"Some German got on our wire by mistake again to-day," said Louise. "He wanted Mr. Wernberg just as that man did last night." Mr. Cook shook his head slowly. "I don't like that man Wernberg," he said. "Oh, the secret service must be watching him," said Bob. "They seem to be ready for anything," and he related what had taken place in the trolley that morning when he was on his way to school. The telephone rang and Bob answered it to find Hugh Reith on the wire. He wanted Bob to go down to the armory that night and see the soldiers. Bob readily agreed. A short time after supper Hugh arrived at the Cooks', and the two boys accompanied by Harold set out. They felt very proud to be walking with a real live soldier, a man in the olive drab uniform of the American Army. Harold carried a rifle, with an ugly looking bayonet affixed to the barrel, the whole thing being nearly as tall as he was. The roll call had been started at the armory and Harold took his place in line just in time to answer to his name. Bob and Hugh looked on from the gallery and were greatly impressed by the business-like appearance of the men, and the curt, crisp orders of the officers. The soldiers were divided into squads and presently were marched out of the building to unknown destinations. "I guess it's all over,'' remarked Hugh. "Looks so," Bob agreed. "It's early yet though and I don't want to go home." "Nor I. What do you say to a walk down by the river? My canoe is in Brown's boathouse and I'd like to take a look at it. It has been laid up all winter and I'll want to get it out pretty soon." "All right," said Bob. "How shall we go?" "We can take a short cut down over the railroad bridge." "Come ahead." They set out through the streets of High Ridge. Few people were stirring and nowhere were any signs of war. The soldiers had disappeared and the quiet town seemed far removed from the strife of conflict. It seemed incredible that even at that moment some one might be plotting to overthrow the law and order of the little city. It was a far cry to the crimson-stained battlefields of France. "No school to-morrow," said Hugh finally. "That's true," exclaimed Bob. "I had forgotten that this is Friday." "Nothing to worry about," said Hugh. "No lessons to prepare and as far as I am concerned I'd just as soon stay up all night." "We ought to have baseball practice to-morrow," said Bob. "Somehow I've lost all interest in it though; this war is more exciting to me." "If we could only do something," sighed Hugh bitterly. "Where do you suppose those soldiers went?" "Out for a hike probably. They looked fine, didn't they?" Bob said nothing; both boys were busy with their thoughts and walked along in silence for some distance. Presently the steel span of the great bridge across the Molton River loomed ahead of them in the darkness. "There's the bridge," Bob exclaimed.