjusted her hat. She followed 
 Malcom out, locking the doors behind her. 
 
 They turned down the track toward the entrance 
 to the canyon. Betty was filled with terrifying 
 misgivings over this incalculable misplacement 
 of Mr. Malcom's trust. He had left his impor- 
 tant message in the unreliable and perhaps 
 traitorous hands of Whaley. She looked at the 
 big man askance, wondering at his almost child- 
 like faith in even the meanest of his employees. 
 Surely he must have seen, as she and Dorn had 
 seen, the yellow streak in Whaley. 
 
 "This is what it comes to," the manufacturer 
 was saying as they hurried forward. "We load 
 a car with all the care possible and send it away 
 under military escort, guarded every moment. 
 But it arrives at tide-water, empty. This fifty 
 tons of freight, worth over a hundred thousand 
 dollars and wanted in Europe on battlefields 
 about as bad as the breath of life, is evidently 
 transferred to another car, which was taken from 
 this track as empty. All the railroad detectives 
 admit that they are up against a wall. Dorn
 
 AMERICAN PEP 187 
 
 finds the car and brings it back single handed." 
 He looked down the track in the deepening 
 gloom. 
 
 "Mr. Dorn's energy and force in this matter 
 have been wonderful, prodigious," Betty agreed. 
 "He has apparently accomplished the impos- 
 sible." 
 
 "That's a cheering aspect, but the terribly 
 depressing angle is that with an armed guard at 
 both ends of this otherwise inaccessible canyon, 
 which has been honest and clear laced for two 
 centuries, it still has developed that we are involved 
 in an impenetrable intrigue. It makes a profit- 
 able field for our national enemy's operation. 
 Yet, I could swear that every man working here 
 safe. I know them all but but Each has 
 been raised here, all have the blood. How can 
 it be?" He finished with the anguish of a 
 father forced to face the perfidy of his child. 
 
 "It is the work of spies and enemies," she 
 ventured, "and indeed clever work, but with an 
 accomplice inside." 
 
 "But all my people are as true as steel." Yet 
 his voice held a wistful question which seemed 
 to invite her to tell what she knew. 
 
 "Such uncompromising confidence in your
 
 1 88 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 people is part of your nature," she said gently, 
 "and makes you beloved by all men in this com- 
 munity, but I now am going to brave your pos- 
 sible displeasure to tell you that I believe you 
 have a traitor and a spy right in your own office, 
 who has aided this nefarious scheme." 
 
 "Who is it?" as though warding a blow. 
 
 "Whaley," she replied with equal brevity, 
 yet her voice shook. "Whaley, the very man you 
 have entrusted to send a guard for this car a 
 moment ago." 
 
 "How do you know he is a spy?" came back 
 like the crack of a whip. 
 
 "I knew you would ask that, and this was the 
 reason I could not tell you before. I only can 
 say that we know some things by instinct more 
 certainly than if we were given positive proof. 
 Mr. Dorn and I have been waiting for that proof. 
 Perhaps we were wrong not to speak before. 
 We knew Whaley was bad. We should drive 
 these traitors from here. The Germans here 
 must be stopped. This must be a Marne and 
 there must be a Joffre. It may be that this is 
 the result of demanding too much proof." 
 
 "You may be right, child, but on account of 
 such boldness under my very eye, my suspicions
 
 AMERICAN PEP 189 
 
 have centered in that conductor who rebelled the 
 other night." 
 
 "But he, alone, could have done nothing, 
 without the help of spies within your own plant." 
 
 "I begin to realize that war brings terrible 
 things. And Dorn," he added with deep feeling, 
 "Dorn is our brave, capable man. He is our 
 Joffre." 
 
 "But where is he?" she cried out with a new 
 quick fear. "And where is the car?" They were 
 approaching the switch where both should have 
 been; the siding was empty and neither Dorn 
 nor the car was in sight. Down the tracks 
 towards the mill they saw men led by Whaley 
 coming. 
 
 Then Betty's attention was instantly drawn 
 to Mr. Malcom as he stooped beside the concrete 
 platform with a groan. She rushed to his side 
 and found him bending over the prostrate figure 
 of Dorn.
 
 Chapter Nineteen 
 
 AFTER HER FIRST SHARP CRY OF 
 fear Betty remained white and still. 
 Then she came slowly forward and bent 
 above Dorn's bleeding head. Gently she sat down, 
 and raised it until it rested on the soft cushion of 
 her dress. 
 
 Malcom turned to Whaley and the men, iron 
 in his soul. "Get a stretcher," he ordered, "and 
 take Mr. Dorn to the powder mill hospital." 
 Several of the men darted away to do his bidding, 
 but Whaley stood limp and inert looking down 
 upon the bruised head resting against Miss Fra- 
 ser's shielding arms. 
 
 "You were too late, Whaley," said Malcom 
 sternly. "The car is gone!" 
 
 "Gone!" His messenger looked blank. 
 
 Malcom swept his hand toward the empty 
 siding. 
 
 "I did not understand your directions perfectly, 
 sir," explained Whaley in a low tone. "We went
 
 AMERICAN PEP 191 
 
 to the siding by the station first, and found 
 nothing there. It took us some time to come 
 back here to the office for better instructions." 
 
 "You knew what I meant, Whaley." There 
 was the hard note of an iron will under strong 
 repression in Malcom's sharp bitten words. 
 Whaley flinched and went back to the mill. 
 
 "My God, Betty!" Malcom cried out. "I 
 believe you were right. But I feel as powerless 
 as a child. He has made it look straight enough. 
 He may have misunderstood. If he is crooked, 
 then he is as tricky as hell." This was the first 
 time Betty ever had seen the old powder maker 
 roused. 
 
 She had no power of thought or words. Her 
 heart was pounding with a sickening pain because 
 beneath her hand she could feel no stirring of 
 Dorn's pulse. He had given his big life away 
 in a final defeat. This, more than his bodily 
 injury, seemed to stun her power of thought. 
 
 Malcom and Betty both realized how much 
 had been depending upon Dorn. Now that he 
 was helpless they felt the sudden onrush of panic. 
 After giving his orders to the men to carry Dorn 
 to the powder mill hospital Malcom seemed 
 powerless to accomplish more. He stood in-
 
 192 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 active, simply waiting. Yet somewhere in his 
 own mountains that car must still be moving 
 from them. His mind refused to focus on the 
 problem. He felt for the moment like an im- 
 potent and feeble old man, waiting for his 
 bulwark of strength to return. 
 
 The men arrived with the stretcher and Betty 
 helped them lift Dorn gently to its canvas length. 
 She stood silent and motionless watching them 
 carry him away toward the hospital. She longed 
 to follow and to nurse him if life still remained, 
 but she knew she must return to her post at the 
 station. 
 
 Once back in the little office the memory of 
 Dorn's presence seemed to bring her fresh energy. 
 She went to the telegraph instrument and sent 
 out frantic messages, some wildly, others more 
 coherent, in an effort to trace and check the move- 
 ments of the stolen car. Malcom joined her a 
 few moments later and he too helped hi the 
 search by wire. But their isolation stood hi the 
 way. The car seemed to have disappeared, 
 as at first, into the air or into the depths of the 
 earth. At the end of the afternoon, spent and 
 discouraged, Betty gave up her task and walked 
 slowly toward the hospital.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 193 
 
 Dorn had not yet recovered consciousness, 
 although the doctor held hope. 
 
 Betty had eaten no evening meal, yet felt little 
 hunger. She forced herself to drink strong coffee, 
 then went to consult Mr. Malcom again. She 
 learned from him that several men from the 
 detective bureau at Washington were on their 
 way to Malcom's Station to help unravel the 
 new phase of the mystery. In addition the rail- 
 road was sending a new telegraph operator to 
 relieve Betty of her double duty. 
 
 "I am glad," she said quietly, "because I have 
 almost decided I must get right down into this 
 thing, that I must play more than a waiting 
 woman's part." She spoke wearily only because 
 her body was literally worn out. But the deep 
 light in her eyes belied the heaviness of her tone 
 and the slow raising of her tired lids. Tomorrow, 
 after a night's rest, she was determined to enter 
 the battle with all a woman's weapons. 
 
 "What do you mean, Betty?" he reproached. 
 "You cannot leave us now. Not while Dorn is 
 undone." 
 
 "I shall wait until I know he is better," she 
 said in her tired voice. "But I have certain 
 intuitions, instincts, perhaps, which I am going to-
 
 i 9 4 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 follow. To voice them would sound merely 
 womanish. All I can do is work them out blindly. 
 I have done all I can here. They have the car 
 now, again; and it is not beyond our reach. 
 I believe I know a way to follow it." 
 
 "You should tell me, Betty. I have been 
 left too much in the dark," said the powder 
 maker, smarting and dazed by the more certain 
 duplicity of Whaley. 
 
 "I cannot tell you because my purpose is hazy, 
 even to myself. You'll have to trust me, that's 
 all. I merely know that I shall no longer sit here 
 as a puppet behind wires. I am restless fighting 
 only with mechanical tools and electricity. I 
 want to get into it with my own hands and my 
 mind and my blood." 
 
 He seemed to shudder. " We must not be hasty." 
 
 "You know," she reminded gently, "that the 
 war department has asked all wireless operators 
 who could, to enlist. They have said that pro- 
 visions would be made immediately to relieve 
 any who would give service in army or navy. 
 Just let me try to thrash out a plan. I am too 
 tired tonight but tomorrow I shall have a clearer 
 vision." 
 
 Malcom placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 195 
 
 "You're a brave girl, Betty, and I am proud of 
 you. You can count on my help and support." 
 
 "I knew that," she smiled, and went wearily 
 from his office. Tonight she experienced no 
 sense of buoyancy. Her heart was heavy and 
 she felt strangely alone. She seemed cut off 
 from some vital mental current that until now 
 had upheld her. 
 
 But when she reached her room she found a 
 message which immediately electrified her. It 
 was from Dorn. He was conscious and wanted 
 to see her at once. Weariness fell from her. 
 Her eyes brightened. She dashed cold water on 
 her face, smoothed her hair and rushed out into 
 the now darkened streets. She sped to the 
 hospital and was at once admitted by a white- 
 capped nurse. 
 
 "He must not talk long," the nurse reminded 
 her. "Just let him see you and make sure you 
 are safe. He has seemed strangely worried 
 about you." 
 
 Betty nodded and followed the nurse to Dorn's 
 cot. He was smiling as they came toward him. 
 He stretched out his hand and even in its weak- 
 ness Betty experienced hi his touch a sense of re- 
 established strength.
 
 196 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "They haven't finished me," he grinned. 
 
 "No," she exulted, "and they can't." 
 
 "Not until we are all through, anyhow." 
 
 "And we haven't even commenced yet." 
 Her voice was tense in its determination. "I 
 am going to get into it in earnest. Hurry and 
 get well, Jack, because I can't go until you do." 
 
 "Go where, Betty?" 
 
 "I don't know yet. But we can't just sit here 
 and wait." 
 
 "I think I understand you. I'll hurry and 
 get well." 
 
 The nurse checked them and Betty had to go. 
 But her step was firm and light as if she had 
 rested many hours. She felt so refreshed she 
 decided to return to the office and straighten out 
 her desk for a possible successor. There would be 
 no time to waste next day in details of routine. 
 
 At the station she was not surprised to find 
 Whaley evidently waiting for her. It was almost 
 as if the force of her own desire had called him 
 forth. At sight of him her blood ran hot and 
 her round knuckles gleamed white in her clenched 
 fist. 
 
 "I came to inquire after Dorn," he said. His 
 face was pasty and his eyelids twitched.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 197 
 
 "He is little better," she lied. "This is not the 
 place for living men, or," she added bitterly, 
 "for human women either." 
 
 "Perhaps you'd like to get out?" he prodded. 
 
 "I'm going to get out. I'll take the first job 
 that offers." Her heart was pounding harder as 
 she played her first card. Whaley followed her 
 lead. 
 
 "Say," he encouraged, "how do you stand 
 with the old man and Dorn?" 
 
 "I don't stand at all," she burst out, as if 
 giving confidence. "They're sending some one 
 down here to take my place. They think I've 
 fallen down on the job. That's all the thanks I 
 get for killing myself in this hole." 
 
 Whaley opened his eyes wide. In all the years 
 he had seen her about the little town this was the 
 first time Betty had ever spoken more than two 
 words to him of her own accord. "I wouldn't 
 stand for it," he sympathized eagerly. "I think 
 I know something you'd like fine. Shall I see 
 if I can land it for you?" 
 
 "Might as well, but it will have to be quick. 
 I'm leaving here hi a day or two." 
 
 "I'll know in the morning," he promised.
 
 198 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 She nodded and entered the office, waving to 
 him in dismissal. 
 
 She watched him in the darkness until she 
 knew he was some distance away, then went at 
 once to call Malcom on his private telephone. 
 She knew he would then be free from Whaley's 
 listening ear. Mr. Malcom, himself, answered 
 her. 
 
 " If Whaley asks for leave of absence, or shows 
 signs of going away," she suggested, "let him go. 
 It is part of my plan to follow him and if possible 
 to accompany him. But I shall need first an 
 interview with authorities at Washington. Can 
 you arrange to send with me a certified messenger 
 with an explanation and indorsement over your 
 signature?" 
 
 "Yes, how soon do you want to go?" 
 
 "By to-morrow evening at the latest. I am 
 to see Whaley again in the morning and I want to 
 make sure Mr. Dorn is fully recovered, with no 
 possibility of a set-back, before I go. In his 
 weakened condition it will be better if we do not 
 tell him where I am going or with whom. He 
 will worry." 
 
 "I understand," replied Malcom. "I can
 
 AMERICAN PEP 199 
 
 have Mr. Broadhurst ready to accompany you. 
 I have sent him to Washington on special errands 
 before, and he is known there. I shall be glad 
 also to feel that you are in his safe care." 
 
 So with a little sigh Betty once more turned 
 to her desk, worked over her papers for about 
 an hour, then with the flood of her weariness 
 full returning, walked slowly home.
 
 Chapter "Twenty 
 
 EARLY NEXT MORNING BETTY 
 woke refreshed and doubly determined. 
 Her first move was to telephone the 
 hospital. She found that Dorn was rapidly 
 improving and eager to see her, so she went to 
 him at once before opening the station. She 
 was amazed to rind him up and fully dressed. 
 
 "But is this wise?" she asked anxiously. 
 
 "It's against orders," he admitted, "but I'm 
 blamed if I'll stay bundled up in here while you 
 do the fighting. This is no time to be sick. 
 Besides, I'm all right except for an opening in 
 my upper works and I am told that is held to- 
 gether by a dozen or more strong stitches. You 
 see, the doctor, not knowing how much solid 
 bone there is up there, is afraid enough injury 
 has been done to cause a pressure. They fear 
 that if my benevolence supposed to be located in 
 the top is caved in, and my fighting powers remain 
 intact, I might violate some one's personal
 
 AMERICAN PEP 201 
 
 liberty if turned loose. I think Malvoney is 
 worse right now," and thus related briefly his 
 experience in Pittsburg and assault on Malvoney 
 on his way up the mountain. 
 
 Betty was troubled by his light tone for it 
 indicated to her his effort to conceal pain. "But 
 you should go slowly now, Jack," she reminded, 
 " so that you will be able to fight harder when we 
 reach the real battle ground. Yet," she added 
 with quick understanding, "I know how hard 
 it is to sit still. Tell me what happened, can 
 you?" 
 
 "Not fully, for I do not know. After I passed 
 you I worked the car's speed down enough so 
 that I could run ahead and open the switch and 
 let it hi on the siding. That is not a very easy 
 thing to do and if I had missed it I might yet be 
 going down the mountain, at least until I met a 
 train coming up. I got the car in on the siding, 
 cleared the main track by shutting and locking 
 the switch, then I felt sort of collapsed, so before 
 coming up to the station at once, as I should, 
 I climbed to the little concrete loading platform 
 and sat with my legs a-dangle, to rest a bit. My 
 eyeballs burned so that I placed my head between 
 my hands and my elbows on my knees. I had
 
 202 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 been working in the glare and heat of a mogul 
 machine for several hours without being used to 
 it The fireman shammed sick and I shoveled 
 the coal. As I sat there, Betty, although undone, 
 I was really happy for the first time in my life. 
 Do you know what came to my mind then?" 
 
 "That you had saved the Government and the 
 road and had vindicated us." 
 
 "Well, yes, I admit I thought of all that, but a 
 sweeter thought held me there. I was glad I had 
 squared myself with the Government, the railroad 
 and Mr. Malcom, and that I had done something 
 the Federal men or the railroad detectives could 
 not do. I was glad I had outdone single-handed, 
 without a cent, what the German conspirators 
 and spies were spending loads of time and money 
 to accomplish. Altogether, Betty, I declared an 
 awful big dividend on myself as I sat there nurs- 
 ing tired bones and burning flesh. But that wasn't 
 the big idea; that wasn't what made me happy 
 for the first time hi my life." Then by irresist- 
 ible attraction he drew her eyes to his as they 
 sat apart, and he continued. "The big thought 
 that took me into another world, Betty, was the 
 fact that you had trusted me and that I had saved 
 our reputation here hi your town at the little
 
 AMERICAN PEP 203 
 
 station, that I had made good with you, and 
 more, the solemn fact fastened upon me then that 
 you belonged to me " 
 
 "But, Jack, you must not talk now. There is 
 so much to do " 
 
 "Didn't you ask me how things happened 
 down in the canyon? I am just telling you what 
 came into my mind. I was sitting there in Heaven 
 when of a sudden I felt as if a yard or two 
 of ninety-pound steel rail was laid on my head and 
 I went to sleep. I seemed to sleep for a long time 
 and woke to see a smile come to the face of a very 
 solemn Scotch nurse, who believes it a sin to 
 smile." 
 
 "And you saw and heard no one before you 
 were struck?" 
 
 "No, there was nothing except the deathly 
 stillness that is in the canyon all the time when 
 there is not a passing train. But, Betty, how 
 was I found, how long did I stay there?" 
 
 Betty told him all that had happened and 
 dwelt especially upon her suspicion of Whaley. 
 
 "Yes," he cut in impatiently, "but just now 
 I want to talk of something else. I was told 
 I must not get excited or allow my mind to 
 dwell on unpleasant things, but when I raise the
 
 204 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 most pleasant subject I know of you say I must 
 not." 
 
 "But you must rest and recover first and then 
 there will be time enough to : 
 
 "But you sidestep my question and do not 
 even say that you are glad I was thinking of 
 you when I was " 
 
 "You know I am glad, Jack, but that must be 
 all now You have vindicated yourself. Mr. 
 Malcom saw that car pass. He knows the risk 
 you took in getting it down that mountain grade. 
 That means that the Government, as well as the 
 railroad, knows that you have done enough, all 
 you could,, and I want you to know also that I 
 feel very proud of you. But my work is not 
 done. I have not been injured and have done little 
 to help. Let us consider how I can do more. Don't 
 you think I want to serve my country, too?" 
 
 "Betty, you are talking wildly! I suppose 
 staying at that station and doing the work of 
 two men for over a week don't count for any- 
 thing?" 
 
 "That was no more than thousands are doing 
 when the nation, the world, calls for the best there 
 is in every one." 
 
 "And, Betty, do you realize what your influence
 
 AMERICAN PEP 205 
 
 accomplished that morning when we arrived in 
 Hampton Roads and the car was found empty, 
 when I like a big boob went to pieces, sat down 
 and cried like a girl " 
 
 "I don't believe you cried," she resented. 
 
