ar. Many Americans, and
German-Americans, were caught in Germany. This was the case of the
Schwarz family. The old gentleman was arrested, in fact, and the
military authorities claimed that since he had never served with the
colors he was subject to their orders.

"Then young Schwarz--the man you know as Siddons--saw a chance to
relieve the pressure and at the same time serve America in a most
unusual way, a way not possible with one man in a million."

"Serve America? You mean Germany?" Larkin interjected.

"I said America," Cowan replied testily. He did not like to be
interrupted. "You'd better let me tell it my way. As I was saying,
Siddons, claiming to be in complete sympathy with the German cause,
offered his services to them as a secret agent, unfolding a plan which
they, in their alarm and need, swallowed--hook, line and sinker.

"The plan was this: He proposed that he be given instruction in secret
service work and then be returned to America, where he would pose as a
loyal American, get in the army, and serve as an under cover man for
Germany. They fell for it like a ton of brick, following the stupid
reasoning that because of his German blood he must by nature be truly
German. It may sound funny to you, but they preach that very thing, and
they truly believe it.

"Well, certainly young Schwarz was cast perfectly for the role. He was
widely travelled, spoke German fluently, and his English was flawless.
They were quick to see the advantages. His proposition was accepted. He
was given a brief schooling in their spy system, and then, for show, he
was ordered out of Germany--under the fictitious name of Siddons.

"The rest was easy. We had a very poor spy system at the beginning of
the war. There was no such branch of service as we now call G 2. But it
was forming, and to them Schwarz made his way, unfolded his plan, and
after a careful checking up on his story they decided to take a chance.
A spy within a spy! Wheels within wheels! It was a great idea. Do you
see it?"

His two auditors made no sign other than a staring, amazed look.

"G 2 was at first suspicious," Cowan went on, "but he gave them so much
information concerning actual conditions in Germany that they could no
longer doubt him. They sent him to an aviation training school, telling
him to guard his neck at all times and not run any undue risks.

"You know the rest--or most of it. He has been invaluable to us, and
to-night he will pull his g