Chapter 33

TAKING A CHANCE.

"The first thing to do," said Chester, "is to appropriate two of Lieutenant Strauss's uniforms. That's your job."

"That's right--pick out the easy work for me," replied Hal sarcastically. "How do you figure I'm going to get 'em?"

"I don't know," said Chester. "That's up to you. My job, and a much harder one, it seems to me, is to appropriate one of the general's big maps, so that if we do succeed in getting out of Berlin, we shall know where we are going."

"I take back what I said," exclaimed Hal. "I'll try to get those uniforms."

"Trying is not enough," said Chester. "You've got to get 'em!"

"All right, then," replied Hal, "I'll get 'em!"

Since the two lads had been guests, or prisoners, in the Strauss home, a detail of soldiers had been stationed around the house, with orders not to let either of the lads pass unless accompanied by either the lieutenant or the general. The boys had been given the freedom of the house. The lieutenant had demurred at the placing of a guard around the house, saying that there was not the slightest chance of the boys escaping, anyhow, but the general had held out on that point, remarking:

"I know these Americans better than you do. They're slippery. You have to watch them closely, or they will slip between your very fingers."

Choosing a moment when the lieutenant had left the house, Hal slipped unobserved into his room. He knew the uniforms hung in a closet.

He approached and tried the knob. The door was locked.

"It's up to me to see if I can't pick that lock," he told himself, and set to work with what improvised little tools he could bring from his pocket.

In vain he worked. He could not pick the lock. He stepped back and viewed the door, meantime keeping his ear cocked for sound of footsteps from without. Then an idea struck him.

Using his knife as a screwdriver, he removed the hinges from the door. A moment later he was inside the closet. Quickly selecting two of the lieutenant's uniforms, he laid them on a chair, and hurriedly put back the door and tightened the bolts.

Then, holding the uniforms behind him, he made his way back to his own room, where he threw the uniforms under the bed. Chester was not there.

"Hope he has things as easy as I did," said Hal to himself, and sat down to await his friend's return.

When Chester entered the general's private room, which he found unlocked, he went straight to the general's desk. He knew that maps and valuable papers were kept there, because the general had once referred to them as being there while at supper.

The desk was locked, but this did not disconcert the lad, for he had expected it would be. Drawing a small buttonhook that he always carried from his pocket, he inserted it in the keyhole. After several unsuccessful attempts the lock finally turned, and Chester quietly threw up the top.

Walking to the door and making sure that no one was near, the lad returned to the desk. Quickly he looked over the assortment of papers, and at length a smile lighted up his face. Evidently he had found what he was in search of, for he quickly thrust a paper in his pocket.

He did not leave at once, but continued to rifle the contents of the general's desk. Finally he appropriated several more documents, which he also thrust into his pocket.

There was the sound of a door slammed on the floor below. Quickly the lad closed the desk, and, walking softly to the door, peered out. There was no one in sight. Closing the door quietly behind him, Chester walked rapidly down the hall to his own room, where Hal was waiting for his return.

"Did you get it?" asked Hal, as Chester entered the room and closed the door behind him.

"Yes," replied Chester; "and you?"

"They are under the bed," said Hal, with a grin. "I believe I would make a first-class burglar."

"And I," agreed Chester. "However, 'All's fair in love and war,' you know."

"I am glad I do know it," said Hal. "Otherwise I wouldn't think much of myself now."

"We had better hide these things," said Chester. "Their loss might be discovered and a search made."

"Where shall we put them?"

Chester glanced around the room. He walked to the closet and opened the door. Peering in, he found, just above the top shelf, a small opening, apparently not meant for use, as it was too close to the ceiling.

"Put 'em in here," he said, and, withdrawing the papers from his pocket, he suited the action to the word.

Hal now brought the uniforms out from under the bed, and, by dint of hard squeezing, also finally succeeded in secreting them. The dark cloth made the hiding-place look like nothing more than a hole.

"All we need now are swords and pistols," said Chester.

"Pistols," agreed Hal. "I don't know that we need swords."

"You don't," said Chester, in contempt. "We would make a couple of fine-looking officers, strutting around without swords, wouldn't we?"

"You're right," Hal agreed, somewhat sheepishly. "Where are we going to get them?"

"The general always leaves his sword and revolvers on the table in the hall before retiring," said Chester. "Then I noticed another pair of swords hanging on the wall there. Also the lieutenant invariably leaves his weapons on the parlor table. Careless, I say, but lucky for us."

Chester's thoughtfulness in hiding the articles they had appropriated stood them in good stead, as it turned out that evening. General Strauss, upon his arrival home, went straight to his private office, saying that he would be in to dinner in a few moments.

Accordingly the others went in and sat down at the table without waiting for him. A moment later the old general came storming into the room.

"My maps!" he cried. "My maps! Has anyone seen my maps?"

The lieutenant jumped to his feet.

"Have you lost them, sir?" he asked.

"Lost 'em? Lost 'em? Do you think I would ask for them if I knew where they were?"

"Perhaps you left them at headquarters, sir."

"No, I didn't leave 'em at headquarters," raged the general. "Someone has stolen them!"

"Stolen, sir? Why, there has been no one in the house, and you know that none could have entered without the guard on the outside seeing them."

"I tell you they have been stolen!" cried the general. "I want the house searched at once--every room in it, sir, yes, and the room of these two Americans also."

"Father!" admonished the lieutenant. "Surely you are not accusing them?"

"I am not accusing anybody, sir, but I want this house searched. Must I call for outside help, or will you help me, sir?"

"I'll help, sir," replied the lieutenant quietly. To the lads he said softly: "Never mind him. He is always irritable when he misplaces something."

The old general's sharp ears caught this remark.

"Irritable, am I?" he cried. "Well, maybe I am, but I don't need to have my own son apologize for my actions. If I have done anything that demands an apology I'll apologize myself."

Lieutenant Strauss shrugged his shoulders, as he said:

"I'll search the second floor, sir. Will you take the first?"

"Yes," snapped the general, "and see that you make a thorough job of it."

At this juncture Chester rose to his feet.

"If you think we have your papers, sir," he said quietly, "we are willing to submit to a search."

"And searched you shall be," said the general. He turned to his son. "Search them!"

The lieutenant protested, but to no avail. The lads submitted to the search in silence.

"They have nothing, sir," said the lieutenant.

"Then search the second floor," commanded the general.

An hour later the lieutenant came downstairs, and a few moments later the old gentleman, now considerably cooled off, also returned.

"I found nothing, sir," reported the lieutenant.

"Nor I," said the general slowly. "Can it be I was mistaken? Perhaps, after all, I did leave the maps at headquarters." He turned to Hal and Chester. "I hope you will pardon me for my outburst," he said gravely, "but I am easily excited."

"Say no more about it, sir," replied both lads together, but to each came the same thought:

"We are in luck."