Also, he, another man named Bronson, and I have already made arrangements for placing that dictaphone at the Germans'

meeting-place."

He turned to Walker. "Are you ready?"

"In about five minutes," replied Walker, with a grin.

While they were waiting Strong suddenly thought of something.

"As I understand--am I right?--you were a newsboy up to a year ago?"

"Yes, sir, I was," answered Ted.

"Good. Do you think you could manage to fix yourself up as one and meet us in front of the Auditorium?"

"I think I can," replied the boy, after a moment's thought.

"All right, I'll give you forty-five minutes," Strong said, as he turned to Walker, who was now ready.

Quickly, Ted located Spot.

"I'll tell you what I'll do, Spot," he confided to the news merchant.

"I'll give you two dollars and my clothes for your clothes and papers.

I want you to have a share in my good fortune and I also want to sell papers for awhile."

Spot grinned delight. "You mean it, Ted?"

"Sure. Where can we change?"

"Any place will suit me. But I'll show you a place. That's easy."

A place was very easily located. Spot had managed to wash his hands and face, while Ted's had not yet gotten to the color they should be.

They had exchanged everything from shoes to hats.

"Where are you going now, Spot?" asked Ted.

"I beg your pardon," replied Spot. "My name is Mr. James Sullivan. I would have you address your betters properly, boy." He never cracked a smile as he walked off, but Ted laughed uproariously.

A little later two men came out of the Auditorium.

"Paper, sir, papers?"

"No," answered one of them. The other took a second look at the newsboy and laughed. "He certainly fooled you, Strong. It's Ted."

"Good work, Ted," Strong said, with appreciation.

"Slip into that automobile while we stand in front of it." They walked toward it. "Now, quick." The machine was off to the German meeting-place.

CHAPTER V

SETTING A TRAP

The automobile came to a stop two blocks from the German meeting-place.

As the three walked toward it, a beggar stopped Strong. The latter gave him some coins. Ted, who was watching, saw a paper pa.s.s between the two. It was so quickly done that he was not even sure of it. He made no comment, as he knew that Strong would mention it, if he thought it necessary.

"The room is on the third floor," Strong said. "There is someone in it now. That beggar has just been up there; he has been watching the house all morning, so that he could keep me in touch.

"Suppose, Ted, you go up and sell your papers. Go to every office.

When you reach Room 318, size it up as well as you can. See what you can of 316 and 320 also."

"All our work and our preparations have been from 418," Walker added.

"Our friends are there."

"Yes," Strong said, "take a look in there, even though you will meet Bronson a little later."

A boy tried to sell his papers in the many offices. He canva.s.sed each floor and in due time reached the fourth. He came to Room 418 and saw a sign on the gla.s.s reading as follows:

TERENCE McMAHON INSURANCE AGENT AND ADJUSTER MAIN OFFICE--OLIVER BUILDING

Russell Bronson, Br. Mgr.

He entered. "Want a paper?" he asked one of the men.

The man took one. Ted glanced about and then went out. He had some idea of the room. He noticed that three other doors seemed to belong to the same office, Rooms 422, 420 and 416.

He soon reached the third floor. He went through the same routine, just as carefully and matter-of-factedly, as he had done on the other floors. When he reached 320 he found the door locked and a hand pointing to 318 as the entrance. On the gla.s.s of that door he saw a sign which read:

NOVELTIES AND TOYS A. CHRISTENSEN

Ted opened the door. A man was inside, his feet perched upon a desk and he was reading a German newspaper.

"Paper, sir?" Ted asked him.

"No," was the answer. He did not even glance up.

"I have a Staats-Zeitung and a Wochen-Blatt," coaxed Ted. All this time he was taking stock of the room.

"A Wochen-Blatt? I'll take one," the man became interested. He offered a half dollar to Ted.

"I haven't the change, but I will get it for you." Ted was fighting for time, so that he could form impressions.

"And run away with my money?" the man sneered. "Not on your life. I'll wait until later."

"You can hold all my papers. I'll come back."