 "It was nearly as bad. I gave up. I saw the 
 whole world against me. I began to pity myself. 
 But Lieutenant Pettingill about carried me back 
 to the ship and brought me to myself. As they 
 did not have a wireless operator at that time I 
 volunteered to act in that capacity, to report my 
 own sentence to Washington. The moment I 
 touched the instrument, you, five hundred miles 
 away, came instantly. You gave me new back- 
 bone. Is that nothing, Betty? Isn't it some- 
 thing to know that I would have gone into the 
 discard if it hadn't been for my thoughts of 
 you and your constant watchfulness?" 
 
 "It's nice of you to say that, Jack, but I 
 don't think you would have gone to pieces, and 
 I don't want you to feel that way. Also duty 
 beckons me, and you should not try to discourage. 
 That car has to be found, and I am going to find 
 it." She sat in her chair with an alertness and 
 tension suggestive of a lioness when her young 
 is menaced.
 
 206 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "My stay here is going to be very short, 
 though," he insisted. "I know that I am almost 
 as good as new now." 
 
 "But are you going to ignore the advice of the 
 doctor and everybody and me?" 
 
 "If I stayed here in this temple of ailment a 
 day or two longer I think I would go insane. 
 I must get busy at something. Idleness, instead 
 of activity, will kill me." 
 
 "All right, then. Get at something easy for a 
 while. There has flashed all over the circuit an 
 appeal for volunteer wireless operators on ships. 
 A trip or two at sea will help you regain strength 
 and keep you busy." 
 
 "But I want to fight those snakes here." 
 
 "I tell you such a course is unwise and futile. 
 They will not stay here* You should know that. 
 You will do well to get consent to go to sea as 
 a wireless operator." 
 
 "Whose consent?" he grinned as he suddenly 
 realized they were again growing too serious. 
 
 "Why the doctor's and my consent," she 
 added. She looked him full in the face with an 
 appeal he could not resist, for it held more than 
 a mere request. "When I reach the station 
 may I wireless your enlistment?"
 
 AMERICAN PEP 207 
 
 "If I do what then?" 
 
 "I have not finished my plans, but I am going 
 to be busy, and there is something more I want 
 you to tell me. What led you to believe that car 
 which left the siding as an empty had anything to 
 do with the load of missing explosives?" 
 
 "I'm afraid an answer will put severe strain 
 on those twelve stitches," he mused. "I began 
 first to think of that supposedly empty car when 
 I saw some chalk marks on the trucks of the car 
 we had so carefully guarded. Something about 
 those numbers brought to mind that photograph 
 of the string of cars stored there, you remember. 
 Again, when we found that film I decided to 
 follow up the movements of the entire string 
 of cars. I had no real proof that this special car 
 was involved until I found that Malvoney also 
 was interested in it. Then I decided to have it 
 at any cost, and reason out motives afterward. 
 But how the boxes were moved from one car to 
 another I still have not the slightest notion. 
 That would be a feat possible only to the super- 
 natural devices of hell. Yet if I had been given 
 more tune before they knocked me out, I believe 
 I could have solved even that mystery." 
 
 "I suppose," she asked, "that the second dis-
 
 208 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 appearance of the car was worked in the same 
 way?" 
 
 "No, not necessarily. That was a far simpler 
 matter. Probably Whaley heard me call you 
 from the junction. Malcom gave him the order 
 to guard the car when it arrived. He purposely 
 misdirected the men, sending them to the wrong 
 siding. In the meantime Malvoney or his hench- 
 men had plenty of time to prepare to knock me 
 out and spirit the car away. Yet, we must 
 realize, Betty, that a thing of this kind could not 
 be accomplished without the help of some one in 
 the train service. There are copperheads there 
 like Larson." He had started to pace the floor 
 in tense excitement and Betty realized the bad 
 effect that this renewed battle must have upon 
 his already strained endurance. 
 
 "Come," she warned, "let's not get serious 
 again. Dismiss everything from your mind just 
 now but getting well." 
 
 " That sounds easy," he grimaced. " But how'll 
 I manage it?" 
 
 "You are going to pay close attention to those 
 twelve stitches," she said gently, "until you are 
 ready to go on a ship as operator. And now 
 I must go back to the station. In the meantime,"
 
 AMERICAN PEP 209 
 
 she smiled, "you know from whom you are 
 taking orders." 
 
 A lump rose in Betty's throat as she turned to 
 go for she felt that this might be a final parting. 
 But she did not wish to leave that impression 
 with him. 
 
 As she passed the works on the way to the 
 station Whaley came quickly from the office 
 and joined her. 
 
 "You know I promised to tell you about that 
 job this morning?" he blurted out. 
 
 "Yes," she answered. Her heart commenced 
 to pound once more. 
 
 "Well, it's yours if you want it. Only you've 
 got to be quick." 
 
 "What is it and where?" 
 
 "As I told you it's in your line. They want 
 some one who can work both the telegraph and 
 wireless. The money's good. It is hard to get 
 wireless operators now, the army and navy 
 gobble them up every one." 
 
 "Where is it?" she asked, but she already had 
 decided that she knew. 
 
 "I'm not sure about that. It's a long way 
 south, I think, but if you will go I will get you
 
 210 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 either the money or a ticket, but you must leave 
 right away." 
 
 "What do you mean by right away?" 
 
 "On the next train." 
 
 "Do you know which way it is, Whaley? I 
 must know that before I can decide. This is 
 very short notice." 
 
 "You've got to go east first, then to Washing- 
 ton. That's all I know now, and when you get 
 there you will be told." 
 
 "The next train passes here about eight- 
 thirty tonight. It's a through train and carries 
 cars for Washington. Perhaps I can get that one." 
 
 "This concern wants operators very bad, and 
 it's a fine paying job. If you possibly can, you 
 better get that train. I will have the money or 
 ticket by that time. It's a friend of mine who 
 wants this help, and I am making the deal for 
 him. Say you surely will be there and I will meet 
 you at the train and give you the ticket money. 
 I have told them if you agreed to do it you would 
 carry it through." 
 
 "All right, Whaley, unless something turns 
 up to prevent I will be ready to go," she promised 
 as they came to the road leading directly to the 
 station.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 211 
 
 "Very well, that's settled. But can't you 
 manage to keep the code or cipher you use to 
 Washington?" he asked in a lower tone. 
 
 "I'll see. You mean the Government code! 
 I think I can," she replied, inwardly exultant. 
 She was sure now that her ruse had worked and 
 that Whaley was acting as Malvoney's tool. 
 
 She walked briskly to the station and imme- 
 diately flashed in Dorn's enlistment by wireless. 
 She secured the code book and carefully tucked it 
 into her blouse. During the rest of the morning 
 she put her desk in order, preparing for her 
 successor. By early afternoon the new operator 
 arrived. 
 
 Betty remained with him a few hours, then 
 telephoned Mr. Malcom that she would be ready 
 to take the evening train. He promised to have 
 Mr. Broadhurst, his special messenger, accom- 
 pany her. She told him as much as she could of 
 Whaley's plans, speaking in cautious terms which 
 onlv Malcom could understand. 
 
 Sne ate a hurried meal and settled her affairs 
 at home, purposely avoiding a harrowing goodbye 
 scene with Dorn. She did not wish to have him 
 know yet that she was working with Whaley. 
 There would be tune enough for that when he
 
 212 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 was stronger and better able to bear the added 
 strain of anxiety. 
 
 Betty arrived at the station a few moments 
 before the train left. She was relieved to see 
 Deacon Broadhurst, Mr. Malcom's trusted mes- 
 senger, waiting near the platform, but she gave 
 no sign of recognition then, lest Whaley should 
 suspect their joint errand. Whaley met her, as 
 promised, with the ticket and extra money for 
 full transportation. 
 
 "Did you get the code book?" he whispered. 
 
 She answered with a nod. 
 
 "Don't be surprised to see me there, too," 
 he confided. "I can get a good thing down that 
 way. But we mustn't be seen together. Sit 
 tight and I'll find you later. When you get to 
 Charleston go at once to the Windsor Hotel. 
 Some one you know will meet you there." 
 
 As Betty went inside the train she glanced at 
 her ticket and saw that it was for Charleston, 
 South Carolina. Her brain was a seething tur- 
 moil of unformed plans. The game was shaping 
 to fit her own hand.
 
 Chapter Twenty-one 
 
 /p" 'HE NEXT MORNING DORN TOOK 
 
 matters Into his own hands and dressed 
 
 JL for the street. Against the doctor's orders 
 
 he left the hospital, promising to return later for 
 
 an examination and dressing. He went directly 
 
 to the station expecting to find Betty there. 
 
 "I don't think she will be here again," the new 
 station agent told him. "She left last night on 
 Number Twelve, and went in the Washington 
 sleeper. I was just wondering who was going 
 to take charge of the wireless. It has been 
 spattering out some kind of jargon ever since 
 I came." 
 
 Dorn was deeply disappointed not to see Betty 
 before she left, yet he was not wholly surprised. 
 He realized now that she had been tactfully 
 bidding him goodbye the morning before. He 
 unlocked the wireless booth and threw in the 
 switch that gave it wide range, tapping the world 
 for its most important information for two
 
 214 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 thousand miles in any direction. Although a 
 bit wobbly, action was the tonic he needed. 
 With the first tap of the instrument he felt a 
 new sense of self-confidence. 
 
 He took some commercial messages for Mr. 
 Malcom while Washington waited, and then as 
 soon as they could come in he was astonished 
 to find himself writing a message as follows: 
 
 "Jackson Dorn, Malcom Station: 
 
 As per terms your enlistment in the Federal 
 Wireless Service, you will report as soon as possible 
 to the Commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard 
 for sea duty." 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 Again Dorn knew that Betty had set the 
 wheels in motion. He prepared Malcom's radio 
 messages for delivery and locked the wireless 
 cabinet, then went to the office of the powder 
 works. 
 
 Malcom came forward to greet him with out- 
 stretched hand and approving eyes. "It's good 
 to see you out again," he declared, "they couldn't 
 keep you down long." 
 
 Dorn realized the unusual warmth in the old 
 powder maker's grasp, and his heart glowed in 
 response.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 215 
 
 "I'm still on the running boards," he said. 
 
 "But nothing save the fact that you are neces- 
 sary in this world brought you down that grade 
 alive," said Malcom. 
 
 "The most disturbing thought," remarked 
 Dorn, "was the uncertainty of what would set 
 that explosive going. I can play with a known 
 danger, but a great monster force that one may 
 set in action unwittingly gets on a fellow's nerves." 
 
 "Perhaps I should have told you more about 
 it," mused Malcom. "I know I can trust you." 
 He stood in thought for a moment, then reached 
 into the drawer of his private desk for a paper 
 prepared in his own hand-writing. He gave this 
 to Dorn and scanned him closely. "This is the 
 formula used to explode," he said. "It is fur- 
 nished only to the Government, but I give it to 
 you to provide against further distress. You 
 have earned my full confidence." 
 
 Dorn studied the short paper and warmly 
 expressed his appreciation. 
 
 "Mr. Dorn," asked Malcom lowering his voice, 
 "do you know how those one thousand nine 
 hundred and sixty cases of S. H. were transferred 
 to another car while either we or the guard were 
 looking?"
 
 2i6 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "If I could have time thoroughly to look over 
 that car," Dorn replied, "I fully believe I could 
 have solved that problem. But now I am almost 
 as much in the dark as you. Mr. Malcom 
 Dorn hestitated uneasily, "I am almost certain 
 that Whaley is at the bottom of our troubles. 
 I have wanted full proof before accusing him to 
 you, but now I feel you ought to know." 
 
 "Mr. Dorn," regretted Malcom, "I have made 
 it a point to err in the direction of tolerance and 
 leniency with my people, but I am convinced 
 now that Whaley is bad. He has not come to 
 work this morning. A search of his room indi- 
 cates that he has gone for good. There must 
 be a black sheep." Before continuing he waited 
 to see if Dorn would speak of Miss Fraser's 
 plan to work through Whaley. But evidently 
 she had not taken him into her confidence, so 
 Malcom said no more. 
 
 "Where are the Federal investigators and the 
 railroad detectives that I learn have been plentiful 
 here the last day or two?" asked Dorn. 
 
 Malcom replied with a shrug. "They have 
 so much to do they can't attend to it. I am 
 going to double my private guards, both the 
 mounted and stationary men at the mouth of
 
 AMERICAN PEP 217 
 
 the canyon, and also see if I can do something 
 more myself." 
 
 "And," cut in Dom grimly, "I am going to 
 do a thing or two more before I quit." 
 
 "But the first thing you must do," cautioned 
 Malcom, "is to get squarely on your feet, then 
 go in and do your duty as every man should for 
 his country. When that is done, or this war is 
 over, come to me. I have a place for you that 
 will beat railroading, even if you became president 
 of one." Malcom rose with Dorn and gave him 
 a firm hand shake. 
 
 Dorn then left him to set his house in order to 
 leave the mountain town. The next morning 
 he presented the wireless message from the navy 
 department at the gate of the Brooklyn Navy 
 Yard, asking for the commandant. 
 
 "We want physically qualified men for special 
 sea duty," said that official, "men who can stand 
 almost any kind of jolt. You are now disabled." 
 He glanced at the white bandage below Dom's 
 soft hat and was apparently none too well im- 
 pressed with the applicant as first class navy 
 material. 
 
 Dorn remained quietly looking at the toe of 
 his shoe and as the commandant's remark called
 
 2i 8 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 for no explanation or excuse he decided to sit 
 tight. 
 
 "Where are your credentials?" the official 
 finally asked, more favorably impressed by this 
 lack of futile apology. 
 
 " I have none. It was this message that brought 
 me here." He held out the wireless from Wash- 
 ington. 
 
 "This is nothing, Mr. Dorn," said the com- 
 mandant, but he showed more interest. "How 
 am I to know you are all right?" 
 
 "Better try me," suggested Dorn. 
 
 "How?" 
 
 "Let me go to the wireless and prove myself. I 
 understand that my coming in this way is a little 
 irregular and that you are justified in demanding 
 proof." 
 
 "You have never served in the navy?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "We will go and see the chief wireless operator 
 and he will no doubt give you a test," said the 
 commandant. 
 
 Dorn followed him to an adjoining room 
 equipped with a single wireless instrument. 
 
 "Mr. Mann," explained the commandant, 
 "this man reports here as a wireless operator on
 
 AMERICAN PEP 219 
 
 a wireless message from Washington. He has 
 suggested that we prove him." 
 
 "That is simple enough. Let him go to the 
 instrument and help himself," said the chief, 
 jerking his thumb toward the instruments. 
 
 Dorn glanced over the wiring, located the 
 switch, threw it in with a firm, practiced hand, 
 listened for a moment to see if he had a clear 
 air, and then began calling the operator of the 
 navy department. It is quite impossible for 
 one not knowing the secret changing calls to 
 raise that office. The operator in Washington 
 immediately replied, "ready." Then Dorn sent 
 the following message: 
 
 (< Jackson Dorn reports here from Malcom's Wire- 
 less Station without other credentials than wireless 
 instructions from you. He is just out of the hos- 
 pital where he was detailed for a short time, result 
 of a scalp wound. If this is so, please verify." 
 
 Dorn wired without a written copy and moved 
 away from the instrument. 
 
 "Describe Dorn," came from the instrument. 
 
 "Light, five feet eleven, slender, eight shoe, 
 and twelve stitches in top of scalp, obtained 
 under circumstances he claims was wirelessed 
 to you from Malcom's."
 
 220 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 During the interval of five minutes taken at 
 the Washington end to secure Dorn's record, 
 another man, the surgeon in uniform, joined the 
 commandant and wireless chief. They all tried 
 not to show their interest in this West Virginia 
 lanky product. The wireless chief and com- 
 mandant were by this time satisfied that Dorn 
 was all right, and were waiting only for a formal 
 endorsement. Dorn sat as alert as a cat waiting 
 for a mouse and with an exceptionally keen ear 
 overheard a whispered dialogue not intended 
 for him. 
 
 "But she has got to sail as a convoy, it must 
 sail the moment we get an operator," reminded 
 the commandant, "and I don't see how they can 
 get along with only one." 
 
 "But we can't send a man on board with 
 bandages." 
 
 " Can't something be substituted for bandages 
 that will not show, if Washington endorses " 
 
 At this point Dorn's attention was riveted on 
 the instrument and he wrote the following message 
 addressed to the commandant. This, of course, 
 was heard also by the wireless chief. 
 
 "Dorn is available only with his consent for 
 emergency. Use him, but release him as soon as
 
 AMERICAN PEP 221 
 
 regular operators are available for wireless service. 
 A commission will reach you for him this morning 
 giving him rank as lieutenant, for bravery and 
 great service." 
 
 The wireless chief nodded knowingly and 
 repeated the message to the commandant who 
 came toward Dorn with outstretched hand to 
 congratulate him. 
 
 "That clears the atmosphere completely as an 
 officer hi the navy can go aboard with a wound 
 apparent, while an enlisted man cannot," the 
 commandant explained. 
 
 Dorn felt dazed with the unexpected honor. 
 Commissioned for bravery and great service to 
 his country! This seemed an unreality which 
 he could not comprehend. The words of the 
 commandant came to him as part of the hazy, 
 delightful dream. Finally he commenced to 
 realize it was true. He actually held the message 
 in his hand, and the wireless chief had read the 
 instrument with him and was joining the others in 
 congratulation. What glorious news for Betty 
 to hear. This was his first coherent thought. 
 He realized that Mr. Malcom must have been 
 instrumental in bringing this about. He no 
 longer was to be a half discredited man under a
 
 222 . AMERICAN PEP 
 
 cloud. He had been vindicated by promotion 
 above the ranks. But this appreciation of his 
 past efforts only added to ' his resolution and 
 dogged purpose to uncover completely the mystery 
 and to round up the spy system that made the 
 theft possible. 
 
 He stood near the wireless dazed with joy. 
 'Then suddenly the instrument spelled out a 
 word, the signature to which again took his feet 
 clear off the earth into the heaven of realized 
 expectations. 
 
 "Congratulations S H ." And by the 
 stroke of the sounder he knew the message was 
 from a very strong but distant station. There 
 was only one other person hi the world who knew 
 what that signature meant, and he would have 
 known Betty's touch among thousands. Surely 
 she had been able to participate in his happiness. 
 His wish hardly had been formulated before he 
 realized it had been granted. Nothing else 
 mattered now. She was safe, was still in the 
 service on some special duty, and was within 
 reach of that station. 
 
 "Ah Lieutenant Dorn," solicited the com- 
 mandant, "one of our latest super- torpedo boat 
 destroyers is ready to leave at this moment.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 223 
 
 A loaded transport has been off Sandy Hook 
 light twenty-four hours waiting for her as a 
 convoy. You are the only wireless operator in 
 sight now. Are you willing to go alone? It will 
 mean practically continuous duty for more than 
 a week. " 
 
 "I am ready," came Dorn's instant reply. In 
 less than a half hour Dorn stepped down from the 
 Navy Yard dock into a queerly painted vessel 
 about two hundred fifty feet long. When the 
 lines were slipped she moved out into the stream 
 with the power and precision of a locomotive. 
 As he stood aft, he noticed how the fantastic 
 colors with which she was painted blended with 
 the water. 
 
 He wirelessed the monster three tunnel transport 
 with its ten thousand men aboard they were 
 coming, and in a half hour more they picked her 
 up beyond Sandy Hook with two other scimiter 
 shaped craft. All were soon absorbed by the sea, 
 as a dissolving panorama.
 
 Chapter Twenty-two 
 
 ALTHOUGH BETTY KNEW THAT 
 Whaley was on board the train and would 
 leave at Washington, she had no difficulty 
 hi evading him, as he purposely kept out of her 
 way. It was not likely that he would wish to 
 approach her until they reached South Carolina. 
 If he noticed Broadhurst, Malcom's head ac j 
 countant, in the car, he evidently had given the 
 coincidence no thought. 
 
