and
for America, and my life and all that I have or ever shall have is
hers for the asking."

The Pony Rider Boys with one accord sprang to their feet and, tossing
their hats in the air, uttered a wild cowboy yell. Professor Zepplin
held up a hand.

"Wait!" he commanded. "There is something yet to be done and now is
the time to do it." Thrusting a hand into a pocket he drew forth a
leather case and opened it with unsteady fingers. From the case he
drew a small object wrapped in tissue paper.

"The Iron Cross," murmured the boys.

"Yes, it is the Iron Cross," agreed the professor. "Time was when this
was my most priceless possession. Now I loathe it. Its possession has
troubled me greatly of late and it has been my intention to rid myself
of the hateful thing. Boys, what shall be done with it?"

"That is for you to say, Professor," answered Tad in a low voice.

"Get an axe," advised Chunky.

"Yes, yes, the axe," agreed the professor.

Tad handed the tool to the professor. The latter placed the once
prized decoration on a stone and with one blow from the axe smashed
the cross. Blow after blow he rained on the medal until it lay
scattered in pieces. These the professor gathered up and hurled far
from him.

"That is what I think of Germany, monarchial Germany, the assassin of
innocent women and children."

"Boys, 'The Star-spangled Banner,'" cried Tad after a moment of
impressive silence.

The youthful voices of the Pony Rider Boys rose in the National anthem,
the deep bass voice of Professor Zepplin booming out above all the rest.

When next we meet our boys we shall find them in utterly different
surroundings. In the next volume of the present series our readers
will find an extremely fascinating tale. It is published under the
title, _The Pony Rider Boys On The Blue Ridge; Or, A Lucky Find in
the Carolina Mountains_.

THE END

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pony Rider Boys with the Texas
Rangers, by Frank Gee Patchin

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