CHAPTER IX.

A new friend.

“Frau Schmidt is certainly a nice old lady,” said Chester.

“She certainly is,” agreed Hal.  “If it wasn’t for the fact that I wanted to get out of the country so badly, I wouldn’t mind spending a few weeks here.”

“Nor I; and Fritz is a likable fellow.”

“He sure is.”

The boys had spent two days in the Schmidt home when this conversation took place.  In Frau Schmidt they had found a lovable and motherly woman, well along in years.

She had made them welcome from the first, and had set before them the best she had.  Their room was next to that of her son, Fritz, a young man probably six years older than Hal.

Now, Fritz was of a mechanical turn of mind, and all day and well into the night he was at work in his shop behind the house.  From bits of conversation, the boys gathered that Fritz was engaged in the task of building an aeroplane, and they were greatly interested.

The fact that no one was allowed in Fritz’s workshop unless he accompanied them, and the additional fact that at night two soldiers were stationed at the door at first caused the boys some surprise.  However, Fritz had explained: 

“You see, the government has taken over all aircraft in process of construction, no matter how crude and amateurish, and has appointed a commission to investigate all patents.  Of course, it was known that I was building an airship, and, as a result, I am working under government orders.

“If my craft should come up to expectations it will mean a great deal to me, and I probably shall either be put to work building more, or, better still, be made a member of one of the aeroplane corps.”

“Yes,” said Chester again, “Fritz is a fine fellow.  Do you suppose his aeroplane will be a success?”

“I don’t know.  For his sake, I hope so.  As he says, it means a whole lot to him.”

“So do I. And I will bet Fritz would be of great help to his country.  He is a pretty shrewd chap.”

“You bet he—­Hello!  What’s that?”

A sudden cry had come from the direction of the kitchen, and the sounds of a struggle followed.

“Come on!” shouted Chester.  “Somebody is in trouble!”

The two boys ran madly around the house.

Dashing through the door into the kitchen, a terrible sight met their eyes.

Huddled into a corner was Frau Schmidt, and over her, with a naked knife, stood a man, ragged and unkempt.  A second man was ransacking the drawers of a dresser in the room beyond.  The boys could see him through the open door.

Just as they dashed in the door, the man with the knife snarled in a low voice: 

“Give me the key to the workshop, I tell you.  We mean business!”

“You mean business, do you!” shouted Hal, striding toward him.  “Well, so do I!”