 Betty had joined the old deacon, and had 
 talked with him all the way to Washington. It 
 therefore seemed natural that when they reached 
 the station they should walk together. Betty 
 glanced behind now and then but if they were 
 followed she could see no evidence of the espionage. 
 
 She did not know how much Malcom had told 
 Broadhurst of their plan, and he in turn kept 
 silent. He was also discreetly silent. Car seats 
 may have ears. So they talked merely of casual 
 things. They already had arranged, however,
 
 AMERICAN PEP 225 
 
 that while Broadhurst interviewed the secretary 
 of war, Betty might, without rousing suspicion, 
 even if followed, visit the senate then in session. 
 They agreed that at least one of their senators 
 would be there, and hoped to work her plan 
 through him. 
 
 Broadhurst helped her on a car going to the 
 Capitol, gave her his blessing and hurried on his 
 way to the Navy Building. 
 
 After an apparently interminable travel through 
 arches, narrow stairways and sharp angles, Betty 
 was finally announced to the senior senator in 
 his private office in the Capitol. He saw her at 
 once and gravely listened to her story. She told 
 him of her entire purpose, her suspicions of 
 Whaley and Malvoney, and her faith in her own 
 ability to carry the plan through. Her earnest- 
 ness and simplicity caused him to telephone at 
 once to the War Department to learn if Broad- 
 hurst had been there with Malcom's signed 
 papers, to verify Betty's story. 
 
 After listening on the wire a few moments he 
 turned to her with a smile. "Mr. Malcom's 
 messenger has arrived there," he said, "and 
 we'll get this thing put through for you in short 
 order. I like your grit. The secretary's first
 
 226 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 assistant is on his way here now. You couldn't 
 have caught us at a better time." He motioned 
 her to a chair near by and turned to open his mail. 
 
 Before long a white haired man was ushered 
 into the senator's private office. The senator 
 left Betty to enter into a brief low-toned con- 
 ference with his visitor, who then left. When he 
 returned to her he held some official documents 
 and a small book. 
 
 "You may never need to use these credentials. 
 Cleverness seldom resorts to credentials. How- 
 ever, I have protected you fully. This book is a 
 false code, so arranged that a message cannot be 
 translated without distortion. It is used "to 
 decoy operators who are being tested or suspi- 
 cioned. This will enable you without danger to 
 comply with the request for a code." 
 
 "I believe I understand," Betty stammered. 
 "The genuine code I am to destroy under general 
 instructions and produce this false code for them." 
 
 "You have the idea," the senator approved. 
 "I shall watch your progress in this matter with 
 intense interest. I know you will make good." 
 He opened the door and stood aside deferentially 
 as she passed. "And now," he added, "you have 
 not only what you asked for, but all that you
 
 AMERICAN PEP 227 
 
 intimated, as well. To farther protect you and 
 to disarm suspicion I will have one of my clerks 
 show you about the capital and see that you 
 reach the depot in time to catch the train going 
 south." 
 
 Before Betty could realize how everything was 
 so quickly accomplished she was being shown the 
 wonders of Washington by a respectful young 
 secretary. She now felt little sympathy with 
 the critics who intimated that Government 
 matters moved destructively slow. Instead there 
 was snap and punch. She had been in the 
 senator's office less than fifteen minutes, and she 
 had obtained everything Mr. Malcom undertook 
 to get her by sending his twice trusted Broadhurst. 
 
 When she returned to the Union Station and 
 went down to the train into her Pullman car, she 
 was sure she saw Whaley in the smoking car as 
 she walked back. His presence surely meant 
 that Malvoney was not far away and Betty felt 
 a grim sense of satisfaction and the pretty teeth 
 came together hard. 
 
 Thus she entered into the great adventure of 
 her life with zest and courage high. Her fighting 
 blood was up and she took keen interest in the 
 Virginia battlefields through which the train
 
 228 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 ran on its way to Richmond and south. As she 
 was carried onward her cheeks flamed, her heart 
 beat hard with an all-consuming patriotism. 
 Well yes; there was a man: disabled just now. 
 Her active mind went over her plan of strategy 
 from a hundred different angles, until the next 
 morning tfye train entered the wonderfully in- 
 teresting city of Charleston, South Carolina. 
 
 Charleston easily could be loved for its faults. 
 Its existence has been marked by turbulence, 
 almost from its commencement. 
 
 When Betty arrived at the depot she at once 
 took a carriage to the Windsor Hotel as directed 
 by Whaley. She was assigned to a room on the 
 top floor, in a manner indicating that she was 
 expected. 
 
 After repairing the wear and tear of two nights 
 on the sleeper she went to breakfast. In the 
 dining-room she found as she had half expected, 
 the object of her speculation. Mr. Malvoney 
 advanced with a good counterfeit of surprise and 
 greeted her. He insisted that she change her 
 seat to the vacant place at his table where he was 
 breaking his fast with a liberal meal. 
 
 "Well," he began, after she was seated and 
 had ordered her breakfast, "I am more than
 
 AMERICAN PEP 229 
 
 delighted to see that you made the trip without 
 delay. I suppose you are puzzled to know why 
 I am here and why I am interested in your trip." 
 
 "One must not be surprised at anything these 
 days," she hedged. "But how did you get hurt? 
 Your forehead looks as if you had been in quite an 
 accident." She looked innocently at a liberal 
 flesh colored patch in the center of his forehead. 
 
 "Yes, I fell heavily and cut my head," he ex- 
 plained. But she noticed his hot flush and 
 recalled Dorn's story of that chunk of coal. It 
 was hard for her to repress her smile of triumph. 
 It must have been a square shot, she inwardly 
 exulted. 
 
 "Quite unfortunate," she managed to reply 
 evenly. 
 
 "I suppose Whaley told you I would be here?" 
 he asked. 
 
 "No, he did not," she replied in simple truth, 
 "although I inferred as much." 
 
 "The wireless business is a perfect monopoly," 
 he explained, "and very profitable. I have 
 undertaken to establish a competing system, and 
 we have to proceed with great caution until we 
 have advanced to a certain size, before we come 
 out in the open. Operators are scarce now on
 
 230 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 account of our Government requiring so many. 
 That is why we wanted you so urgently. But 
 remember," he cautioned, "our movements must 
 remain strictly under cover just now." 
 
 Betty nodded understandingly. 
 
 "This hotel is friendly," he went on, "and has 
 allowed us to establish our station in an unused 
 portion of the top floor. We can hang our antennae 
 or receiving wires on the roof. You may find it 
 rather warm up there during the middle of the 
 day, but it cools off after the sun begins to get 
 low." 
 
 "How much do your people pay?" she asked, 
 believing that it would cause suspicion if she 
 seemed to overlook that item. 
 
 "You need not be afraid about the pay. It 
 will be liberal. Of course, at first there will be 
 inconvenience, and perhaps long hours, but you 
 will be rated high. How much were you getting 
 from the railroad?" 
 
 " Sixty-five dollars." 
 
 "That's about fifteen dollars a week. Your 
 wages with us will be forty dollars a week and all 
 hotel expenses. But naturally we expect you to 
 work for us, entirely, and to be very discreet 
 about all information. There must be no leaks."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 231 
 
 "The railroad drills we get instill caution into 
 us from the start." 
 
 "You may be surprised to know that Whaley 
 is here also," he informed. "I was able to get 
 him a position here, too." 
 
 "That was splendid of you," she said. 
 
 He rose and pushed back his chair. Betty 
 followed him to an elevator of ancient pattern 
 and they were laboriously lifted to the loft of the 
 old hotel. He led the way to the wireless room, 
 a small space with bare, rough walls, lighted only 
 by two small paned windows. The room had 
 been provided with two chairs and electric fan 
 and a liberal supply of ice-water. The instru- 
 ments were arranged between the two windows 
 and Betty was glad to note that when sitting at 
 the table she could look out upon the harbor. 
 
 "This room has been hastily prepared for us," 
 he said, "and of course lacks even ordinary com- 
 forts, but quite likely we will need you elsewhere 
 before long." He scanned her closely for some 
 hint of disapproval, but she merely nodded her 
 head. "This instrument is very powerful," he 
 went on. "It has as much radius as any of the 
 Government stations, or about two thousand 
 miles. It will deliver a great many messages not
 
 232 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 intended for you, but we think it wise to copy all 
 of them you can, as we want to convince the 
 authorities that we have the equipment to do 
 extensive and thorough work, and while not 
 licensed by them now, we expect to be very soon." 
 
 Betty accepted his crude explanation in silence, 
 wondering that he really could believe her so 
 simple. She knew the punishment attached to 
 running an illicit station, and was glad of the 
 protecting credentials. Otherwise she realized 
 she would be considered as guilty as he, the 
 moment she commenced work on the instrument. 
 Doubtless he meant to hold this as a weapon over 
 her head. 
 
 "I shall be busy elsewhere," he informed as he 
 left her, "and may not see you until the end of 
 the day. If anything comes up that you do not 
 understand just use your judgment and do the 
 best you can the first day." 
 
 When he had gone, she threw in the switch. 
 She felt an indescribable relief to be in touch with 
 the great world again. It was a short time after 
 that she heard the message from Washington to 
 the Brooklyn station telling of Dorn's commission. 
 Knowing full well her position could not be 
 defined, she broke in with congratulations.
 
 Chapter Twenty-three 
 
 BETTY COULD ONLY HOPE THAT 
 Dorn would be within hearing of the 
 instrument when she broke in and offered 
 congratulations. Her delight at this news that 
 he was able to be there, of his commission, crowded 
 out all other thoughts. Mr. Malcom undoubtedly 
 had opened the way and perhaps her talk with 
 the senator had helped some, too. She hoped so, 
 for she had dwelt strongly upon Dorn's brave 
 sacrifice to restore the explosive so much needed 
 on the battle field then. 
 
 She forced herself to put Dorn from her mind 
 and soon was busy getting all the messages that 
 went through the air. Most of them were in 
 cipher. She soon found use for the chart hanging 
 in front of her showing the latitude and longitude 
 of land and sea as far as the coasts of Europe. 
 
 When Malvoney returned late in the afternoon 
 she had a goodly amount for him to look over. 
 He carefully separated those going to, or coming
 
 234 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 from, Washington and gave these his first atten- 
 tion. 
 
 "You have a code book?" he asked carelessly, 
 pulling his chair up to the end of the instrument 
 table. 
 
 "Yes, do you want to see it?" she answered 
 readily. 
 
 "There are a lot of code messages here which 
 may have a bearing on our business," he ex- 
 plained, "and I would like to decipher them." 
 
 She reached into the table drawer for the little 
 book that the senator had given her to meet just 
 such an emergency. She wondered with some 
 amusement how the deciphering from it would 
 read. She watched Malvoney covertly as he 
 struggled to interpret the messages she had 
 intercepted. 
 
 Of a sudden as though violently stung he 
 jumped from his seat. With a black scowl of 
 angry excitement he paced the floor. "Damn 
 the luck!" he fairly hissed from between set jaws. 
 
 "What's the matter?" Betty asked quietly. 
 
 "Latitude 27, longitude 79," he ripped out and 
 leaned forward almost against her to verify the 
 location on the chart that hung in front of her. 
 "That means off the east coast of Florida, above
 
 AMERICAN PEP 235 
 
 Bahama Islands." He seemed to have forgotten 
 her presence, and she watched him breathlessly 
 as he took a small book from his pocket, evidently 
 his secret code, located a page, and studied it. 
 
 "Call M-E-R-B-," he ordered sharply, "and 
 keep at it until you raise them." 
 
 She began calling and he continued to pace the 
 floor. She had called only a few moments when 
 the response came clear and positive. He stopped 
 behind her indicating that he could read the 
 instrument. 
 
 "Strike while the iron is hot," he dictated as 
 code proof. She sent the signal as directed. 
 
 "The weld is good," came in reply and then 
 followed a long message in cipher. He deciphered 
 this almost as fast as it came by reference to his 
 own book. Two words, "Black Vomit" made a 
 distinct impression upon Betty. This term she 
 associated at once with misfortune and illness and 
 concluded these were the probable cause of 
 Malvoney's great perturbation. 
 
 "Tell them that BLACKSMITH will call them 
 in an hour," he ordered. As she proceeded to do 
 this he sat at the end of the short instrument 
 table and began to decipher the message more 
 carefully. He wrote it out in full on a pad of
 
 236 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 soft print paper and studied the message thought- 
 fully for some moments. Then he resumed his 
 pacing of the floor. At last he came to her with 
 regained composure. 
 
 " I will go down to my room to clean up a little," 
 he said, "and will be back in an hour to prepare a 
 reply to this fellow. I think I can give him some 
 information to help him." He tore his transcript 
 of the message into fine bits and tossed them from 
 the window before leaving the room. 
 
 Betty now realized that Malvoney could read 
 the instrument, but for some reason could not 
 send. She wondered why. She also remembered 
 that when he was writing out his transcription he 
 had labored hard, using a short pointed pencil 
 upon which he appeared to bear much weight. 
 She took up the pad he had been using and found 
 as she had half hoped a good impression of his 
 penciled words on the blank surface. She was 
 able to trace in the grooves with a sharp pointed 
 pencil. In a few moments she had before her a 
 copy of the message he had so carefully destroyed. 
 A second reading intensified her interest as it 
 opened a new door into information that might 
 be of vital interest to Washington. It read as 
 follows:
 
 AMERICAN PEP 237 
 
 "The Weld is Good." 
 
 " Five days out of Vera Cruz wireless operator 
 dropped dead at instrument with Black Vomit, very 
 contagious. Remaining operator may go any time. 
 Must have at hand at least one operator when off 
 your station. Cargo riding well and plenty fuel for 
 destination. Am about four hundred miles away 
 and will be abreast you tomorrow night at sundown. 
 Keep in touch for information of remaining opera- 
 tors. We cannot possibly proceed without operator. 
 
 (Signed) MERE." 
 
 Betty tore off the message as she had traced it 
 out, and placed it in her blouse. She wondered 
 what the term Black Vomit meant. She knew 
 that August was the worst month for disease and 
 of course the Gulf ports would be teeming with 
 fevers of most deadly type. Conditions there 
 were unsanitary. She must know just what 
 Black Vomit was as soon as possible. 
 
 Malvoney now entered with a long message in 
 cipher. 
 
 "Raise M-E-R-B- again," he directed. "Prove 
 yourself by the words, 'strike while the iron is 
 hot.' Give him this message, then you had 
 better go down to your dinner. I have to go out 
 for a while but shall be back in time to see you 
 before you leave for the night."
 
 238 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 She obeyed without comment and received 
 from M-E-R-B- "All well on board yet." Betty 
 carefully locked the wireless room with the key 
 Malvoney had given her and went to her room 
 to prepare for dinner. As she sat in the almost 
 deserted dining room her mind was busy with 
 the problem of the last messages. 
 
 Evidently a ship of some sort had started for 
 Vera Cruz with valuable freight for Germany. 
 One of the wireless operators had died from 
 disease contracted before leaving that port, and 
 as the disease was contagious they were afraid the 
 remaining operator might die, thus leaving them 
 without eyes and even though armed an easy 
 prey to Allied ships. She wondered if the priceless 
 freight of the stolen car were on board that ship. 
 But what was this Black Vomit? Perhaps the 
 old black waiter would know. Quietly she called 
 to him and he stood above her table in respectful 
 attention. 
 
 "Is this a healthy place?" she asked with an 
 encouraging smile. 
 
 "Oh, yes indeed, Miss. No sickness round 
 here like there used to be." 
 
 "Did they ever have Black Vomit here?"
 
 AMERICAN PEP 239 
 
 "Oh, yes, Miss, a long time ago we had Yellow 
 Fever here, but everything is all right now." 
 
 "Then Yellow Fever and Black Vomit are the 
 same? " 
 
 "Oh, yes, Miss, just the same, but it's a long 
 time since it was here." And by more simple 
 words and low bows he tried hard to convince 
 her that she should be easy on that score. 
 
 She finished her dinner quickly and went at 
 once to the creaking elevator. She was surprised 
 to find Whaley in the hall, evidently waiting for 
 her. They went together into the ladies' parlor 
 on the second floor front. 
 
 "I see you are on the job," he grinned. .She 
 saw that he had been drinking heavily. 
 
 "Yes, Whaley, I've just got settled. Where 
 have you been all this tune?" 
 
 "I've been busy outside. How do you like 
 the old man?" 
 
 "I think Mr. Malvoney will be all right when I 
 get used to him." 
 
 "Yes, you'll like him, but of course while he is 
 a good man to work for, he isn't exactly one of us. 
 We should stand together, shouldn't we?" 
 
 "Yes, Whaley," she gently encouraged his 
 confidence. "But you mustn't drink too much."
 
 240 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "I don't drink much, Betty," with undue 
 familiarity. 
 
 "But you've been drinking this evening. And 
 starting out with a new man and a new job you 
 should be careful." She was placing working 
 foundations for new confidences. "What have 
 you been doing all day?" she prodded. 
 
 "I've been trying to get some work done by 
 these lazy natives. Of course, Betty," he shifted, 
 "you know I always thought a lot of you, 
 though I never had a chance to tell you back 
 there." He hitched a little closer but she checked 
 him. 
 
 "Let's not talk of that now. Tell me what 
 you've been doing. That will be more in- 
 teresting." 
 
 "Ah 1 right, some other time you'll let me tell 
 you?" 
 
 "Yes, Whaley. Now, what have you been 
 doing all day?" she repeated persistently. 
 
 "I've been carrying some boxes to a boat." 
 
 "What kind of boxes?" 
 
 "Have you promised to be pals?" he hesitated. 
 
 Betty's smile was wholly encouraging. 
 
 "I don't mind telling you," he leered in his 
 drunken glee. "You see Malvoney is a very
 
 AMERICAN PEP 241 
 
 smart fellow and has everybody I ever saw backed 
 off the board. And money He's got more 
 money than he can carry, and he makes monkeys 
 out of the best of them. You know that car of 
 S. H. that made such a row in Malcom?" 
 
 Betty nodded, her heart leaping into her 
 throat. 
 
 "Well, he made monkeys out of the Govern- 
 ment, the railroad and old Malcom, too. He 
 played them for suckers, and when that fool 
 Dorn brought the car back and got his, the play 
 was just begun. Do you know that, Betty?" 
 
 Betty shrugged her shoulders and was afraid 
 to look at hun for fear of divulging her feverish 
 interest. She gazed across the street and was 
 agitated by a glimpse of Malvoney as he entered 
 a cigar store opposite the hotel. She felt he would 
 return immediately and she did not want him to 
 know that she had questioned Whaley. 
 
 "Yes, go on." she breathed. 
 
 "Well," hesitated Whaley, "it's great what a 
 roll of twenties and one or two real friends on the 
 inside will do. Every box of that stuff came in 
 here this morning by express. Every case is 
 sewed up in burlap. I've had a lot of niggers 
 carrying it across to a boat. We're going to load
 
 242 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 it on a sub, sure's your alive." Whaley began to 
 laugh uproariously. 
 
 "That was a clever piece of work, Whaley," 
 she encouraged. 
 
 " Clever? Why I tell you the old man is a wizard. 
 There he is across the street now. Do you know 
 who that man is he is talking to? That's one of 
 the biggest wholesalemen in the place, and he 
 owns the boat we've been loading. I tell you, 
 Betty, there's big things going on and you and I 
 will have part in them. We're in right now. He 
 gave you a big raise, didn't he? He did me, 
 too. But he's coming and I must go down. 
 Don't tell him we was talking, will you?" He 
 managed to get his heavy feet down the flight of 
 stairs. Betty did not wait for the elevator, but 
 flew up the stairs and darted into the wireless 
 room.
 
 Chapter Twenty-four 
 
 BETTY'S FIRST IMPULSE WAS TO 
 flash out her important news to Washing- 
 ton, and if possible, to Dorn. She was 
 tingling with an almost unbearable excitement. 
 But she knew she must act with caution, so she 
 checked her impulsive fingers. 
 
