"That sounds good," returned Rabig, "but it doesn't go with me. The Americans got scared when they saw that the Mexicans meant business. Swell chance the United States would have with Germany when it can't even lick Mexico. These national guard fellows aren't fighters. They're only tin soldiers anyway." "Tell that to Billy Waldon when he gets back and he'll make you eat your words," said Bart hotly. "He will, eh?" retorted Rabig. "Just let him try it on, that's all." "What are you anyway, Rabig, a German or an American?" demanded Frank. "I was born here and I suppose I'm an American," responded Rabig. "But I couldn't help that and I'm not proud of it." "And you can bet that America isn't proud of having you born here," said Frank scornfully. "I tell you straight, Rabig, that it won't be healthy for you to keep up that line of talk much longer." "I don't see any one here that's going to make me stop it," sneered the bully. "Perhaps you'd like to try it." Frank's eyes flashed and his fist clenched until the knuckles were white. Another instant and that fist would have wiped the sneer from Rabig's face. But the image of his mother rose before him, and by a mighty effort he controlled himself. "You'll make that bluff once too often some day, Rabig," he said in an even tone. "Well, if it's a bluff why don't you call it?" sneered Rabig truculently. Just at this moment Reddy ran up to them, considerably excited. "Mr. Sheldon!" he exclaimed, addressing himself to Frank, "Oliver Twist has climbed up the water pipe at the end of the building and now the pipe's broke and he can't get down." Oliver Twist was the office cat, who had gained his name because, like the hero in Dickens' famous story, he was continually "asking for more." He was a favorite with all except Rabig, who kicked at him whenever he got in his way. So that the news of his plight aroused instant interest and sympathy, and all flocked to the window that Reddy indicated. There was Oliver, sure enough, a thoroughly frightened cat, and with good reason. The building was five stories high and a leader pipe ran at one end of it from the top nearly to the ground. There was a sparrow's nest up near the eaves, and Oliver had evidently been tempted to make it a visit. But a section of the pipe about two-thirds of the way up had rotted and under the cat's weight had broken off. Oliver with a cat's quickness had saved himself by clutching at a metal ring that encircled the pipe just above the broken part and had swung himself up out of immediate danger. But although safe for the moment, he had no way of escape. He was more than three stories from the ground and if he let go would be killed or maimed. If he climbed farther up he would be no better off, for the projecting roof of the building made it impossible to leap to it.