Bob Cook and the German Spy Page 18

  CHAPTER XVIII

  KARL HOFFMANN

  "Let's go down and talk to Heinrich," exclaimed Bob when his fatherleft the room.

  "Aren't you going to ask your father if we can stand guard to-night?"

  "Wait till after dinner. I'll ask him then."

  "Do you think he'll let us?"

  "I guess so. It depends on how badly he needs us."

  They went out, and just at the corner of the porch met Karl Hoffmann. Hehad said good-by to Lena and was on his way home. Bob knew him well, ashe did most of his father's employees, for much of his spare time wasspent down at the factory. Furthermore, on account of Lena, Hoffmann wasa frequent visitor in the Cook home.

  He was a big, fine looking fellow of about forty. He had black hair and apiercing black eye, a typical Prussian, for it was from that province inGermany that his parents had migrated some twenty-five years previously.He was a powerful man, standing nearly six feet in height, and not yetshowing any tendency towards stoutness, so common among Germans.

  "Hello, Karl," cried Bob cheerily.

  Hoffmann stopped short. His face had been drawn into a scowl as he strodealong, and he had been deeply engrossed in his own thoughts. Bob hadoften seen him that way after talking with Lena, however. She wassomething of a flirt and received lightly her admirers' advances. Many atime both Heinrich and Karl had been driven almost to desperation by themanner in which she treated them. Neither did they like each other,because they were rivals.

  "Hello there, Bob," he exclaimed, his face brightening. Bob had alwaysbeen a marked favorite of his, and many a thing he had showed him aboutthe machinery at the factory.

  "You look mad," said Bob.

  "I was sort of mad," said Karl. "I was worried."

  "Anything I can do for you?" Bob inquired, nudging Hugh with his elbow.He loved to tease both Karl and Heinrich about their love affair.

  "No, thanks," replied Karl seriously. "It will be all right I hope."

  "I hear you're making ammunition down at the factory," said Bob.

  "Yes."

  "Keeps you pretty busy, doesn't it?"

  "It certainly does. We're going to work both a night and day shiftnext week."

  "You want to watch out for some of these bomb plotters," said Bob. "Thereare a lot of them around here, I understand."

  "That so?" exclaimed Karl. "I hadn't heard of any."

  "Well, they're here all right."

  "We have the plant guarded, you know."

  "I know it. It's a good thing too."

  "I think it's unnecessary," said Karl. "I told your father so, too."

  "You're more of an optimist than he is, I guess," laughed Bob. "He'sheard a lot of things that have made him sort of nervous."

  "That so?" demanded Karl. "I wonder what they were?"

  "I don't know," Bob lied. He thought that if his father wanted to tellhis employees any details he would probably do so himself.

  Just then Hugh plucked his sleeve. "Look, Bob," he exclaimed. "Here comesFrank in to see you."

  Bob swung around just in time to see Frank Wernberg on a bicycle turninginto the driveway. He rode a few yards and then suddenly turned aroundand rode out again. Coming to the street once more he dismounted from hisbicycle, and gazed back at the Cooks' house as if he was debatingwhether he should go in or not. Finally, however, he seemed to decideagainst that course and jumping on his wheel rode off down the street.

  "He lost his nerve," exclaimed Hugh. "You ought to have called to him."

  "A fine chance of that," snorted Bob. "If he wants to he can come in hereand see me, but I won't run after him."

  "Who was that boy?" asked Karl curiously.

  "Frank Wernberg," said Bob.

  "Wernberg?" exclaimed Karl. "Does his father live down on thecorner here?"

  "Yes."

  "I don't like that man," said Karl soberly. "I hope he's not a friendof yours."

  "He is not," exclaimed Bob warmly. "What do you know about him, Karl?"

  "Nothing much; I just don't trust him."

  "No one seems to like him," laughed Bob. "I guess he won't bother us forsome time to come though now."

  "Why not?" demanded Karl quickly.

  "He's sick."

  "What's the matter with him?"

  "I don't know," said Bob evasively. He suddenly remembered that probablyhe had no right to talk about what they had done that day. "All I know isthat he's in the hospital."

  "Serves him right," exclaimed Karl. "That's a good place for him and forall of his same kind."

  If Hugh had had any lingering doubts as to whether or not Karl was loyalthey were now dissipated. If Mr. Wernberg was implicated in German plotsagainst the United States, certainly no man who sympathized with himwould hate him as Karl Hoffmann plainly did.

  "We may come down and help you guard the factory to-night, Karl," saidBob. "You'll be there, won't you?"

  "Yes, I'll be there," said Karl. "I wish you wouldn't come though."

  "Why not!"

  "Suppose something should happen and you got hurt?"