 The lost explosive that Dorn had risked more 
 than a dozen deaths for, that governments wanted 
 so much that money terms ceased to apply, that 
 she had bequeathed her own life to recover, was 
 at that moment in Charleston sewed up in burlap, 
 to be loaded on some kind of vessel, likely the one 
 for which an operator must be found. This 
 much she knew. 
 
 She heard Malvoney mounting the stairs and 
 tried to conceal her excitement. But in spite of 
 herself she still appeared white and shaken. 
 
 "You seem upset about something," he com- 
 mented darkly. "Were you able to reach that 
 boatM-E-R-B-?"
 
 244 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Yes, I was able to raise them at once, then 
 went to dinner. They reported all well on 
 board." 
 
 "Do you know," he snapped, "I believe I 
 have made a mistake in bringing that drunken 
 Whaley here. I just met him in the office pretty 
 well tanked and just at a time when I should be 
 able to depend upon him." 
 
 "You have had much experience with men," 
 she flattered, "it may be that you have made no 
 mistake. Perhaps he will quit drinking." 
 
 "It can't be done. When a man has that in 
 his system, he never gets rid of it till he shuts off 
 his breath. Now, I am uncertain just what 
 arrangement to make for the night. Of course 
 if we had another operator it would be easy. 
 There is hell to pay, but I can't ask you to stay 
 too long or you won't be fit for tomorrow - 
 
 "There will be little to do," she broke in, "and 
 likely I can get some sleep. I don't mind stay- 
 ing." She was visioning the possibility of raising 
 Washington. 
 
 "No, that won't do," he objected, "it is after 
 seven now. Suppose you stay until ten, then I 
 will try and make out from that time on. They 
 have fixed a room for me right next here." He
 
 AMERICAN PEP 245 
 
 jerked his thumb toward the adjoining wall. 
 "I can hear the instruments from there. I can 
 read them all right. I hurt my right hand not 
 long ago and it is yet so stiff I cannot send. I 
 have not learned to operate with my left. I 
 suppose if it becomes a matter of emergency you 
 wouldn't mind coming up to take a message, 
 would you? " 
 
 "I'll come if you need me," she replied and he 
 went into his own apartment. She could hear 
 him distinctly moving about in his room. Any 
 hope she had of using the wireless sank. As the 
 sound of the sending key could plainly be heard 
 hi the neit room, she could not take such a 
 chance. 
 
 But just as she had given up hope she heard 
 Malvoney leave his room and go down the un- 
 carpeted stairs. At that instant she also heard a 
 call clear and distinct coming from a powerful 
 instrument. There was something familiar about 
 that call. She felt as if some one had taken her 
 by the hand. She had that sense, well known by 
 every operator, so delicate that she could recognize 
 every principal operator on the line by his touch. 
 This call, and the message that followed, came to 
 her as familiarly as if Dorn, himself, had spoken.
 
 246 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 She could visualize him bound east on a convoy. 
 Although she was sure Malvoney had left the 
 next room she felt unsafe as he might return and 
 hear any answering call. The stakes were too 
 high and she would gain more by waiting. But 
 she now felt certain that Dorn was within 
 reach. From memory of the code she deci- 
 phered the longitude and latitude. She examined 
 the chart before her. Evidently he was about 
 three hundred miles from New York, out of the 
 ordinary course for vessels, probably headed for 
 the Azores. 
 
 In a few minutes her delicate ear detected 
 sounds in Malvoney's room, and she knew she 
 had done well to wait. At ten o'clock, as in- 
 structed, she locked the door and went to her 
 room on the floor below. She was afraid to 
 telegraph or to telephone, and to write would be 
 too slow. She realized that when Malvoney had 
 selected that particular hotel in Charleston, he 
 knew what he was doing. He was among friends 
 or paid tools. She would have to curb her excite- 
 ment until morning. 
 
 Before she went to sleep that night she memor- 
 ized the code words translated by Malvoney hi 
 the message received from M-E-R-B-..
 
 AMERICAN PEP 247 
 
 At seven-thirty the next morning, she en- 
 countered Malvoney coming from the dining 
 room. 
 
 "Anything new, Miss Fraser?" he asked. 
 
 "I left copies on the desk of everything that 
 came before I left at ten." As he passed her she 
 noticed that he evidently had bolstered himself 
 with liquor. 
 
 "Did you see Whaley during the evening? 
 That dog was drunk," he snarled. "And I 
 could not find him. He will ruin us if I don't 
 muzzle him." 
 
 "I think I caught a glimpse of him in the office 
 as I came from the elevator just now," she 
 informed. 
 
 "All right, I'll try and catch him. I am going 
 away for a couple of hours but will get back by 
 ten. Raise M-E-R-B- as soon as you can and 
 tell them we must keep in touch all day. Unless 
 something important shows up do nothing else 
 but follow them." She watched him go toward 
 the office, then hastily entered the dining room. 
 She ate quickly, made sure that Malvoney had 
 left the hotel, then hurried to the wireless room. 
 
 She connected her instruments and at once 
 began calling S H. S H. S H. If Dorn
 
 248 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 was within hearing she knew he would answer. 
 She continued this call for fifteen minutes without 
 result. She kept her ear trained on her instru- 
 ment for a reply as well as on the stairs for a 
 possible footfall. She was trembling with sus- 
 pense. Finally she was rewarded. Clear as a 
 bell came the familiar touch. Her heart jumped 
 as though relieved of a great weight. 
 
 "Who calls S H?" 
 
 " Who could callS H?" 
 
 "I know you." 
 
 "Latitude Longitude Charleston, S. C. 
 Where are you? " 
 
 "Convoy 3 3 Latitude Longitude 
 Course by second day out 27 knots. All's 
 well, jolt benefited head. What's the news?" 
 
 "Cargo sub bound from Mexican or Gulf Base 
 to Germany, abreast my position tonight. Will 
 take on board lost S H. in burlap covers. 
 M. and W. also will likely go on board. Reach 
 Washington with this. I am watched and prob- 
 ably cannot call you again today. Keep tuned 
 to my instrument now." 
 
 Betty knew that Dorn would now listen while 
 she began calling M-E-R-B-, as instructed by 
 Malvoney. '
 
 AMERICAN PEP 249 
 
 M-E-R-B- soon replied. 
 
 "Strike while the iron is hot," Betty answered 
 distinctly so that Dorn could not possibly miss 
 the identification signal. M-E-R-B- replied as 
 usual, "The weld is good." He then proceeded 
 with a long message in cipher. He had this 
 repeated to him and instructed the station to 
 keep in touch with him constantly all day. He 
 further informed that he was coming toward 
 them. 
 
 "Did ybu get it?" Betty risked, as soon as 
 M-E-R-B- had finished. 
 
 "Yes, will try in a half hour," Dorn replied 
 instantly. 
 
 Betty pictured him in the wireless room of a 
 destroyer watching the movements of the receiver 
 with an intensity that would tear from the instru- 
 ment information he wanted by sheer force. It 
 was hard to tell which delighted Betty more, a 
 realization that both of them were fast becoming 
 very useful to their country, or the fact that they 
 were so useful to each other. 
 
 Her thought then went to the message she had 
 received from the cargo submarine stealing up 
 the coast hi the edge of the Gulf Stream. Mal- 
 voney would return any moment now, and though
 
 250 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 she made a carbon copy of the message she could 
 hope for no repetition of her former luck in being 
 able to transcribe the words. She could make 
 out the words Black Vomit and the code word 
 indicating six. Six died, of course. A plague 
 ship, surely. Latitude and longitude she was 
 able to make out from the numerals in Malvoney's 
 former translation. They had covered more than 
 half the distance and would arrive abreast Charles- 
 ton in about eight hours, or at five in the evening. 
 They would easily be able to take the cargo on 
 before dark and proceed that night if that was the 
 plan. She wondered how the loading would be 
 accomplished in daylight and if Malvoney were 
 going on this cargo boat. 
 
 Her speculations were interrupted by Mal- 
 voney's step on the stair. The next moment he 
 burst into the room. 
 
 "Anything new this morning?" he asked. 
 
 "M-E-R-B- finished sending this message 
 just now," she said, handing him the original 
 copy. 
 
 He took the paper with a shaking hand and 
 walked to the window as he read it. He was 
 looking worn and haggard. His expansive girth 
 had shrunk, as the tailoring of his vest indicated.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 251 
 
 Great wrinkles furrowed his brow as he read the 
 message. As before he drew his chair to the 
 corner of her table and painstakingly transcribed 
 the message. He leaned back to study its import, 
 then his head dropped forward on its tallow 
 cushion and remained bent hi deep and troubled 
 thought. He covered his face with his unsteady 
 hands and Betty was able to read without notice- 
 able effort the words he had written. "Six men 
 and first officer died last night with Black Vomit. 
 Bring formaldehyde and any good germicide." 
 
 "Has Whaley ever been up here?" he finally 
 asked. 
 
 "Not that I know of," she replied. 
 
 "Whaley is no good," he growled, and con- 
 tinued his habit of pacing the floor. "Does the 
 radio show anything else important this morning? " 
 
 "I have as you instructed tried only to catch 
 M-E-R-B-, and I raised him as soon as possible." 
 
 "Any signs that this station is known?" 
 
 "No," she answered simply, wondering how 
 long he was going to try to maintain the fable. 
 
 He went into the adjoining room where she 
 could hear him moving about for an hour or more, 
 then he went down stairs, but she felt he would 
 return at any moment and knew it would be
 
 252 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 dangerous to call the Government at Washington. 
 She also realized that she could trust Dorn to get 
 in touch with the authorities at the first possible 
 moment. 
 
 In a half hour she again heard Malvoney's 
 step on the stair. 
 
 "How much time will you require to pack?" 
 he asked abruptly. 
 
 "You mean to leave here?" 
 
 "Yes, bag and baggage! It is necessary for 
 you to go to a new station." 
 
 "A half hour will be enough," she replied, 
 fully resolved to go to any length to finish the 
 dangerous work she had undertaken. 
 
 "Be ready and down in the office promptly at 
 eleven, then. That will give you thirty-five 
 minutes. Be sure and get all your things from 
 here and don't forget that code book in the 
 drawer." 
 
 "All right, I will be there." She rose to put 
 her desk in order and withdrew the switch from 
 the instruments. 
 
 "Let me have your key to this room," he said. 
 
 She passed it to him and took the code book 
 from the drawer and left for her room on the 
 floor below.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 253 
 
 Hastily she packed, wondering what was about 
 to happen. She decided it was unsafe to retain 
 the true code book. Therefore in accordance 
 with part of her secret instructions she took the 
 book, held it over the wash stand and poured 
 upon it an acid furnished for that purpose. The 
 paper turned black and crumpled into fine powder. 
 But the leather covering did not respond to the 
 treatment so quickly. As she was pressed for 
 time she tossed the empty cover back into her 
 suit case and hurriedly went down to the office. 
 There she found both Whaley and Malvoney 
 waiting. 
 
 They at once entered a private automobile and 
 in a twinkling were whisked to the wharf where a 
 private motor boat was waiting. She recognized 
 the boat owner who accompanied them as the 
 man she had seen talking with Malvoney in front 
 of the hotel. She learned that his name was 
 Bishop. He and Malvoney at once commenced 
 to talk in low tones. Evidently something grave 
 was disturbing them, because Malvoney's face 
 grew even more pasty and he looked askance at 
 Whaley. 
 
 Whaley seeming to feel instinctively the at- 
 mosphere of hostility slouched back nearer Betty,
 
 254 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 and as they entered the boat he crouched close 
 to her side. 
 
 "What do you think of it?" he whispered, 
 nervously lighting a cigarette with his yellowed 
 fingers. 
 
 "I don't know what to think, Whaley, because 
 I don't know where we are going." She tried to 
 encourage his confidence again. 
 
 "I don't either," he shivered, "and I'm com- 
 mencing to get cold feet. The old man raised 
 hell this morning. I wish I was out of it." 
 
 "What's been keeping you so busy? Did you 
 get the boat loaded? " 
 
 "Yes, we finished that in the night after I left 
 you, and she's gone." 
 
 "What kind of boat was it?" 
 
 "One of those old sail boats that carry manure 
 out to the islands." 
 
 "Where are they taking it?" 
 
 "I don't know. The old man has been mighty 
 tight with me lately. I'm in bad with him, I 
 guess. But I imagine we'll come up with it 
 before we get off this boat." 
 
 At this time a negro dressed in white came 
 from below bringing a small table covered with a 
 linen cloth.
 
 AMERICAN PEP . 255 
 
 "I guess we are in for some good eats," specu- 
 lated Whaley, noting the preparation with elation. 
 And as the fast little boat sped seaward over the 
 bar out of the harbor a liberal luncheon was served. 
 
 Betty ate with little comment but watched 
 Malvoney's every movement. Whaley soon left 
 her and went below. She was relieved to be 
 alone with her turbulent thoughts and conjec- 
 tures. There was no doubt now that she was 
 bound for the cargo submarine due off Charleston. 
 Evidently she was to be put aboard that plague 
 ship to take the place of a wireless operator who 
 had recently died of the dread disease. She 
 knew that six men and the first officer had died 
 during the last twenty-four hours, and that the 
 disease on the ship was at its height. At first 
 she recoiled in horror at the thought. She was 
 mere flesh and blood, after all. But she stiffened 
 herself with the memory of the thousand deaths 
 Dorn had faced and was still facing. She deter- 
 mined to see it through. She must not let herself 
 dwell upon her own personal danger. She settled 
 down on a couch in the cabin, wishing if possible 
 to sleep. Presently she dozed and was wakened 
 by harsh voices near the cabin door. She realized 
 that they now were in rough water.
 
 256 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Good God, Whaley," Malvoney was protest- 
 ing, "don't act like a damn fool. This craft is 
 in no possible danger. You boozed too much last 
 night." 
 
 She turned her head and saw both men on 
 deck. She also was interested to note that the 
 motor boat was now towing a little sailing vessel. 
 
 "I don't believe you," groaned Whaley. "This 
 damned tub will sink." He was shaking with 
 genuine fear of death. "I want to go back. 
 I didn't want to come aboard anyhow, but you 
 made me. I never can stand this." He writhed 
 in his deck chair very sea sick. 
 
 "I know you are very sick, Whaley," soothed 
 Malvoney, with a sneer, "but this is the safest 
 place for you. The boat is not going to sink. 
 Brace up. Suppose the worst comes. There is 
 a fine lot of life preservers on board. When you 
 have one of those on, you can't possibly sink." 
 Malvoney glanced toward Betty who still pre- 
 tended to sleep. 
 
 "See," he continued, "here are piles of them." 
 Malvoney pulled a life preserver from a chest 
 fastened to the deck. "This one will just fit 
 you." He dragged Whaley forward on his chair 
 and adjusted the straps that fastened the belt to
 
 " The wretched man plunged headlong into the sea."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 257 
 
 the body. "Now you are as safe as though you 
 were on land." 
 
 Whaley opened his eyes to look down at the 
 contraption of which he knew nothing. The 
 boat was now rolling in the heavy sea and caused 
 Whaley additional distress. With a supreme 
 effort he gained his feet and made for the rail. 
 
 Malvoney stood close behind him in an attitude 
 that made Betty half rise from the couch. When 
 the boat rolled violently to that side Malvoney 
 with a dexterous movement flipped Whaley's feet 
 from under him and the wretched man plunged 
 headlong into the sea, and sunk like a chunk of 
 lead.
 
 Chapter Twenty-five 
 
 BETTY ROSE FROM THE COUCH WITH 
 a quickly stifled cry, for realizing her own 
 danger she sank back again and pretended 
 sleep. Bishop, the boat owner, was approaching, 
 and he and Malvoney were watching her. She 
 could feel the dark piercing eyes of Malvoney, 
 even though her own eyes remained closed. 
 
 "No, she's still asleep," said Malvoney in a 
 relieved tone, "yet it doesn't matter much, she's 
 in too deep herself to back out now. That damn 
 fool Whaley didn't know there was lead in that 
 life preserver instead of cork." 
 
 "War calls for the exercise of all our faculties," 
 remarked Bishop. 
 
 Betty was filled with a mingling of horror and 
 relief. She had despised Whaley and believed he 
 deserved his fate, but the ruthlessness of Mal- 
 voney's methods appalled her. She saw reflected 
 here her own fate if she crossed him, or was
 
 AMERICAN PEP 259 
 
 detected in her deception. She said amen to 
 Bishop's remark. 
 
 She concluded that the little vessel they were 
 to whig contained the cases of S. H. well disguised 
 in burlap, according to the information given 
 by Whaley. She knew their position was now 
 critical hi the extreme. She must use all her 
 wit and caution to guard her prize, yet satisfy 
 Malvoney's requirements. 
 
 She knew that Malvoney was now watching 
 her from the doorway, so she stirred and rubbed 
 her eyes as if just awakening. He came forward 
 and stood beside her. 
 
 "I haven't had time to tell you where we are 
 going," he began. She raised herself and prepared 
 to listen. 
 
 "We go aboard a cargo ship bound for the 
 Azores," he informed. "They are short a wire- 
 less man. We will meet the vessel coming this 
 way and you will be transferred to it. But you 
 can't go on board as a woman; you must dress as 
 a man and be a man to all appearances while you 
 are there." 
 
 "I don't think I want to do that," she hesitated 
 more from diplomacy than serious objection. 
 
 His heavy lips curled in a cruel smile. "You
 
 260 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 are under orders," he reminded curtly. "Here 
 is the uniform of a sailor; put it on and report 
 to me." 
 
 Betty stood in silence and took the uniform 
 from him. "Yes, I am under orders," she finally 
 said. "I must do anything you wish." She was 
 eager for action, but repressed her excitement, 
 resuming her seat. 
 
 Malvoney took a pair of barber's clippers from 
 his side pocket and ordered her to unpin her hair. 
 It was bound around her head in a single braid. 
 
 "Oh, but you mustn't do that!" she cried out 
 in real alarm. "I can't let you cut my hair. 
 I will coil it under the cap, and no one will 
 
 see." 
 
 "It has to be done," he snapped, "don't cry 
 baby." His touch was brutal as he started the 
 clippers in the middle of her forehead and with 
 a dozen swift strokes bared her head. He flung 
 the braid into her lap brutally. "Now get dressed 
 quickly," he ordered, "we will be alongside before 
 many minutes." He left the cabin and closed 
 the door sharply behind him. 
 
 Betty passed her hand over her shorn head. 
 For a moment the woman in her rebelled fiercely. 
 She had loved her hair. Hot tears fell upon it.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 261 
 
 Dorn had admired it, too, she recalled with fervor. 
 Her hatred for Malvoney now burned more 
 fiercely. The woman as well as the soldier 
 was now in arms. Then she smiled bravely. 
 Kad she not consecrated her body and her life 
 to her country's use, and this was only the first 
 battle ground? She must be sensibly brave. 
 She knew she was going to a plague ship whose 
 capture was of the utmost importance, especially 
 as it was going to take on the S. H. now being 
 towed in the little vessel. The Government 
 would give large sums for its discovery and de- 
 struction. What did her life of bodily safety 
 count against such a prize? There was mighty 
 incentive for bravery now. 
 
 She dressed herself in the blue uniform of a Ger- 
 man sailor. She kissed the long braid of beautiful 
 brown hair as she carefully placed it in her suit 
 case with her clothing, but try as hard as she 
 could, the hot tears again fell upon it. Then with 
 uplifted head and brave heart she returned to 
 face Malvoney. She submitted stoically to his 
 scrutiny. She would pass very well for a petty 
 officer. 
 
 "First give me that United States code book," 
 he ordered. "I want to use it."
 
