the message could be understood.

However, it was not the message that Henry was thinking of. It was the
dollar in the man's overcoat. "How could he get it? How could he get
it?" he asked himself over and over. A hundred wild ideas flashed
through his head, but he could think of no way to secure the coin
without betraying himself.

Even as he was considering the matter, the spy finished sending his
message and snapped off his light. Tiny as the illumination had been,
the man was apparently completely blinded by the sudden darkness. As
he stepped from his seat, his overcoat again caught on the swinging
door. With an impatient oath he tore the coat from him and flung it on
the running-board. Then he felt for his tools and walked over to the
tree to lower the far end of his aerial.

Henry's chance had come. With a bound he was beside the car.
Crouching, he seized the huddled coat, ran his hands tremblingly over
it, located the pocket, found the dollar, dropped the coat where he had
gotten it, and slipped back to his cover.

He was not a second too soon. In his eagerness to get the coin he had
been clumsy, and had fumbled excitedly for several seconds before he
found it. Meantime, the spy, with practised skill, had taken down both
wires and fastening, and was well on his way back to the car. But
Henry gained his cover and was safe.

A sudden fear smote him lest he betray himself. His heart beat so
loudly he was sure the spy would hear it. His breath came so excitedly
he was certain he could be heard yards away. For some time he crouched
motionless, hugging the ground, trying to hold his breath. But as
second followed second and the spy made no outcry, Henry gained
confidence. Suddenly a feeling of exultation came to him, so strong
that he could hardly refrain from shouting. For the first time he
thought of the real significance of what he had accomplished. He had
unraveled the mystery of the wireless. He had the dollar. The secrets
the wireless patrol had worked so hard to uncover were within his
grasp. As the full meaning of it all came to him, he felt that he must
cry out, that he must give voice to his feelings. He no longer dared
trust himself to remain where he was, lest he betray himself.
Clutching the dollar as he had never clung to anything in his life, he
picked up his cane and slowly began to worm his way backward, on his
belly, from the thicket. With the utmost caution, an inch at a