“What can you do to stop it in Germany?”

“I’m an international Socialist.  When I oppose war in my own country, I help the Socialists to oppose it in other countries.  I ain’t a-going to stop—­not so long as I’ve got any breath left in me!” And here was Comrade Jimmie, delivering a sermon on pacifism to the “special agent” of the government, who held his fate in his hands!  But no one was going to defend war to Jimmie Higgins and not be answered—­even though Jimmie might go to jail for the rest of his life!

The young man laughed—­more genially than Jimmie would have thought possible at the start of this grilling.  “Higgins,” he said, “you’re a good-natured idiot.  You can thank your lucky stars that one of the men you trusted happened to be a government detective.  If we didn’t know the truth about you, you might have had a hard time clearing yourself.”

Jimmie’s jaw had fallen.  “A government detective!  Who is the government detective?”

“Reilly,” said the young man.

“Reilly?  But it was him that tempted me!”

“Well, congratulate yourself that you resisted temptation!”

“But maybe he tempted Heinrich, too!”

“No, Heinrich didn’t have to be tempted.  It was on account of Heinrich that we began the investigation.  He has been making explosives and planting them all over the country.  His name isn’t Heinrich, and he isn’t a nephew of Kumme; his name is von Holtz, and he’s a Prussian officer, a personal friend of the Kaiser.”

Jimmie was speechless.  For the love of Mike!  He had been sitting in the back part of old Kumme’s bicycle-shop, filling his pipe from the tobacco-pouch of a personal friend of the Kaiser.  He had called this personal friend of the Kaiser a fool and a jackass, informing him that a real mechanic could put a ball-bearing together while he, the personal friend of the Kaiser, was spitting on his hands.  Could you beat it?

Mr. Harrod, the “special agent”, informed Jimmie that he would have to testify as to what he knew; and Jimmie was so indignant at the way he had been taken in that he was willing to do so.  He would have to give bond to appear, added the other; did he know anyone who would vouch for him?  Jimmie racked his harassed brain.  Comrade Dr. Service might consent, if he were quite sure that Jimmie had not really meant to help the Germans.  Mr. Harrod kindly consented to give this assurance, and called up Dr. Service, whom he seemed to know, and told him the circumstances.  Dr. Service finally said that he would put up a couple of thousand dollars to guarantee Jimmie’s appearance before the grand jury and at the trial.  Mr. Harrod added that if Dr. Service would promise to come in the morning and attend to the matter, the government would take his word and let the witness go for the night.  The doctor promised, and Jimmie was told that he was free till ten o’clock next morning.  He went out like a skylark escaping from a cage!