 262 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 Without hesitation Betty procured the book 
 from her baggage and handed it to him. 
 
 "From now on your name is to be Mark 
 Whaley," he informed her. "Keep Whaley's 
 baggage with you, and if searched, keep up the 
 bluff. I do not anticipate any trouble, but if 
 there is, I depend upon you. If you do your 
 work right you'll get a large reward. If you 
 don't well His face darkened and Betty 
 shivered inwardly. 
 
 She merely nodded her head and he contem- 
 plated her with a distorted smile. "Did you 
 know that a serious accident happened to Whaley? 
 He fell overboard and was drowned." 
 
 "Is that so?" exclaimed Betty in a shocked 
 voice. Her white face reflected no pretense. 
 His calloused indifference and the menace in his 
 own words toward herself caused her stout heart 
 to recoil. 
 
 "Yes, he lost his balance and must have sunk 
 at once, poor devil." Then he turned abruptly 
 to join Bishop, who was looking at Betty with 
 appraising eyes. 
 
 Betty sat alone a long time watching the sun 
 near the horizon and making plans. Before 
 sundown they hove to and she saw near them a
 
 AMERICAN PEP 263 
 
 long squat vessel. Out of the center of the hog- 
 like back rose a little square house which 
 she afterward learned was called the conning 
 tower. The sea had gone down until there was 
 little motion. This was exactly the condition 
 Malvoney had prayed for. The little vessel 
 they had in tow was drawn to the side of the hog- 
 back stranger. Betty knew that the burlap- 
 covered cases of S. H. were being transferred. 
 This was accomplished with rapidity. 
 
 Just before dark Betty's suit cases with Whaley's 
 and Malvoney's private baggage were loaded. 
 When all were on board the great cargo submarine 
 she felt a gradual rising of dread and uncertainty, 
 but with a supreme effort stiffened herself to 
 face the ordeal. 
 
 She sensed the full peril and menace of her 
 position, the only woman among a crew of 
 desperate German sailors, on board a plague 
 ship with a red-lipped sensual beast claiming title 
 to her soul. At that moment she thanked 
 God that Dorn did not know of her plight. 
 She would make no effort to help him locate 
 her until she could relieve him of torturing 
 anxiety concerning her fate. He would believe 
 that her messages still came from South Carolina.
 
 264 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 The cargo hold was closed and the men were 
 so completely out of sight that the vessel seemed 
 almost like an abandoned derelict. Presently 
 a medium-sized man with prominent cheek bones 
 appeared and bowed indifferently to her. He 
 resembled Whaley some, without the hectic 
 nose. She soon knew him as Captain Hans. 
 He pointed to a low metal door in the steel box- 
 like house on the back of the undersea vessel. 
 Beside this door on a steel shelf was the wire- 
 less. She saw that no one was in charge of the 
 instrument. 
 
 "That will be your room for the present," 
 said the Captain. "You can be near the wireless 
 there. If you need anything, call me." He 
 spoke English without accent and his voice was 
 not unkind. She concluded from the softening 
 of his tone that he knew she was a woman, prac- 
 tically forced on board, mutilated and disguised 
 as a man. Perhaps he, too, was a victim of 
 circumstances. 
 
 "Thank you," she said quietly and entered 
 the room. It evidenced some signs of having 
 been prepared for her. It was lighted cnly by 
 two electric bulbs and was immediately under 
 the forward upper shell of the submarine. It
 
 AMERICAN PEP 265 
 
 was hardly high enough for her to stand erect 
 in; the highest place decreased like the sloping 
 sides of a tent. She found a folding cot, wash 
 stand, toilet and a small table with a steel stool. 
 An odor warned her of recent fumigation, and 
 a book still on the narrow shelf gave her the 
 information that the room had been occupied 
 by the first officer who she knew had died the 
 day before with yellow fever. She soon learned 
 that the adjoining room was the Captain's quarters 
 and that back of the tower Malvoney shared the 
 room of the second and third officers. 
 
 In a few moments a boy brought in a tray of 
 food. Betty was hungry and ate with relish. 
 But she soon became very warm as the little 
 room was ventilated only by fan circulation. 
 She also was eager to get out and report for 
 work. So she left the tower and sought Captain 
 Hans. 
 
 "The other operator will come on at eight and 
 remain until midnight," he informed her, "then 
 you come on and stand a six hour watch." 
 
 "If he is tired I don't mind going on at once," 
 she offered. 
 
 "He has been off for six hours now and is 
 ready. We have been without an operator since
 
 266 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 two o'clock as we had only one until you came 
 aboard." 
 
 She stood at his side as he scanned the sea from 
 the center of the tower hi all directions. "We 
 are short-handed all around," he went on, "and 
 I have to stand an eight hour watch myself in 
 order not to overwork my officers. There are 
 only three of us now." 
 
 Betty shuddered. She knew that his men 
 had been dying of yellow fever. She did not 
 know how many had died that day, but if six 
 and the officer had gone the day before, that 
 surely meant more had succumbed today. She 
 wondered what her chances were. 
 
 "You better turn hi and get all the sleep you 
 can before midnight," the Captain suggested. 
 "The night watches are pretty tiresome until 
 you get used to them." 
 
 "All right, Captain," she agreed. "Will I 
 be called or am I expected to get up myself?" 
 
 "You will be Colled," he assured her; "do not 
 fear oversleeping. I remain on watch myself 
 till then." 
 
 She passed back through the narrow door to 
 her room and let down the folding cot. She 
 noticed that it was furnished with new blankets.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 267 
 
 Although she did not relish sleeping where death 
 had so recently occurred from the malignant 
 disease she refused wisely to dwell on this danger 
 and prepared to sleep as much as possible until 
 midnight. She soon heard the wireless working 
 and knew the operator had returned. She could 
 hear distinctly everything that was going on and 
 understood his call for a shore station. 
 
 After a long tiresome effort the station an- 
 swered and as the operator used highest voltage 
 on his instruments she inferred that the station 
 was some distance away. His message was in 
 the code Malvoney had used. 
 
 She was able to read most of the figures and 
 was sure he reported only two deaths that day. 
 Then followed details of receiving freight and a 
 wireless operator. 
 
 Betty fell asleep as she listened and was wakened 
 about eleven thirty. She bathed her face and 
 was about to report for duty when a sailor tapped 
 on her door and handed her steaming coffee 
 and rolls. 
 
 After eating she went out into the dark conning 
 tower and was greeted pleasantly by the Captain 
 still on watch. She could see a dim outline of
 
 268 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 the operator sitting on a steel stool in front of 
 the instrument. 
 
 "I think he's gone to sleep," Captain Hans 
 said with real consideration. "The last thirty 
 hours alone at the instrument with only six 
 hours' rest have been heavy. Shake him a 
 little." 
 
 Betty did as requested a little timidly, but 
 received no response. The Captain grasped the 
 man's shoulders more insistently and the operator 
 instead of waking fell heavily to the floor. He 
 was dead. The fever had claimed another 
 victim. 
 
 "You go back into your room for a while," 
 commanded the Captain, and Betty was glad 
 to obey. 
 
 She was white and shaken. She must resume 
 the work of a man who had just died with the 
 dreaded plague. There was every chance for 
 infection. But again the thought of Dorn stif- 
 fened her. She must go through it, of course, 
 just as he had gone through, and was still going. 
 
 With a shudder she heard in a few minutes the 
 body dropped heavily into the sea.
 
 Chapter Twenty-six 
 
 DORN, AFTER THE FIRST BUSY 
 hours of getting away with the great 
 transport, "Adze," soon began to realize 
 all the material advantages of his commission. 
 As an officer he was entitled to the best room 
 and association at mess with the commissioned 
 men. This, in his weakened condition, he 
 doubly appreciated. 
 
 To ride on this great power plant, to feel its 
 sway and vibration, was a tonic in itself. The 
 terrific speed of the "Adze" served as a lotion to 
 his nerves. This transport, in addition to being 
 equipped with everything a destroyer needed, 
 had on the end of her blade cutwater a powerful 
 ram. This, with her speed of twice any similar 
 craft, made her a veritable swordfish. In addi- 
 tion she carried a heavy gun and depth bombs 
 charged with fifty pounds of new super-explosive. 
 Dorn was told that the new explosive was 
 called S. H. for short. He smiled strangely as
 
 270 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 they, in innocence of his knowledge, gave 
 him its history, with certain embellishments from 
 their own imagination concerning its awesome 
 qualities. He met the men only at meal times, 
 as during the rest of the day he was obliged to 
 stay with his instruments, so they saw little of 
 him. 
 
 On his second day aboard he received Betty's 
 message concerning the cargo submarine coming 
 north. He was tremendously moved, both with 
 delight to hear from her, and with excitement 
 at the possibilities now before them. The right- 
 ing virus in his blood took fire, and it was only 
 with great effort that he quelled his desire for 
 quick action in order that his judgment might 
 be reliable. He was finishing this inward fight 
 with himself when Lieutenant Worth in com- 
 mand came into the wireless room. 
 
 "We are headed for the Azores, as I under- 
 stand it, Lieutenant?" said Dorn. 
 
 "Yes, barring accidents and bad weather we 
 ought to be .there in sixty hours," Worth replied, 
 dropping into a seat across the narrow table. 
 
 "Do we call there?" 
 
 "Not unless something happens to make it 
 necessary. But it is Portuguese, you know.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 271 
 
 The big ship back there has really had no try- 
 out since being repaired of damages done by 
 the Huns at the dock, and it could easily transpire 
 that something would run hot or need adjust- 
 ment by the time we get there. Why do you 
 ask?" 
 
 "I have been getting wireless information 
 from the south that may develop into some- 
 thing important, but I can't tell yet. How 
 long would a fifteen or eighteen knot boat take 
 to come from a point near Charleston to the 
 Azores?" 
 
 Worth made a rapid mental calculation. "She 
 would get here about a day behind us with equally 
 good luck," he replied. 
 
 "How long will it take us to reach our objec- 
 tive in France from the Azores?" 
 
 "About two days if we do not have to leave 
 our course for the Hun. This is the fourth 
 trip I have made as part of a convoy. I am 
 getting used to it. There really is only one bad 
 place after we leave the Azores and that is where 
 we cross the path into the Mediterranean." 
 
 Dorn was thinking fast. "Do you suppose 
 we could get detached from this convoy if the 
 need were urgent?"
 
 272 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Nothing is impossible as long as we can 
 reach Washington with our radio. But it would 
 have to be something big. You see, Dorn, 
 there are over ten thousand souls between the 
 steel sides of that ship. She was the pride of the 
 Huns before we took her and put her into shape 
 to carry troops. If anything should happen 
 to her every Hun by birth or by nature would 
 sing his hellish hymn of hate. But what's on 
 your mind, can't you tell me? " 
 
 "Pardon me if I appear secretive, but I have 
 nothing definite yet. I'll tell you as soon as 
 there is anything tangible." 
 
 "When is it apt to develop?" 
 
 "I can only speculate on that, but I know I 
 can depend on you to back up any possible 
 request I make to Washington to be detached 
 for special duty." Dorn looked at Lieutenant 
 Worth with a square, searching scrutiny. 
 
 "To the last rivet of this speedster, and she 
 is the fastest boat in the world," replied Worth, 
 grimly. 
 
 "Then I'll want to talk it over with you as 
 soon as I have positive information." 
 
 Worth nodded and left the wireless room. 
 
 That afternoon and evening Dorn tried several
 
 AMERICAN PEP 273 
 
 times to get some response from Betty, but was 
 unable to raise her. The next morning he 
 tried again, with better results. 
 
 " Ship's health bad," she reported. "Second 
 and third officers went last night with plague. 
 Driving hard for Azores. May be in position 
 to offer more details tomorrow." 
 
 Dorn was unable to learn where Betty was. 
 He had no hint that she, herself, was on board 
 this plague ship. He believed that she still 
 was on duty at an illicit land station receiving 
 reports from the submarine. He knew she was 
 using a wide range station, but he was now both- 
 ered by the possibility of passing out of her 
 radio circle. 
 
 He telephoned to Lieutenant Worth, whose 
 quarters were aft. The officer came to him at 
 once. 
 
 "I have more news from the south this morn- 
 ing," Dorn informed him. " Yesterday's suspicions 
 have developed into more clear-cut information." 
 Dorn then proceeded to outline the entire situa- 
 tion. As he talked the lieutenant leaned for- 
 ward across the instrument table, alert and 
 tensely interested. "And now," ended Dorn, 
 "at Charleston, or some fifty or sixty miles
 
 274 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 abreast of that point, 1960 cases of S. H. 
 were transferred to this boat I know as 'Merb' 
 Can you figure how much behind us she will 
 arrive in the vicinity of the Azores?" 
 
 "Let me see " Worth drew two converging 
 lines with his pencil and made the nautical posi- 
 tions. "She will be behind us from thirty-six 
 to forty-eight hours." 
 
 "How long would it take us to finish our convoy 
 work and return to the Azores, if we had the 
 orders? " 
 
 "If we were relieved the moment we arrived 
 in France and returned at full speed, we would 
 be back in three or four days." 
 
 "Then, if the 'Merb' had to stop at the Azores 
 two days to get an officer or two, we could return 
 here before she could get away?" 
 
 "Yes, I think that's good reasoning. But, of 
 course, we could tell more definitely tomorrow," 
 he added. "When will you get another radio 
 report concerning the German sub?" 
 
 "Probably not before tomorrow. I suppose 
 you know that the big ship behind us has been 
 reporting engine trouble to Washington?" 
 
 "Yes, a crank pin is running hot. I suppose 
 that was one of the new parts supplied at the
 
 AMERICAN PEP 275 
 
 repair works. But I don't imagine they'll be 
 likely to stop for that." 
 
 "A crank pin can make a lot of trouble when 
 it starts going bad," reminded Dorn. 
 
 "We won't let anything leak out about this 
 sub," cautioned Worth as he rose. "We must 
 have that snake, and single-handed, too, Lieuten- 
 ant. Don't give those other fellows a chance 
 to get in on the hat. We've got the latest bombs 
 and the speed of an airship. If we get within 
 sight of the sub we will either sink him or get 
 him." 
 
 The remainder of the day brought no more 
 news from the "Merb." But it developed that 
 the big ship's trouble was not abating, and 
 worse, one of her pumps was making protests 
 against conditions. Dorn was not surprised 
 when next morning she came to anchor in the 
 open roadstead at the Azores with the three 
 escorting destroyers moving with low speed in a 
 circle around her. 
 
 Dorn had managed to sleep most of the time 
 since midnight, but was now so busy that he had 
 to have his breakfast sent to him. While he was 
 eating Lieutenant Worth came in, anxious and 
 expectant.
 
 276 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "How long do you suppose we'll have to stay 
 in this hell?" Worth grumbled. "I figured on 
 getting this troop ship into France and getting 
 a roving commission to come back and look for 
 the Hun who now thinks his nose is out of 
 danger." 
 
 "The chief engineer reports a burnt-out crank 
 pin. He says the box must be scraped before 
 he can proceed. That will require, with the 
 difficult packing of the pump, perhaps forty- 
 eight hours, maybe sixty," calculated Dorn. 
 
 "Nothing more from the south?" Worth asked. 
 
 Dorn shook his head. 
 
 "But I may hear any moment. Who must 
 we go to for authority to leave?" 
 
 "No one as long as the troop ship is at anchor. 
 Two destroyers circling her will be adequate 
 protection. I am the ranking officer and the 
 ranking ship. I will board the troop vessel 
 now and find out directly from the Captain 
 just what the outlook is." 
 
 After Worth had gone Dorn sat and looked 
 at the wireless as if he would conjure it into 
 immediate activity. Every nerve was a-tingle 
 with the prospect of getting his man. Dorn 
 did not think of the "Merb" as a prize, yielding
 
 AMERICAN PEP 277 
 
 him money. He wanted only that explosive and 
 the red-lipped dog on board. 
 
 He sat, keenly alert, waiting for Betty's prom- 
 ised message. When it came he recognized 
 instantly her peculiar touch that he would know 
 among thousands. His heart rushed out to 
 meet her across the space that divided. 
 
 They both responded to the signal, then fol- 
 lowed the longitude and latitude of the "Merb." 
 "Moving under tremendous pressure for the 
 Azores," Betty reported. "Captain only man 
 left to navigate. Plague claimed all the officers 
 and more than half the crew. I can likely re- 
 port several times a day now, obstructions 
 removed, but must cut off now." 
 
 Dorn's delight would have been seriously 
 tempered with misgivings had he known that 
 Betty was on board the plague ship. But he 
 still believed her on land keeping in touch with 
 the " Merb's " movements by means of the wireless. 
 
 At that moment Worth came briskly into the 
 room. 
 
 "Lieutenant Dorn," he began, "that ship's 
 mechanic has a big job ahead of him; two and a 
 half days at least will be required before she can 
 sail. Have you heard anything from the south?"
 
 278 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Yes, just finished. She reports latitude and 
 longitude and coming this way under all possible 
 engine pressure to get officers to relieve the 
 captain, the only officer survivor. There is 
 the message written out." 
 
 "But Good God, man, she now is within twenty- 
 four hours of here, and at the rate she is coming 
 we can get her sure! It can't be true, it seems 
 too good! Dorn, she is ours!" 
 
 "But remember, Worth," cautioned Dorn 
 gravely, "we must make no mistake. A single 
 act in the next twenty-four hours may even 
 turn the tide of war."
 
 Chapter Twenty-seven 
 
 AT NOON DORN AGAIN RECEIVED 
 Betty's call. She reported no change. 
 "Ample fuel and engine crew not af- 
 fected by plague," she informed. "But ship in 
 many other ways neglected through lack of crew. 
 Officers' quarters fumigated every six hours. 
 Should reach Azores early tomorrow. Plan is 
 to go to channel between islands. Will send 
 Malvoney ashore, then submerge and lie on the 
 bottom until he returns with officers and men 
 procured from a secret agent there. More 
 men absolutely necessary to work her through 
 the English Channel, where they must run sub- 
 merged. Nothing more before eight tonight," 
 she ended. 
 
 Again Dorn believed that she was signalling 
 from the illicit land station, from which point 
 she was keeping in touch with the German 
 submarine. Had he known her real position, 
 his fears would have become unbearable.
 
 28o AMERICAN PEP 
 
 He at once telephoned Lieutenant Worth, 
 who came immediately to the wireless room. 
 
 "She is making record time," greeted Dorn, 
 "and with no accidents will make the islands 
 tomorrow. She will hide between islands in 
 the channel. They will let Malvoney ashore 
 to reach the agent and the vessel will lay on the 
 bottom until he returns with the men." 
 
 "And so they have an agent here? How the 
 Portuguese would grimace at that! By Heavens, 
 when they get hold of that combination the 
 man Malvoney and the agent will see the next 
 sunrise in hell. Just think of a wireless station 
 in Charleston, in a town of seventy-five thousand 
 red-blooded patriotic people, being allowed to 
 send messages to us here. How I would like 
 to handle the knife that would cut out such a 
 rotten spot!" 
 
 "But let's get down to tacks," reminded Dorn. 
 "Shall we go and meet her and attempt her 
 capture at sea, or shall we let her come on here? 
 What we want to figure on is a trap for the Hun, 
 his cargo and his snakes aboard, bearing in mind 
 that they have fifty tons of explosive that is 
 urgently needed. Also, do you realize that 
 one shot from us might set off that fearful stuff?
 
 AMERICAN PEP 281 
 
 What would be left of the vessel were it exploded, 
 or what would be left of us, even deep in the water 
 as we are, and two or three miles away? We 
 mustn't forget also that it is a plague ship in 
 which more than half the officers and crew have 
 dropped dead with the vilest and most contagious 
 disease. We've got to do some thinking, Worth. 
 It seems as if we were up against it whichever 
 way we handle the trap. Are you willing, per- 
 sonally, to go into it?" 
 
