moment, and he would now have an opportunity to warm
himself by a blaze such as foreigners ordinarily insist on in the cold
months in China.

The man at the desk bowed courteously as the three entered the office.
He was evidently a native of China but seemed to have profited by a
foreign education.

When Ned gave his name and asked for a message, the operator, who
appeared to be the sole employee there, coolly surveyed him critically
from head to foot. Then he turned questioning eyes to the marine.

"It is all right," the officer said. "This is the person brought here
by the flying squadron."

"A boy!" cried the operator. "Only a boy!"

"Aw, cut that out!" cried Jimmie, always ready to resent any seeming
discourtesy to his chum.

The operator scowled at the little fellow and turned to the officer with
the remark that he should be obliged to consult with his superior.

"All right," was the officer's reply. "Only make haste."

The operator entered a back room and presently returned with a boy who
evidently served as messenger during the daytime. After receiving
whispered instructions, the lad passed out of the office, with a furtive
glance over his shoulder at Jimmie.

Then the operator went back to his desk, while the officer and Ned stood
waiting. There was no fire in the outer office, but a wave of warm air
came from the rear room.

"We have been riding in the rain," the officer said, seeing that they
were not to be invited into the heated apartment. "May we go back to
the fire?"

The operator scowled, but the uniform won the day, and the three were
ushered into a small room where an American oil stove was sending forth
a generous heat. Then the grouchy operator slammed the door and left
his guests to their own reflections.

"Say," Jimmie whispered, in a moment, "I don't believe that chump is on
the level!"

"Well," Ned replied, "he's got to give me the dispatch. He can't get
out of doing that."

"Perhaps he knows what the message contains," the officer suggested,
"and is not inclined to deliver it."

"I hardly think he knows what it contains," Ned answered, "for it is
undoubtedly in cipher."

"And you have the Secret Service code?" asked the officer, amazement
showing on his face.

"Certainly."

"Well, they have a lot of confidence in you, then," said the other.

At the end of half an hour a man said to be the assistant in charge of
the station entered the room and eyed all three oc