  "I thought you said there was no danger."

  "I don't think there is, but I know your father doesn't agree with me,and if something should happen to you, just think how badly he'd feel."

  "We want to help though," insisted Bob.

  "Let the men who are paid for it do the guarding."

  "But it's my father's plant," said Bob. "You don't think I want anythingto happen to it if I can help it, do you?"

  "If he wants you to come, all right," said Karl. "Still you take myadvice and stay home."

  He said good-by to the boys and went off toward his house. He had to beat the factory early and wanted his supper before he went on duty.

  "Well, Hugh?" demanded Bob after Karl had gone. "What do you think ofhim?"

  "Oh, he's all right," said Hugh.

  "Do you think he would be disloyal?"

  "No, I guess any man who hates Mr. Wernberg as much as he does can't bepro-German. Still he was funny about not wanting us at the factoryto-night."

  "I know why that was," exclaimed Bob. "He thinks we're just a couple ofkids and would only be in everybody's way."

  "I guess so," Hugh agreed. "He seemed like a nice fellow all right."

  "He is, but Heinie doesn't think so. Let's go ask him about Karl now, andI'll guarantee you'll see some fun. Heinie gets mad the minute youmention his name."

  "He's jealous of him, isn't he?"

  "He surely is. Lena likes Karl better than she does him, I think, and Iguess Heinie knows it. That's why he doesn't like Karl."

  "Still I don't blame Lena," observed Hugh. "Karl is certainlybetter looking."

  They found Heinrich seated on a chair in the garage busily counting overa large pile of bills. When the boys appeared he showed the sameembarrassment he had when Bob had surprised him at the same work before.

  "The rich man again," laughed Bob, but Heinrich said nothing.

  "Any trace of Percy?" Bob inquired.

  "No," said Heinrich sorrowfully. "I guess he iss gone."

  "We've just been talking to Karl Hoffmann," said Bob. "You don't supposehe could have stolen him, do you?"

  Immediately Heinrich's manner changed. He rose to his feet angrily, whileBob nudged Hugh. Heinrich became pale with rage.

  "That scoundrel!" he stammered. "I would not be surprised if he wouldsteal poor Percy. He iss mean and low enough to do anything."

  "Why, Heinie," said Bob mildly. "I always thought Karl was a finefellow."

  "He iss a low down snake!" cried Heinrich. "I would not trust that fellowmit two cents."

  "Lena likes him," said Bob.

  Heinrich became madder than before at this remark. He stuttered withrage, and advancing toward Bob shook his clenched fist in his face. "Sureshe like him," he cried. "Why not? He gives her presents all the time andit iss for that that she like him. She knows what a low down cur he iss,for I have told her so. Only because he has money and can give herprese
nts does she like him. But I will show her!"

  "What are you going to do?" demanded Bob, somewhat alarmed by theviolence of Heinrich's manner.

  "I buy her presents now," exclaimed Heinrich. "You see that?" hedemanded, pulling the roll of bills out of his pocket. "You see that?" herepeated. "Well, I got some money now, and I show her who can buy nicepresents. She like me better than Hoffmann when I get more money thanhe." Heinrich looked at the bills held in his fist, and then jammed themback fiercely into his pocket.

  "Where'd you get all the money?" asked Bob. "You didn't draw it out ofthe savings bank, did you?"

  "No," exclaimed Heinrich. "I earn it."

  "Working for father?"

  "No, for Mr. Wernberg."

  "What!" exclaimed Bob, completely taken by surprise. He and Hugh lookedat each other in astonishment. This was a new turn of events.

  "Yes," said Heinrich. "I do some work for Mr. Wernberg; he iss afine man too."

  "What was the work?" inquired Bob. He remembered that Hugh had advisedhim to watch their chauffeur. He never imagined, however, that even ifHeinrich was guilty he would be so bold as to confess brazenly that hewas employed by a man to plot against the United States. Still, he hadalways suspected that poor Heinrich was not quite right in his head.

  "I cannot say," said Heinrich. "The work iss secret."

  "Why, Heinie," exclaimed Bob. "I never thought you would do a thinglike that."

  "Why not?" demanded Heinrich. "I do my work here, don't I? Why should Inot make a little extra money if I can?"

  "But Mr. Wernberg is a bad man."

  "He iss not," Heinrich protested stoutly. "He iss one man who knows rightfrom wrong."

  Bob shook his head sorrowfully. It hurt him to discover that theirchauffeur, a man he had grown up with and liked, was working hand inglove with Mr. Wernberg. He never would have believed it possible had henot heard it with his own ears from Heinrich himself. It was a greatshock to him and he knew how badly his father and mother would feel. Ofcourse he must tell his father.