 "A thousand times yes. I'm right with you, 
 Dorn," shouted Worth. "Shouldn't think you'd 
 have to ask that." 
 
 Dora's hand shot out in contrition and the 
 men's rich brave blood tingled at the hand 
 grip. 
 
 "She'll surely be coming right this way," 
 said Dora. "I'll get news from her again after 
 eight tonight; we'd better just wait." 
 
 "Yes, nothing could be gamed by checking 
 her now. I'll be back as soon as I have time to 
 study a chart of the islands," he said, as he rose 
 to leave. 
 
 At eight o'clock Dorn sat waiting for the 
 transmitter to bring him the message which 
 would come freighted with important news.
 
 282 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 During the afternoon Lieutenant Worth had 
 spent much time locating the spot where the 
 "Merb" would be most likely to land a man and 
 then submerge. The tides were studied also 
 for the possibilities of^a hiding-place where they 
 could await the coming of the German sub- 
 marine. They evolved several plans, hoping 
 that one of them would fit the exact time, place, 
 and condition of the enemy's arrival. 
 
 At 8.15 Betty's stroke came on Dorn's sounder. 
 "Still sailing full ahead," she reported. "Longi- 
 tude latitude time ship's clock Plague 
 abated. One more sailor died today, but no 
 more threatened. Wireless operator giving way 
 some under strain of overwork, but it may be 
 fever. If so no more reports, as the disease 
 develops in a few hours. Striving to arrive at 
 selected rendezvous between islands designated 
 before daybreak tomorrow. Will submerge as 
 soon as Malvoney goes ashore. S. H. is aboard, 
 valuable cargo. She sails with little more than 
 conning tower exposed. This is not a vulner- 
 able spot, as the ship seals below that watertight. 
 Remember the plague. Remember the S. H." 
 
 At this point her instrument seemed gradually 
 to leave his tuning, and although her message
 
 AMERICAN PEP 283 
 
 came to a distinct end it seemed to have been 
 extinguished from the weight of something in- 
 definable to Dorn. All further attempts to raise 
 her during the night were fruitless. He still 
 believed her to be on the coast of Charleston, 
 when in reality she was coming directly toward 
 him, less than twelve hours away. 
 
 During the day messages from a station in 
 France warned of the operations of an enemy 
 submarine as far south as the Azores, where the 
 great troop ship lay, now perfectly helpless, 
 but with her three destroyers, including the 
 "Adze," circling round her. 
 
 Just before midnight, to Dorn's relief, Lieu- 
 tenant Worth reported that a British destroyer 
 was to take their place in the circular patrol, 
 this leaving them free to trail the "Merb." 
 
 The next morning the "Adze" was anchored 
 behind the island, nearest to the point where 
 the plague-infested submarine must come to 
 get the necessary depth of water to submerge. 
 Dorn and Worth were stationed at the home of a 
 British subject on the highest part of the island. 
 They were thus able to get a perfect view of the 
 sea approaching west and south. As the first 
 rays of the sun came from the east behind them
 
 284 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 they scoured the sea with glasses for the sight 
 of the approaching vessel. 
 
 "I believe I can see her!" Worth finally cried 
 out in excitement. 
 
 "I see something, too," shouted Dorn, "but 
 it seems little more than a disappearing shadow." 
 
 "Watch that shadow, Dorn. Can't you see 
 it roll in the sea? As sure as we live, it's the 
 sub. She is running as low as possible. Can't 
 you make her out?" 
 
 "Yes, I believe I can see her!" cried Dorn. 
 "But there's damned little to shoot at; she's all 
 but submerged now. What do you propose?" 
 
 Worth lowered his glasses. He could see 
 the dark spot now with his naked eye. "I 
 can see but one thing to do, Dorn, and that is 
 to run her down if she don't stop as expected. 
 Then demand a surrender. She must fight or 
 submerge. Then we'll give her a bomb." 
 
 "And you know a bomb will open her up and 
 put us in the clouds, too," reminded Dorn gravely. 
 
 " I know it perfectly, but that cargo of explosive 
 must never leave this spot, even if we, and the 
 sea, and these islands disappear in dust or vapor. 
 Let's hurry aboard. We haven't a moment to 
 waste."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 285 
 
 The launch joined the "Adze," which raised her 
 anchor and came round the little island like 
 a greyhound round a bush. Her speed was 
 so great that her tail wave was as high as a 
 breaker. 
 
 They came in sight of the "Merb" as she was 
 slowing up and had broken out a hole to release 
 an anchor. The submarine instantly realized her 
 danger. Like the outlaw she was, she prepared 
 to dive. 
 
 "Better send a shot over him," said Worth, 
 standing with Dorn just in front of the steering 
 wheel. The signal was barely given before a 
 shell went with suppressed screeching over the 
 German submarine. 
 
 The "Merb" began to submerge out of sight. 
 The souls of the watching men began to sink 
 with it. They knew if it dived destruction was 
 sure to come to them all. But nothing daunted, 
 the "Adze " rushed on to be sure and cover the spot 
 so that the German could be successfully bombed. 
 
 "But, Good God!" cried Worth, grabbing 
 Dorn's arm, "there's something wrong with 
 her. She can't dive. She is bringing out her 
 gun. Now we've got her. She'll have to fight 
 or surrender, and with that pop gun she can
 
 286 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 shoot at us all day going at the speed we go. 
 I'm sure she can't submerge, or she would before 
 this. And if she has a gunner he is surely crippled 
 or we would have been dodging shells. We are 
 now within a thousand yards of them and must 
 keep that far off until they speak." 
 
 The "Adze " slowed up like a runabout with 
 brakes suddenly applied and began a careful 
 detour, keeping a distance of one thousand yards. 
 They saw the disappearing gun rise from the 
 long, black body of the immense tapering log. 
 The shell was slipped into position with the 
 breech lock closed. The gunner took deliberate 
 aim to get their range. There was a flash. The 
 man behind the gun plunged into the sea, but 
 no shell came toward them. 
 
 " Great Heavens, Dorn, " cried Worth, "did you 
 see that? She not only is unable to submerge, 
 but the breech lock of the gun also has failed. 
 Don't you see! She can't move! She is ours, 
 she is done for, damn her! Now, let's see what 
 next!" 
 
 He turned to his gunner. "Can you lift that 
 cannon they have just raised? There may be 
 some trick." 
 
 "I think so."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 287 
 
 "Try it, but for the life of you, if you miss, 
 shoot over her and not under." 
 
 "We better come to a dead stop, sir, to be sure," 
 the gunner suggested. 
 
 Dorn saw Worth give the signal to come to 
 a stand. This order was obeyed so effectively 
 that they retained their footing with difficulty. 
 The gunner waited until his aim was steady; 
 then his gun shouted. Their eyes could follow 
 the shell as it traveled true to its mark and the 
 gun and carriage was carried over its crowning 
 deck. 
 
 "If that's the best bluff she can put up," 
 grinned Worth, " she must be in a pretty tight 
 box." 
 
 " What next? " said Dorn. He appeared stoical, 
 but in reality his heart was beating furiously. 
 
 "Perhaps he has another deuce in his hand," 
 said Worth. 
 
 "Then he'll have to play it mighty quick." 
 
 "Yes, there it is. It's the white flag." They 
 all could see it as it began to float. 
 
 "Some trick as sure as hell," exclaimed Worth, 
 but his face changed as a weakly sailor came to 
 the side and affixed the sign that all must regard, 
 the yellow flag of the dreaded plague.
 
 Chapter Twenty-eight 
 
 STILL, I BELIEVE HE'S GETTING 
 ready to trick us," declared Worth as 
 they watched the yellow signal. "There 
 he goes forward to drop his anchor. Now, what 
 next?" 
 
 "I believe he may sink her after he gets off 
 in the boat. As a merchant ship, not a navy 
 vessel, his owner is insured and will be paid in 
 case of capture, as well as if sunk." 
 
 "But there are German spies on board." 
 
 "Yes, if they haven't gone with the plague. 
 It's an oil-burning craft and her whole crew 
 didn't total more than twenty men. Half of 
 them -are dead and those who are living believe 
 it is only a matter of tune, anyhow. They 
 might as well go one way as another." 
 
 "Yes, Dorn," commented Worth, "but I have 
 seen snakes strike a fatal blow with their last 
 wriggle. He won't use the explosive unless
 
 AMERICAN PEP 289 
 
 he wants to commit suicide, but we must have 
 some one on board that craft soon." 
 
 "It should be an engineer," suggested Dorn, 
 "who can disconnect both the engine and the 
 pump that supplies the boilers. What would 
 happen if you asked for volunteers among your 
 men?" 
 
 "Let's try and see," smiled Worth, as if sure 
 of the result. He had the engine room men 
 called forward outside the wireless room. 
 
 "Men," he began, "some one must go aboard 
 that German sub and disconnect her engines 
 and pumps. She is loaded with valuable cargo. 
 Your interest in the prize will be big, likely very 
 big, if no mistake is made. She also has fifty 
 tons of explosive aboard that even at this dis- 
 tance would put us out of business if it was let 
 off. In addition to that it is a plague ship. More 
 than half its crew have died with yellow fever 
 within the last four days. Whoever goes aboard 
 should be able to wigwag information. He 
 must stay there or be isolated in quarantine for 
 at least ten days. It is a risky undertaking, con- 
 sider well. I am asking for volunteers." 
 
 Every hand went up. 
 
 "All right! Fine! Patchen, you go. Get
 
 290 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 everything together and a boat over the side as 
 soon as possible, and come to me for final in- 
 structions. You must take food, water, and 
 extra clothing! Eat or drink nothing found 
 there." 
 
 As the man went to obey orders Worth turned 
 to Dorn. "He is a fireman but should be an 
 engineer. I can't spare engineers. Our work 
 ahead is too important. But we will soon know 
 what's inside her." 
 
 In a few moments Patchen left the destroyer 
 and approached the plague-ridden submarine 
 without hindrance. 
 
 " I told him to signal as soon as he had a chance 
 to look around," explained Worth. They watched 
 every sign with their glasses. "Here's where I 
 get ahead of you. I can't read that jolty stuff 
 you got down there in your place, but I can read 
 this." He jerked his head toward Patchen, who 
 now appeared on the crown of the "Merb" and 
 commenced to wigwag his message with flags. 
 
 "No resistance," Worth began to read aloud; 
 "four in bed recovering from fever. Two ex- 
 hausted from overwork. Three in officers' 
 quarters, Captain Hans, Malvoney, and Mark 
 Whaley."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 291 
 
 Dorn stiffened at the thought that Malvoney 
 and his dupe were now in his hands. 
 
 Patchen was still signalling. "Big cargo of 
 zink, copper, and rubber, also explosive." 
 
 " Hurrah ! " shouted Worth. " Some prize that ! 
 Wouldn't it be a good idea to work it down about 
 three miles? There can be no doubt as to our 
 title to the prize now. If we can get it down 
 under that Portuguese fort they would protect 
 it until it could be removed, in case we had to 
 leave." 
 
 " Fine idea ! " approved Dorn. " Let's try that." 
 
 Instructions were wigwagged to Patchen. 
 
 In a short time the " Merb " slowly raised her 
 anchor to the water line and slowly followed the 
 "Adze" along the south side of the island to a 
 little bay of deep and well-protected water, under 
 an antiquated fort and a garrison. The "Merb" 
 was now so close to the shore that shortest-range 
 guns from the fort could reach her. There were 
 only sixteen feet of water in low tide, and if the 
 Huns were able to scuttle her, the cargo would 
 not suffer much. 
 
 On the way down Dorn managed to raise the 
 garrison by wireless. He told them that they 
 were bringing in a German prize with plague
 
 292 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 aboard and asked the protection of the fort. 
 He received immediate assurance that guns 
 would be trained on the submarine and that it 
 would be carefully watched that none left it to 
 carry the disease. 
 
 The "Adze" then took a position two thousand 
 feet away and anchored. 
 
 In about an hour Patchen again signalled that 
 he had disconnected the pump and engines and 
 would bring the parts to a nearby barren coral 
 island just sticking above the water, where they 
 could get them after he left them fumigated to 
 prevent possible infection. 
 
 "I knew that boy had horse sense," declared 
 Worth. "He figured that they might try to 
 overpower him, replace the parts, and try to get 
 away." 
 
 "We better report details to Washington," 
 said Dorn. 
 
 "Have you juice enough for that?" 
 
 "I think so. You go get your message into 
 cipher and I will see if the engineer can give me 
 extra current while we are at anchor." 
 
 It took two hours to get the report to Wash- 
 ington with a request for instructions. After 
 another hour came back brief orders.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 293 
 
 "Complete convoy to France," Dorn read, 
 "thence to Gulf of Mexico to discover and destroy 
 station. Have crew of "Merb" brought to Atlantic 
 port. Leaders treated as spies." 
 
 Worth grabbed Dorn's hand and shook it. 
 "Lucky was the day that threw us together," 
 he exclaimed. "I felt from the start that you 
 were a mascot. We have won hands down. 
 She is at anchor all whole, under the guns of 
 the fort, and her machinery parted so she can't 
 move." 
 
 Dorn did not reply at once. His thoughts 
 were reaching out toward an illicit wireless sta- 
 tion at Charleston. As soon as the enthusiastic 
 lieutenant had left him he began to call, hoping 
 to reach Betty. His efforts were fruitless, because 
 she was less than two thousand feet away, but 
 with engines dead, making her wireless mute. 
 
 Shortly after noon Patchen wigwagged that 
 he was taking a letter to the rock island where 
 he had left the engine parts and asked them to 
 send for it. After getting the paper carefully 
 fumigated Dorn and Lieutenant Worth examined 
 it with interest. 
 
 "Was afraid to wigwag," wrote Patchen, "as 
 I think Malvoney may be able to read the signs.
 
 294 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 He and the captain spend their time together in 
 the officers' quarters. Believe officers and Mal- 
 voney are planning to escape in my boat along- 
 side. A sailor is acting as first officer; the rest 
 died of fever. Some of the crew evidently 
 burned the submerging valve stem off with acid, 
 and in the same way put out the breech lock of 
 the gun. That was why she couldn't submerge 
 or fire. Send written instructions, as I can't 
 prevent Malvoney from reading signs." 
 
 "That's pretty good for a fireman, isn't it?" 
 approved Worth. "I'll have to get that man 
 promoted sure, if he gets safe out of this. Do 
 you think he has it sized up right and that Mal- 
 voney means to try to escape?" 
 
 "If he does he'll get into something worse. " 
 
 "Yes, this is a Portuguese possession," com- 
 mented Worth, "and I have heard they have 
 adopted a real live-wire, snappy method of 
 getting rid of their prisoners and spies, giving 
 their government always the benefit of the 
 doubt." 
 
 "But these fellows have an agent there, or they 
 wouldn't risk it." 
 
 "Yes, and if they get to land maybe they'll 
 manage to escape; yet I doubt it."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 295 
 
 "Your idea, then, is that if they want to 
 escape to let them." 
 
 "I think we'd feel safer about that sub and her 
 cargo if those snakes were off. We can't take 
 them aboard here and we can't ask the Portu- 
 guese to allow us to land them, on account of 
 the plague. But if they escaped well that 
 would make a big difference in the reception 
 they would get if discovered. They would be 
 plain spies from a plague ship." 
 
 "But I'd like to get two of these snakes back 
 into the mountains," protested Dorn. 
 
 "If you had them back in the States and 
 had them convicted, what would they get under 
 the law as we now run it? Two or three years 
 in the Pen and a small fine." 
 
 "But suppose they get ashore with the help 
 of a confederate and finally get away?" 
 
 "Let's consider how it does really look," 
 figured Worth. "First, they will not attempt 
 anything until after dark, because they know 
 that the guns of the fort as well as our own are 
 trained upon them every minute. Now, sup- 
 pose Patchen gets busy down below and lets 
 them escape after dark, don't you know that with 
 our new device we can hear the first step they
 
 296 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 take into the boat as distinctly as if they were 
 right beneath us? And more, you have the 
 wireless communication with the garrison. You 
 could advise them they were escaping, and in 
 what direction. And, Dorn, I am willing to 
 admit I really like the way the Portuguese 
 handle spies and alien enemies. Of course, if 
 they stay aboard until they die or get the plague 
 out of their clothes, then it is up to Uncle Sam." 
 
 At this moment Dorn held up his hand to 
 stay the lieutenant's speech while he copied 
 from the wireless that began to operate from a 
 powerful sending station. "Halifax is working 
 with the Irish station," he explained under his 
 breath, "and is relaying a Washington message 
 from the state department to London." He 
 took the message down in code. 
 
 "Worth," he cried out, after studying his code 
 book, "you we are famous men. The cap- 
 ture of this sub is regarded as one of the important 
 occurrences of the war. Our names will appear 
 at the head of the column in every newspaper 
 in the United States and allied countries." 
 
 "I knew it," cried Worth. "I knew when 
 you came aboard you were a mascot. Haven't 
 I said so, right along! And that prize, my
 
 AMERICAN PEP 297 
 
 boy, you and I and the crew get it all. I bet it'll 
 be a whopping big one, too." 
 
 Dorn suddenly became sober. "Yet, Lieu- 
 tenant Worth," he reminded, "but little credit 
 really is ours. The credit of this capture belongs 
 to the source of our information. We couldn't 
 have found her, or known of her existence, with- 
 out that." 
 
 "That's so," considered Worth. "But you've 
 been pretty tight about that source of informa- 
 tion. I began to think it was something you 
 wanted to keep to yourself." 
 
 "I have every reason to believe that my in- 
 formation leading to the capture of this boat was 
 sent me from an illicit station at Charleston, 
 by an operator who went there with the knowl- 
 edge of the Government, and for patriotic pur- 
 poses. That operator is a young woman, Betty 
 Fraser, with whom I worked closely hi the moun- 
 tains." 
 
 "Wonderful, wonderful!" cried Worth. "She 
 shall share with us both the honor and the prize." 
 He rose to reach across the table and grip Dorn's 
 hand. "A romance, as I live! That crowns 
 the whole thing with added glory for me." He 
 laughed like a boy.
 
 298 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "But," broke in Dorn, "I am disturbed by 
 another bit of information I caught on the wire- 
 less. It is added that the illicit station at Charles- 
 ton had no operator when it was discovered and 
 destroyed by the Government. Something may 
 have happened to Miss Fraser." 
 
 "She undoubtedly had ample protection and 
 credentials," soothed Worth, "and will report 
 as soon as she can, fully. I've got to go now 
 and take some observations, but will be back 
 before long." He rose and backed out of the 
 narrow door. 
 
 That evening Dorn sat with Worth at the 
 instruments listening for any movement of the 
 submarine. The water on that side of the is- 
 land was calm as a pond. The gunners changed 
 watch and stood faithfully by. The powerful 
 searchlight of the "Adze" was tested and right. 
 
 An hour passed and both Dorn and Lieutenant 
 Worth wondered if Patchen had been right in 
 his suspicions that Malvoney intended to escape. 
 Dorn left the wireless room and went to the 
 table where the audophone or detector was in- 
 stalled. He signalled for Worth to listen at the 
 additional receiver. They stood motionless for 
 a while, then suddenly Dorn raised his hand.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 299 
 
 "They've started," he cried; "they are cau- 
 tiously putting baggage, or something, into a 
 boat." Their movements were as audible as 
 though only a few feet away. "Now they are 
 getting in the boat themselves. There are three 
 of them." 
 
 They could hear them shove the boat carefully 
 away from the submarine and adjust the oars 
 in the locks. They began to row with extreme 
 caution, but as they got some distance from 
 the submarine "Merb" they commenced to row 
 swiftly. 
 
 Dorn ran to his instrument, called the garrison, 
 and gave them the information; then returned to 
 listen. 
 
