rcely believable. Yet there
could be no doubt of it. Still Ned was a bit cautious, and restrained
his stout chum from rushing to the hospital to tell Jerry.

"We don't want any mistake in this," remarked Ned. "Are you sure,
Nick, that this is the same Professor Petersen whom we mean, the same
one Professor Snodgrass means?"

"I don't see how there can be any mistake," declared the former
janitor. "I often heard Professor Petersen speak of Professor
Snodgrass, and I know him well enough. I could tell him in the dark."

"Yes, I guess that's right," assented Ned.

"But there may be two Professor Petersens--the name is not uncommon in
Germany, at any rate."

"There is no mistake," declared Schmouder. "I admit there may be
several Professor Petersens, but hardly two who would have nieces
named Dorothy Gibbs and Gladys Petersen."

"That seems to clinch it," declared Bob.

"Yes, I guess so," agreed his chum. "But what else can you tell us
about them, Nick, and where are the girls now?"

The German prisoner shrugged his shoulders.

"As for where they are now, I do not know," he answered. "My father
and mother live in a little town not far from Metz. It was there
Professor Petersen came sometimes to study and write his books, when
he was not in his own country or in your country, lecturing or
visiting Professor Snodgrass.

"Just before this terrible war, which I wish with all my heart I had
never seen, Professor Petersen came to this little town, bringing for
the first time his two nieces. I happened to be there on a visit--I
came to see my parents, and now I wish I hadn't.

"No, I will not say that!" quickly exclaimed the man. "I am glad I saw
them; but I wish I had sent for them to come to the United States to
see me. It would have been safer for them and me, for we shall lose
this war--I can see that."

"You said it!" declared Bob, with energy.

"Tell us all you can," urged Ned. "We have a great interest in finding
these girls."

"Well, I am sorry I cannot tell you more," replied Schmouder. "As I
said, I came back just before the war broke out, was caught and sent
to the army. I saw Professor Petersen in my home town then with the
two young ladies. There was some story about his having been
reconciled to them after a long estrangement, but I did not pay much
attention to that.

"All I know is that I saw the young ladies and knew they were the
nieces of the professor. They had been traveling in France and