Now, in the Christmas holidays of 1917-18, the students of old Brighton, one and all, were departing for their homes. Chancing to go a little late, Don and Clem found themselves in the same train with but one unoccupied seat and at once the old-time banter began, with a question from Don relative to a subject uppermost in the minds of the youth of the United States: Was Clem going to enlist, and if not, why not? If the interruption occasioned by the two men in front of the boys had not occurred, there might have been another serious quarrel. CHAPTER II TRACED Don’s face was a study as he suddenly left off berating his companion and listened quite breathlessly to the rising inflections of the bearded man making answer to his hatchet-faced companion. The boy was hearing something interesting; that Clem knew, and he waited with some impatience to find out what it might be. After awhile the two men in front began to exchange words much too rapidly for Don to get a clear idea what they were driving at. Presently one of them turned suddenly and gave the lad a searching, suspicious glance; then with another word in a low tone the two stopped talking. Don maintained his position of leaning forward, his face at the back of the seat ahead for a few minutes, at the same time unmercifully badgering Clem until the men both turned to see what it was all about and to put them at ease Don laughed and made a motion with his head toward his companion, as much as to say he would welcome an audience. This must have reassured the men a little, though the hatchet-faced fellow turned quickly and fired a German sentence at the boy. Don was not to be caught by such a trick; he looked blank and shook his head. “You’ll have to say that in United States, mister,” he laughed. The German turned away, and the two began talking again in so low a tone that the words were inaudible, especially as at that moment the train started to glide over newly ballasted tracks and the rumble was increased. So the two left their seat and walked back in the car where they got their heads together. “Sounds like funny stuff,” Don said hurriedly. “They’re up to something queer. ‘Whiskers’ said there’d be enough to blow things to pieces; that’s all I made out. They seemed to mean some building, but I couldn’t quite catch what.” “Great snakes! They’re a couple of dynamiters!” Clem declared. “Don’t know, but it looks like it. I have a hunch they’re going to destroy something or other.” “Where?” “I couldn’t make out. Don’t think they said where. That was understood.” “When?” “Couldn’t tell that, either.” “What else did you get?” “Not much; nothing. But that’s about enough; isn’t it?” “Well, maybe. You know we ought to follow ’em, and see where they get off, and put somebody on to them. It’s a duty. Likely they’ll change cars at Upgrove for the city.” “Well, even at that we could get back before very late,” Don said.