 The escaping boat finally was heard to grind 
 its keel in the gravel of the abrupt bottom of 
 the shore, where they cautiously approached. 
 They evidently were handing out the bags they 
 seemed loath to leave behind, though safety 
 would have dictated otherwise. Then, as the 
 third man stepped out of the boat and gave it a 
 shove back into the water, the powerful search- 
 light of the "Adze" broke out and fell on the three 
 escaping men. Its glare blinded them and they 
 protected their eyes with their hands. The
 
 300 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 rifles of the Portuguese soldiers were pointed at 
 them. The searchlight followed them until they 
 entered an old adobe building used as an isolation 
 quarters or quarantine. 
 
 "Now, by Heaven, Dorn," said Worth, "there 
 is nothing left on our prize but Patchen and the 
 sick sailors." 
 
 In an other hour the garrison called Dorn to 
 inform them that a drumhead court was in ses- 
 sion, trying the three German spies. They 
 wanted to know if any one there could identify 
 the leader. Dorn replied that he could. 
 
 "Is there any one there who can administer 
 the oath to you? " 
 
 "I'll see," Dorn replied and telephoned Worth 
 to come to his room. 
 
 "Can you administer an oath to me?" he 
 asked. "A court is already in session trying 
 the German spies." 
 
 Worth's face was illuminated. "That's what I 
 call decent kind of service," he approved. "Sure, 
 I have power to administer the oath. Tell 'em 
 so, and get it over quickly." 
 
 Dorn informed the garrison operator that 
 he could take oath from his officer in command 
 and the formality was carried out.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 301 
 
 "Describe the leader," came from the garrison. 
 
 "About five feet eight, heavy girth, no beard 
 when last seen. Swarthy, with a wound or fresh 
 scar in the center of his forehead." 
 
 "You believe him to be a German spy? His 
 right name as shown by his papers is Von Spiel." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "The judge advocate wishes to thank you, 
 and will not trouble you farther. Having made 
 sure of the leader's identity, he finds plenty of 
 evidence to convict the other two." 
 
 "Now you watch what will happen," said 
 Worth enthusiastically. "They sure have horse 
 sense here. They don't want any more snakes 
 on their island." 
 
 Dorn listened while the garrison operator called 
 to give him a short message which he wrote 
 carefully. He handed the paper gravely to 
 Lieutenant Worth. 
 
 "Prisoners guilty," was the verdict. "Sen- 
 tenced to be shot at sunrise."
 
 Chapter Twenty -nine 
 
 WELL, AT LEAST TWO CLOCKS 
 that have been ticking bad time for 
 us will stop this morning," said Worth. 
 "This is just what should happen at home, and 
 if the war continues, must happen of necessity." 
 
 "I guess you're right." Dorn stretched him- 
 self backward hi his chair, clasping his hands 
 together on his head. 
 
 "Excuse me if I digress," laughed Worth, 
 "but with your wings spread like that and with 
 the grimness of your soul, you remind me of our 
 national emblem." 
 
 Dorn laughed boyishly. "Your remark takes 
 me back twenty-five years or so; my West Vir- 
 ginian nickname was ' Eagle Bill ' ; I expect it was 
 given me because of my nosepiece." 
 
 "But to return to more unpleasant subjects," 
 said Worth. "These people who know Germans 
 better than we do show us speed and efficiency
 
 AMERICAN PEP 303 
 
 in trying spies we can well copy. No foolish 
 sentiment, they get rid of them quick." 
 
 "That Malvoney deserved death I will agree," 
 said Dorn, "but that Whaley, merely a weak 
 rummy dupe for Malvoney, should be shot, is 
 still a question. And so far as we know this 
 captain may not have done anything more serious 
 than obey Malvoney's orders, but landing as they 
 did on the grounds of a fort settles it. I tell 
 you, Worth, there is a great chance for injustice 
 in these midnight procedures." 
 
 "Innocent people will sometimes suffer, but 
 what is one life or a dozen, if by being martyred 
 they save the lives of millions of fighting men 
 who in the last analysis are martyrs too?" 
 
 "Yet," insisted Dorn gravely, "I feel I would 
 like to prevent the execution. I am not hardened 
 yet, also a further unpleasant duty I have 
 concluded I must perform." 
 
 "What's that?" quickly asked Worth. 
 
 "I want the personal effects of those men, if 
 they will let us have them. I am hoping they 
 will reveal the location of the submarine base, 
 and that they also will unravel the mystery of 
 the disappearance of the explosive from the 
 mountain mill."
 
 304 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "But how about the chances of infection of 
 our crew by bringing that stuff aboard here?" 
 
 "Haven't you a small room where we can 
 fumigate thoroughly before handling? We must 
 have that baggage if it is possible to coax it from 
 the garrison and make it fairly safe." 
 
 "Yes, we've got a place and a dope that will 
 make it perfectly safe to handle. Yet even if it 
 didn't, we are in the game of war where grave 
 risks greet us every minute. Go ahead and get 
 it if you can. By the way, don't forget our 
 wireless; the transport is having better luck, 
 and might be able to get away tomorrow morn- 
 ing," he added as he rose and approached the 
 door. 
 
 " I am glad of it," said Dorn. As the Lieutenant 
 left the room he reached for his key and called 
 the garrison. They were alert and replied at 
 once. He made his request and received the 
 immediate reply as translated by the garrison 
 operator. 
 
 "The judge advocate and commandant are 
 sorry that you have been obliged to request this 
 baggage, which is now in the hands of the priests 
 who are attending the condemned men. We 
 recognize its great value to you and were prepared
 
 AMERICAN PEP 305 
 
 to send it to you, but other details have pre- 
 vented. We will do so at once. Again we ask 
 your pardon." 
 
 Dorn went out and began a pace of the narrow 
 deck that lasted for hours. The semitropical 
 air was a delight to his lungs. About the garrison 
 he saw lights moving swiftly, foretelling the 
 tragedy that was about to take place. At the 
 first approach of dawn he could hear a boat 
 approaching, doubtless with the baggage re- 
 ferred to. He previously had made sure that the 
 sealed apartment to be used for fumigating was 
 ready to receive the bags. Dorn watched the 
 approaching boat and now could plainly see the 
 suitcases and bags. Each was bound with heavy 
 cord and sealed with the stamp of the Portuguese 
 Government. 
 
 Worth was asleep. 
 
 Dorn called a wardroom boy and gave careful 
 directions. "Put it away at once," he ordered, 
 "and be sure you wash your hands hi germicide 
 when you are through." 
 
 Dismissing that as settled for a time he began 
 again to pace the deck, going into the wireless 
 room frequently to see if there were any new 
 messages.
 
 3 o6 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 Daylight was quite distinct when he went to 
 his instrument and found that the transport's 
 operator was calling. He gave Dorn the infor- 
 mation that they would be able to sail in two 
 hours and directed him to rejoin the convoy. 
 Dorn called Worth on the telephone and repeated 
 the message, then started back on deck into the 
 morning air that invigorated him after a restless 
 sleepless night. Just as he came on deck he 
 heard a rifle volley boom over the garrison. He 
 started and stood still, then another volley came 
 across the water with a distinctness that made his 
 own heart flinch. As he resumed his pacing the 
 third volley resounded. Dorn knew that the 
 Republic of Portugal had performed what it 
 believed to be its duty to themselves and the 
 Allies. 
 
 Soon Worth came on deck to read a letter of 
 Instructions to Patchen, advising him what he 
 must do on board the "Merb" until they could 
 send further orders. He left this on the rock. 
 A short time after sunrise their anchor came to 
 the water's edge as they got underway. The 
 "Adze" responded to her powerful engines with 
 precision and majesty and proceeded to take her 
 place at the head of the diamond-shaped convoy.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 307 
 
 Every eye was now alert for submarines as 
 they headed for the coast of France into the most 
 dangerous zone in the Atlantic. Lookout watches 
 were doubled and every officer not asleep was 
 scanning the sea first with glass and then with 
 naked eye for those scorpions that would sting 
 to death the ten thousand fighting men in the 
 mass of steel bowling over thirty miles an hour 
 behind them. 
 
 When the convoy had setted down to a routine 
 Dorn went to bed and slept a few hours, all that 
 was allowed anyone while passing through the 
 submarine infested zone. When he awoke he 
 believed it now would be safe to investigate the 
 baggage of Malvoney and his executed con- 
 federates. He was eager to wring from it the 
 secrets of the German snakes. 
 
 He waited impatiently for the boy to bring 
 the suitcases to him and settled down to examine 
 each detail carefully. The first bag he opened 
 proved to be Whaley's. He broke the seals, 
 but it contained nothing to attract his attention. 
 The next case he opened evidently had belonged 
 to the captain. The smallest detail was ex- 
 amined. He wanted to locate the place where 
 the cargo was taken on board and if possible to
 
 3 o8 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 find information concerning the submarine base. 
 He found important looking documents, but they 
 were written in German. These he put to one 
 side for further interpretation. Nothing else 
 brought any light upon his problem. He care- 
 fully restored the contents, intending to go over 
 it all again with Lieutenant Worth later. 
 
 The next piece nearest his hand was a substan- 
 tial twenty-four inch suitcase which was un- 
 doubtedly of American make. When he finally 
 released the lid and the case lay open before him 
 he felt as though struck by the fearful explosion 
 of a torpedo. His heart leaped, then sank with 
 a fearful apprehension. 
 
 "My God!" he cried, "this is Betty Eraser's 
 bag, her clothes, her papers!" With shaking 
 hand he lifted one after another of the well re- 
 membered things. Then with a choking breath 
 and a pain in his heart like a dagger thrust he 
 lifted the great braid of brown hair. 
 
 The ghastly truth came to him with staggering 
 force. She had been dressed as a sailor on 
 board that plague ship and had been forced 
 to leave with Malvoney and Captain Hans. 
 And one of the shots he heard that morning had 
 sent lead into her heart. She was dead dead
 
 AMERICAN PEP 309 
 
 mostly through his own activity, dead a martyr to 
 her country. He grasped his head with both 
 hands and tried to figure it out. She had not 
 been at Charleston after that first day, then. 
 She had been on board that German submarine, 
 signalling him from hell. He blamed himself 
 over and over. Surely he should have known, 
 he should have realized she was the kind of girl 
 who would take a chance like that, and leave him 
 in ignorance of her peril. 
 
 Here was all the evidence he needed that she 
 had been executed, hastily, without evidence or 
 proof of her guilt. He understood now why his 
 heart had burned in rebellion at the hasty action, 
 why he had recoiled when he heard the shot. 
 Surely Betty's plea had been going out to him 
 across the space, and he had not lifted a finger. 
 
 His body and brain seemed to take fire with 
 the unbearable agony of his self -conviction. He 
 rushed to the end of his narrow room and flung 
 open the ventilator. He fell into his chair half 
 unconscious, unmindful of the persistent call of 
 his wireless and of Lieutenant Worth's repeated 
 signal on the telephone. In weakness he leaned 
 his weight on the table, his soul consumed with 
 agony and remorse.
 
 3io AMERICAN PEP 
 
 It was thus that Worth found him an hour 
 later. The Lieutenant's eyes took in the situ- 
 ation at a glance. His gaze darted from the open 
 bag to the woman's clothes and the brown braid 
 lying pathetically across Dorn's knees. Instantly 
 he realized the truth. 
 
 His hand went to Dorn's shoulder and his 
 voice was low. "What have you found, old 
 man ? " he said gently, "tell me." 
 
 Dorn staggered to his feet, holding the long 
 braid in his trembling hands. He went forward 
 to where the blast of fresh air was rushing in 
 through the window. 
 
 "I don't believe I can tell you," he cried out, 
 "for I can hardly tell myself. It seems like a 
 horrible dream. It can't be true. But here are 
 Betty Eraser's clothes, her letters, her diary, her 
 hair. While I thought her safe in Charleston 
 she was undergoing unutterable things on that 
 plague ship. Oh, we shouldn't have let her 
 come. She shouldn't have touched this devilish 
 business. She was shot as a spy with those 
 damned snakes, she the squarest woman God 
 ever made!" His voice broke and he paced up 
 and down the narrow room. Worth stood silent,
 
 AMERICAN PEP 311 
 
 unable to check or even to comprehend Dorn's 
 passion of grief. 
 
 "But a thing like that couldn't be true, Worth," 
 he went on helplessly, "it just couldn't." His 
 eyes were closed tightly as if to blind himself 
 from the truth. "Yet we saw her go, we heard 
 her shot, and here is her bag." Then he broke 
 off with a sudden conviction. "I've got to go 
 back, Worth. I've got to know how it hap- 
 pened. I can't go on and leave even her body 
 there, the body I ordered shot." 
 
 "Dorn, old man," reminded Worth gently, 
 "pull yourself together. You are talking wildly. 
 You know that we can't go back. We're under 
 strict orders, you and I both. We have definite 
 instructions to find that submarine base as soon 
 as we leave France. Our course will take us far 
 from the Azores. Why, we, too, would deserve 
 to be shot, if we did a thing like 'that at such 
 a time as this. We are sailing under orders. 
 Think man! And," he added, with his voice 
 lowered, "wouldn't she want you to go forward, 
 just as she did, with all that was in -you, right 
 to the end? Would she want you to go back, 
 to undo all that she died for?"
 
 3 i2 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 At his words Dorn's madness left him. 
 
 "Thanks!" he said simply, "that was what I 
 needed. Yes, she would want me to go on. 
 But some day, as soon as I am free, I am going 
 back to mark the place where they shot her. 
 She was one of America's bravest soldiers." 
 His voice broke utterly and he turned away.
 
 Chapter Thirty 
 
 TWO DAYS LATER THE "ADZE" WAS 
 lying in the rode off the city of Brest, 
 France. The great transport was send- 
 ing a brown line of khaki onto the soil of France. 
 
 Dorn was pacing the narrow deck in a moody 
 sense of defeat that he could not shake off. He 
 had won gloriously yet he felt only loss. He 
 realized how much he had been fighting for Betty 
 and how little for himself. He had done his best 
 to investigate her death by wireless and to have 
 Washington gather details. But he was forced 
 to realize that to them she was just one atom, 
 one little pawn in the game of war, while to him 
 she had been the entire battle. He determined 
 the moment his hands were untied he would 
 ferret out the tragedy to its last detail. 
 
 Just beyond them was the fort, with its de- 
 pressing evidence that carnage and lust was being 
 resisted to the last notch of their strength. 
 
 On the other side of the "Adze" was lashed a
 
 314 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 tank boat pumping fuel oil with nervous haste 
 through a hose until every gallon of the "Adze's" 
 capacity was filled. 
 
 When that was done their orders to search for 
 the submarine base would take them to the south 
 coast of France and Spain, then to the Canary 
 Islands and Madeira. Dorn was restless under 
 this enforced search. He was eager to get back 
 to the Azores. Although he realized the futility 
 of his longing, he had an almost morbid desire 
 to visit the spot where Betty had been buried. 
 
 A launch came alongside the tank boat. This 
 fact did not interest Dorn until in glancing casu- 
 ally to her decks he saw a broad, familiar back. 
 The newcomer wheeled suddenly and looked 
 squarely into Dorn's face. Then he darted for- 
 ward and came on board the "Adze." 
 
 "Lieutenant Pettingill!" Dorn cried out eagerly. 
 
 "A Lieutenant, yourself, Dorn, as I live!" 
 exclaimed Pettingill. "I cannot tell you how 
 delighted I am to see you, and how anxious I 
 am to know all that has happened since I left 
 you looking so forlorn at Hampton Roads. It 
 was a wrench for me to leave you then, my 
 friend." 
 
 "I had no idea you were here," said Dorn.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 315 
 
 "And I also had no idea you were within three 
 thousand miles, yet I have been thinking of you 
 almost constantly ever since I received an order 
 yesterday to come to the 'Adze' for vital infor- 
 mation concerning fifty tons of S. H. I am then 
 to go to the Azores to work the cargo submarine, 
 with its prize contents, back to an American 
 port." 
 
 "I wonder if you know," Dorn informed him 
 soberly, "that those are the same fifty tons of 
 S. H. we thought we were sleeping with. Of 
 course you've had no chance to get details. 
 Come inside, out of the sun, and I'll tell you 
 about it." 
 
 It took Dorn more than an hour to relate all 
 that had happened to his old friend. When he 
 came to his account of Betty's death his voice 
 shook, and it was only with supreme effort that 
 he could go on. Pettingill understood more than 
 he was told, for he had realized in the mountains 
 the closeness of Dorn's comradeship with the girl. 
 His hand was on Dorn's shoulder and his eyes 
 were moist. 
 
 "She was a brave girl," he said in a low tone, 
 "and we must remember that she accomplished 
 a brave work." Then he shifted to less harrowing
 
 316 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 details. "But you have not made it plain what 
 became of Whaley. Is that dog still on board 
 the submarine for me to deal with? I almost 
 hope he is, I'd enjoy it." 
 
 "No. A more careful examination of Miss 
 Fraser's diary brought to light the information 
 that Malvoney, realizing his worthlessness, filled 
 a life preserver with lead, then tripped him over- 
 board hi cold blood." 
 
 "Whaley got a good example of Hunnish grati- 
 tude," said Pettingill. 
 
 "I've examined every bit of evidence found 
 in that baggage and cannot trace a single clue as 
 to how they accomplished the theft. Malvoney's 
 baggage has not yet been found. Doubtless he 
 tossed it overboard. When I provide that one 
 missing link I am through." Dorn sighed wearily. 
 "After that it doesn't seem as if it mattered much 
 what became of me." 
 
 "I understand, Dorn," said Pettingill, "even 
 I cannot yet recover from the shock of this 
 occurrence and I am sure it will be a long time 
 before your steadfast soul can forget. What 
 you need now is work and more work." 
 
 "Yes, but somehow it seems as if I needed 
 more than that to go back and trace the details
 
 AMERICAN PEP 317 
 
 of her death. The call is stronger than I can bear, 
 yet it seems so futile to go. I am not yet allowed 
 to return. We sail in a few minutes for the 
 Gulf of Mexico. There is one thing I wish 
 He stopped and his hands gripped tight. 
 
 "Dorn, you know that I said I sail in a few 
 hours for the Azores. If there is anything 
 possible for me to do, will you let me?" 
 
 "Yet, this thing is so unusual, and will involve 
 so much time and red tape, that I hesitate to 
 ask even you," faltered Dorn. 
 
 "Try me; the harder it is, the more relief it 
 will bring us both. If it is possible it shall be 
 done." 
 
 Still Dorn hesitated. "Do you know she is 
 buried out there as a felon," he shuddered, 
 "buried with those two snakes? When I think 
 of her beautiful body thus oh God, Pettingill, 
 perhaps it doesn't matter, perhaps her soul 
 doesn't care, yet the thought is more than I can 
 stand. I want her body sent home, taken back to 
 the mountains to the folks she loved and died for." 
 
 "I don't believe that will be difficult to man- 
 age," comforted Pettingill. "And it may re- 
 quire a time to get rid of the crew on that sub, 
 fumigate and make her safe for my men. But
 
 3i8 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 when the facts are known, there will be no red 
 tape, Dorn. The Government will be as eager as 
 we are to make any possible amends. She is 
 one of our heroes, surely." 
 
 "Then you will see that it is done?" 
 
 "Yes, Dorn. But now my time is up and I 
 must get back to my ship. I have been for- 
 getting one of my important errands with you. 
 You have here the engine parts taken from the 
 'Merb'?" 
 
 "Yes, but better send a man for them, they are 
 heavy." 
 
 With real regret Dorn saw his friend board 
 the launch and hasten toward his ship. His 
 visit had been a tonic. 
 
