"Pay attention, Louise," came from the porch, and Louise's startled, dark eyes were turned to the front again. When the children were seated in their room it developed that Miss Barclay had been temporarily called away, and that a scared-looking girl from the teacher training-class was in charge of the third grade. The new teacher did not miss Rudolph, but the children did, and there was smothered excitement in consequence. Louise, who had not breathed a word of what she knew, sat grasping her desk with both hands. Rudolph Kreisler had refused to come under the flag! Of course they had taunted him, but the stark fact remained that he _had_ refused. And then no human being had ever seen inside those bulging pockets. Rudolph Kreisler, bulging pockets and all, was in the engine-room, right under their feet! And then a new fear suddenly laid its grip upon her heart. Suppose that German boy should do something to the flag! She tried to shift her position so that she could see out of the window, but found it impossible. "Oh-o-o, teacher!" Louise jumped at the sound of excitement in the voice from behind her, but quieted somewhat when she realized that it was Tinsie Willis who spoke. "Louise has left her hat on the front lawn!" "Louise, go and get your hat," said the substitute, looking all about the room to see which one of the many little girls might be the one reported. Louise rose from her seat with fear and trembling and left the room. But the first glimpse of the out-of-doors dispelled her great new fear--her flag was still there! The stately lawn looked vast and awe-inspiring now that one had to face its darkly waving greens all alone, but Duty called. She had left her hat by the flagpole, and she now went timidly up to get it. She mounted the green knoll. She looked up. To play fair--to play fair! And yet, one must be loyal. One couldn't let German spies go around with their pockets--Rudolph Kreisler was in the engine-room right now! Louise's grandfather and his father's father had died for their country--would they know, 'way up yonder in heaven, if she of their own blood were to turn coward at the test? It was too poignant a risk. Louise took hep young life in her hands. Down the green knoll and around the rose-bush, and she dropped into the brick area right by the window which opened from the engine-room. It was raised. The little girl peeped in, with her heart swelling till she thought she would smother. There was black dust on the floor and black soot on the walls. And there in the centre rose the huge black demon engine. But no crouching enemy was to be seen anywhere--he was hiding, of course! She slipped through the window, past the great silent engine, and came face to face with Rudolph Kreisler. The die was cast now. "Tell me," demanded Louise, choking with excitement and fear, "are you a--a _German spy_?" "No," said the astonished boy, "_no_!"