 In another hour the pump that sent a three- 
 inch stream of life into the tanks of the "Adze " 
 
 9 
 
 stopped. They threw off the lines that bound 
 them together. The "Adze" began to draw in her 
 chain, and the moment the anchor came to the 
 water's edge she swung in the stream, headed for 
 the sea. She swept forward like a frightened 
 thing, something like a monster bee that had 
 found its fill of precious honey on one flower, and 
 with mighty power sped on its way to its ap- 
 pointed purpose.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 319 
 
 The rapid trip to the Canary Islands held no 
 special interest to Dorn. Again on the way to 
 Madeira in calm seas nothing developed to 
 interest him. They sped away on a new course, 
 due east to the Bermudas, into the Gulf of Mexico. 
 
 Lieutenant Worth spent more time in Dorn's 
 room than he did in his own quarters, as Dorn 
 had to remain with his instruments for twenty- 
 four hours for no assistant had been available. 
 But as they now were entirely out of the danger 
 zone he was able to pull himself together and make 
 up his lost sleep. 
 
 He and Worth studied the papers found in the 
 German captain's bag and came to the con- 
 clusion that the base of operation and supplies 
 was not in Mexican ,waters at all. They placed 
 it somewhat uncertainly off the west coast of 
 Florida, likely on some of the barren islands 
 there. 
 
 The two thousand miles from Madeira to Dry 
 Tortugas, Florida, were covered in less than 
 three days. Like a great hound of the sea the 
 "Adze " made careful search. Their attention was 
 particularly centered on one of the larger islands 
 that offered a fair protection to ships against 
 the winds. They decided to anchor here and
 
 320 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 watch a while. Dorn was able to pick up Wash- 
 ington to give report and get new orders. 
 
 "Remain and watch twenty-four hours more," 
 came the reply, "then report to an Atlantic 
 port." 
 
 "Dorn," declared Lieutenant Worth, "I be- 
 lieve we're on the right track. While you were 
 at the instruments, some fellow was steaming 
 directly behind us. As soon as he got within 
 sight, he turned quickly and changed his course." 
 
 "You believe then that the 'Merb' was loaded 
 here?" 
 
 "More than that, I believe we are on the trail 
 of the second sub. Do you see those gulls over 
 there? Notice how they hover over one spot? 
 They don't do that unless they expect something 
 to eat. As far as we know there are only two 
 boats in this cargo submarine enterprise. They 
 probably are making more, but only two have 
 been released. We have one of them safe enough." 
 
 "And if we can get the other," broke in Dorn, 
 "our job will be through and I can " 
 
 He did not finish, but Worth understood. 
 
 "The chart indicates," continued Worth, 
 "about twelve fathoms of water there and a gull 
 can see that far, also they know without seeing."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 321 
 
 "I'd like mighty well to see them get a good 
 square meal," said Dorn grimly. 
 
 They lifted their glasses to study the scene. 
 
 "It would cost but one shot to demonstrate 
 your theory," suggested Dorn. 
 
 "One might not be enough, but two, about 
 fifty feet apart, would at least bring up a lot of 
 fish for those gulls. Let's try it, anyhow." 
 
 Without waiting for -approval Worth summoned 
 his officer and directed that the shots be fired. 
 
 The "Adze " appeared to grab her anchor chain 
 in her mouth and bolt for the spot, working up 
 a speed of twenty knots in the thousand feet. 
 At the signal a giant capsule slid down and hardly 
 disappeared before another depth bomb slid 
 after it. All the while the "Adze" was gaining 
 speed to get away. 
 
 The results were more surprising than usual. 
 Though the "Adze" was five hundred feet distant 
 when the first bomb charged with S. H. was 
 exploded, fifty or sixty feet under the water, the 
 men on deck were thrown violently down, and 
 had hardly risen before the second bomb brought 
 them down again. The sea boiled as a mighty 
 caldron. 
 
 "And now let's see if we have wasted our
 
 322 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 ammunition," said Worth, as the "Adze" swung 
 about and dropped her anchor close to the spot 
 where they had discharged the bombs. 
 
 "By Heaven, what's that?" shouted Worth, as 
 the sea gave a violent wrench and belched great 
 volumes of air. "That was not from our shot." 
 
 "Great God, man, we've hit something," cried 
 Dorn excitedly, grabbing the Lieutenant's arm. 
 "Where did that bale of cotton come from?" 
 
 "Is that a bale of cotton?" 
 
 "As sure as you live, it's a compressed bale. 
 The Germans want cotton badly. Look, there 
 comes another, and another. As sure as Heaven 
 those bombs have opened up a sub. Another 
 shot will bring more." 
 
 "Ho! the lead there," Lieutenant Worth ordered 
 his officer of the deck. 
 
 "Twelve fathoms," came the call. 
 
 "Send down another two bombs set to explode 
 as deep as possible." He turned back to Dorn. 
 "Now we'll surely bring up something." 
 
 The "Adze " once more took up her anchor 
 chain and moved backward some five hundred 
 feet like a giant making ready for a high jump. 
 As though in anger she rushed toward the spot 
 where there was still some agitation of the water.
 
 AMERICAN PEP 323 
 
 Like a huge wasp she let loose her terrorizing 
 stinger. This time every man stayed below 
 deck to avoid being thrown down. The water 
 rose in the air higher than before and the sea 
 boiled up, indicating the stupendous effect of the 
 S. H. 
 
 The "Adze" wheeled again like a giant eagle 
 and anchored near the place where the bale of 
 cotton rose. Two or three bodies now came to 
 the surface together with other wreckage lighter 
 than water. 
 
 "Your instinct was good/' said Dorn gravely. 
 "There was a submarine there." 
 
 Worth adjusted his glasses and began to 
 count. "There are twelve bodies floating out 
 there now," he said; "the Hun evidently was 
 short-handed, and that fellow we saw turning 
 back was bringing a larger crew." 
 
 "Lieutenant Worth," exlaimed Dorn, "do you 
 realize what the destruction of this submarine 
 means?" 
 
 "For one thing it means that we are twice- 
 famous men. It also means that this explosive 
 S. H. is more terrible even than we thought. 
 And further, Dorn, it means we are going 
 home."
 
 324 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 "Not just yet," shivered Dorn. "We've got 
 to search all those twelve bodies and examine 
 every bit of evidence that we can take back for 
 the department at Washington." 
 
 And the gruesome task had to be done. To 
 Dorn's tautly strung nerves it seemed the last 
 straw, but a few hours later they were through 
 and in two days more the "Adze " like a queen of 
 the water came swinging into the calm waters 
 of a northwest harbor. 
 
 With the same restless impatience Dorn asked 
 for orders from Washington. His eyes were 
 turned toward the Azores, yet instinctively he 
 knew what his unsurmountable instructions would 
 be. They came as he expected: 
 
 "Worth will head convoy for the troop ship 
 leaving harbor tomorrow. After this trip he will 
 return to Washington. 
 
 "Dorn will proceed to Washington with all 
 accumulated evidence concerning submarines. 
 Prize ' Merb ' is in harbor at Navy Yard, being 
 surveyed by proper officers." 
 
 He went at once to Lieutenant Worth with the 
 message. "Here are your orders," he smiled. 
 "One more trip on the 'Adze/ then you are to 
 come to Washington."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 325 
 
 "And where do you go, old man? I was afraid 
 they wouldn't let you stay with me through 
 another trip." 
 
 "I am to take the evidence to Washington. 
 But, God knows I don't want any swivel chairs 
 and flunkies about me. I want action. There 
 is not a place in the whole government that I 
 want. I must have work, hard, hard work." 
 
 "I know how you feel, Dorn. Such a wound 
 as yours will not heal quickly, even in activity. 
 But wherever you go, whatever you do, I want 
 you to know my heart is with you. And we 
 mustn't forget either, the new possibilities open- 
 ing to us. This prize will, be a big one. It means 
 a lot of money for us both, Dorn." 
 
 "I wish to God I wanted it," said Dora bit- 
 terly. "A month ago it would have filled me 
 with elation." Then he shook himself together. 
 "The operator at Washington informs me that 
 our prize, the 'Merb,' is at the Navy Yard here, 
 being surveyed for value. I want to see Pettingill, 
 and am going to look him up." 
 
 "I do not need to leave till tomorrow," said 
 Worth, "so I'll come with you." 
 
 And together they went to taste the first mate- 
 rial laurels of their victory.
 
 Chapter Thirty-one 
 
 IT WAS WITH MIXED EMOTIONS THAT 
 Dorn first viewed the "Merb" from a dis- 
 tance, as they stood on the wharf in the Navy 
 Yard. It held a new meaning for him now, full 
 of both tenderness and horror, for it was there 
 that Betty had fought, and won her fight, for his 
 honor and her own. Before, it had been to him 
 merely an enemy craft, now it seemed like a 
 sinister tombstone erected over dead hopes. 
 
 An improvised gang plank led to its deck from 
 the wharf. Pettingill heard their approach and 
 came swiftly forward with hand outstretched. 
 
 "I thought you'd come," he greeted, as the 
 friends gripped hands. "I hear that you and 
 Lieutenant Worth have been accumulating fresh 
 laurels. It seems to me you have more than 
 one man's share to your credit now." 
 
 Pettingill preceded them along the gang plank, 
 and led the way to the deck of the "Merb." "I 
 understand you have viewed this monster only
 
 AMERICAN PEP 327 
 
 from a distance," he said, "and you'll be glad to 
 view your spoils at closer range. The quarantine 
 officers have passed her as safe." They followed 
 him into the tower, looking from side to side 
 with appraising eyes. 
 
 In the center of the tower a table had been 
 placed for consultation purposes and steel stools 
 arranged about it. 
 
 "This is the only available space on board," 
 said Pettingill, "the rest we can congratulate 
 ourselves is full of cargo to the last cubic foot." 
 
 "Did you have trouble navigating her?" asked 
 Worth. " 
 
 "Not a bit. As you know she is an oil burner 
 with plenty of fuel to bring her here. The 
 machinery was in good condition, except that she 
 would not submerge, but after the first day from 
 the Azores I was in friendly waters and did not 
 worry." 
 
 Dorn had a sense of fighting for time, of putting 
 off the question that was clamoring in his heart. 
 He wanted to ask if Pettingill had fulfilled his 
 mission in regard to Betty. If so, then it might 
 be that within a few feet of him His 
 thoughts could not make tangible this possibility. 
 He shivered and grew white. Pettingill sensed
 
 328 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 the cause of his agitation and cut their common- 
 place talk short. 
 
 "Dorn," he said gravely, "I want you to take 
 a good grip on your courage, pull yourself together 
 hard, and go into the second mate's room, that 
 door there," pointing. 
 
 Dorn's hands clenched and the muscles of his 
 face worked convulsively. He stood with his 
 back to the men, trying to force himself to 'go. 
 
 "My God, I can't!" he cried. 
 
 "There's good news, too, Dorn," Pettingill 
 prepared him gently. "Go on, old man, we'll 
 wait for you here." 
 
 Worth, seeming to sense the full meaning of 
 Pettingill's words, had risen to his feet, as if he 
 would spring forward into the room beyond, 
 but Pettingill checked him. 
 
 "Go, Dorn!" insisted his friend. 
 
 Something in the tone brought the quick blood 
 throbbing to Dorn's temples and the color rushed 
 back into his cheeks. 
 
 Instinctively he, too, knew. "You don't mean, 
 you can't mean " He rushed forward and 
 opened the door. Then he checked himself 
 for the wild hope that Pettingill's manner had 
 brought. It was cruel of his friend, even sub-
 
 "He stood still, gripping the door casing."
 
 AMERICAN PEP 329 
 
 consciously to rouse this sense of something big 
 and wonderful and happy waiting for him there. 
 Couldn't Pettingill understand what it would 
 mean for the man who loved her to find her 
 mutilated body 
 
 He entered the room slowly with bent head. 
 He heard a gentle stirring and a low choked 
 cry. From the cot in the corner a pale face was 
 raised, framed in a rumpled mass of short brown 
 curls. 
 
 He stood still, his hand gripping the door 
 casing. His eyes were wide in the shock of 
 unbelief. But her brown eyes were raised wist- 
 fully to his, and he knew that his senses had not 
 deceived him. Then he rushed forward, the 
 barriers of his fear broken down. 
 
 "Oh, Betty, it can't be, and yet it is, it is you, 
 your wonderful self, warm and alive " 
 
 "And very, very tired," she breathed. Her 
 hands went out and he held them close against 
 the fierce pounding of his heart. 
 
 "You thought " she faltered. 
 
 "I thought everything that was terrible! Oh, 
 my dear, my. dear. I have lived in a thousand 
 hells. You were not with them then, those three 
 who tried to escape? And Pettingill found you,
 
 330 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 and brought you back? You have been on board 
 this pest ship all the tune?" 
 
 "I've been pretty sick, Jack," she smiled 
 gently. "But I'm going to get better now. 
 Lieutenant Pettingill told me you all thought me 
 dead and I begged him not to let you know until 
 we could be sure I wasn't going to die, after all. 
 They weren't sure of that until today. And 
 then I was coming to you. I haven't been able 
 to get up yet, but every one has been very kind. 
 It was one of the sailors who went with Malvoney 
 and the captain." 
 
 "Was it the fever, Betty?" 
 
 "No. I just broke down, gave out, fell to 
 pieces. It was an awful tune, Jack." 
 
 And looking at her face he was able to read just 
 how terrible it must have been. To him she was 
 still the one woman, but there were new lines on 
 her white face, and a startled fear still lurking 
 in her brown eyes. 
 
 "We're going to take all the pain and the 
 terrible memories away, Betty," he choked. 
 "That is going to be the work of all my life, to 
 help you forget every thing unhappy." 
 
 "And you have suffered too, Jack, I can see 
 it in your face, feel it hi your voice. It has been
 
 AMERICAN PEP 331 
 
 hard for me to lie here knowing that you were 
 suffering even more because of me. Yet it would 
 have been worse to hear that I was safe, merely 
 to learn afterward that I must die, after all. 
 Wouldn't that have been worse, Jack? Should 
 I have let him send the message as soon as he 
 found me, even if I wasn't sure?" 
 
 "No, Betty. I think to have lost you twice, 
 would have killed me. But now, can you tell me 
 about it, are you strong enough to talk much? 
 When can you leave this boat, and come with 
 me?" 
 
 "They think I am better here, just quiet, for 
 a few days. It is all clean and safe now, but I 
 shall get strong very soon, then the mountains 
 will do the rest." 
 
 "The mountains and me Betty, don't 
 forget me." 
 
 "I haven't been forgetting you one minute all 
 this time, Jack. I couldn't have done anything 
 if I hadn't felt you near me, with your own 
 strength and endurance. Time and time again 
 I have been on the point of giving up, then the 
 thought of all you had done, sent me back to 
 duty." 
 
 "All I have done!" he repeated; "why, I have
 
 332 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 done nothing, not a thing, compared to your 
 own brave sacrifices. Oh, Betty, it's going to be 
 a glorious victory for us when you come back. 
 Can't you see Malcom's face now, and the shining 
 eyes of all your people? We'll be very happy, 
 won't we, Betty?" 
 
 But the men outside had allowed them all the 
 time they could, and there now was an insistent, 
 joyous pounding on the door. Dorn leaped to 
 open it, and stood before them unashamed of the 
 tears that were streaming down his lined face. 
 
 "I broke it as gently as I could, Dorn," said 
 Pettingill. "She wouldn't let me send for you 
 sooner. Was I cruel, old man?" 
 
 "Nothing matters now," said Dorn in a thick 
 unsteady voice. "A fellow never knows the 
 full meaning of things till he faces them. I know 
 what life means to me now life and heaven." 
 
 "But let's get down to earth for the present," 
 beamed Worth. "I'd like to be introduced, 
 then I'd like to hear all the news." 
 
 In contrition Dorn presented him to Betty, then 
 the three men sat near her cot, and listened to 
 her brave little story. 
 
 "And it was you," marveled Dom, "who put 
 the valve out of commission, so she couldn't
 
 AMERICAN PEP 333 
 
 submerge, and who made the breech lock of the 
 gun useless." 
 
 "Yes," answered Betty, brightening at the 
 remembrance. "I used the powerful acid they 
 gave me at Washington to destroy the code. 
 But I was able to do even more than that, for 
 I purposely mixed the suitcases, and let Mal- 
 voney run off with mine, while I held his for the 
 evidence that I knew it would contain." 
 
 "By Jove, Miss Fraser," exclaimed Worth, 
 "there wasn't much you didn't think of, was 
 there?" 
 
 "And was the evidence we wanted there?" 
 asked Dorn breathlessly. 
 
 "Every bit of it. It is so simple that we will 
 laugh at ourselves for not figuring it out before. 
 I found engravings and photographs and notes, 
 showing exactly how it was done." From under 
 her pillow she took a roll of papers, and spread 
 them before the astonished men. "This," she 
 explained, "is the diagram Malvoney gave Whaley 
 to work from. You will remember the poor 
 fellow had the aspiration to be an artist. Mal- 
 voney gave him paint and brushes, but they were 
 put to sorry use. See, this photograph shows 
 two new cars on the siding where the car of S. H.
 
 334 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 was loaded. Both of them are B. R. & B. One 
 was numbered 76533 and in the same series the 
 other was numbered 76538. It took only a few 
 moments for Whaley to change that three to an 
 eight, on the loaded car, and the eight to a three 
 on the empty. He stole the seals and sealed 
 the empty, so that when the Marines were given 
 the number they guarded the empty. And of 
 course when the conductor of the freight went in 
 on the switch, he took the car by its number, 
 believing it his valuable freight. A few days 
 later the loaded car went to Pittsburg as an empty. 
 That's how you happened to stumble upon it. 
 Also the similarity in those numbers was what 
 gave you your 'hunch' that day, remember, 
 Jack?" 
 
 "Yes, I remember, and I can hardly grasp 
 my own stupidity at not seeing more than a mere 
 'hunch' hi that very obvious solution. But how 
 did they get the car the second tune?" 
 
 "All they had to do was to let the brakes off, 
 where gravity would carry it to the Junction. 
 It was Malvoney who changed the number that 
 tune, for Whaley had to make the pretense of 
 mustering the guard. The car was then, with 
 its new number, rushed into Pittsburg, reloaded
 
 AMERICAN PEP 335 
 
 into express cars, and sent through to Charleston, 
 on passenger time." 
 
 "But," exclaimed Dorn, "that couldn't have 
 been done without help from the inside." 
 
 "Well," reminded Pettingill bitterly, "remem- 
 ber Malvoney had a fat roll and he used it freely. 
 I am afraid that even in the best institutions and 
 enterprises there are still men who can be bought." 
 
 "The railroad service has got to be purged," 
 said Dorn hotly. 
 
 "They already have commenced on that," 
 assured Pettingill. "And now we all are cleared 
 gloriously, thanks to the little lady here." 
 
 "And that little lady is growing very tired 
 now," said Dorn tenderly, "and we must let her 
 rest." 
 
 Worth and Pettingill rose at once and bent 
 over her hand. There was real homage in their 
 parting words. 
 
 Left alone with Dorn, Betty for the first time 
 seemed confused. The tangles were all cleared, 
 and there was nothing left for them to talk about 
 now but themselves. 
 
 "I'm not going to bother you now, dear," 
 he promised, "but you remember, way, way back 
 there was something we were going to talk about
 
 336 AMERICAN PEP 
 
 when we both had won, when our work was done. 
 We have won, Betty, and our task is finished. 
 And do you know, we can do much for our moun- 
 tains now, because we shall be very rich." 
 
 "Rich hi so many ways, Jack," she whispered, 
 and her voice told him all her happiness. 
 
 THE END
 
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 TOLD BY TELEGRAPH by George Saint 
 
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 THE GREEN OPAL RING by El Comancho. 
 
 $1.50 net. 
 
 As the hero is looking out of the window of his section in an 
 overland sleeper, a strange young woman in a train on the track next 
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