"I've motored direct from Wheatly. And I'm sorry to say that what I have now to tell you is not pleasant.... Your father sold this wheat for eighty thousand dollars in cash. The money was seen to be paid over by a mill-operator of Spokane.... And your father is reported to be suspiciously interested in the I.W.W. men now at Wheatly." "Oh, that's awful!" exclaimed Kurt, with a groan. "How did you learn that?" "From American farmers--men that I had been instructed to approach, the same as in your case. The information came quite by accident, however, and through my inquiring about the I.W.W." "Father has not been rational since the President declared war. He's very old. I've had trouble with him. He might do anything." "My boy, there are multitudes of irrational men nowadays and the number is growing.... I advise you to go at once to Wheatly and bring your father home. It was openly said that he was taking risks with that large sum of money." "Risks! Why, I can't understand that. The wheat's not harvested yet, let alone hauled to town. And to-day I learned the I.W.W. are working a trick with cakes of phosphorus, to burn the wheat." Kurt produced the cake of phosphorus and explained its significance to the curious official. "Cunning devils! Who but a German would ever have thought of that?" he exclaimed. "German science! To such ends the Germans put their supreme knowledge!" "I wonder what my father will say about this phosphorus trick. I just wonder. He loves the wheat. His wheat has taken prizes at three world's fairs. Maybe to see our wheat burn would untwist that twist in his brain and make him American." "I doubt it. Only death changes the state of a real German, physical, moral, and spiritual. Come, ride back to Glencoe with me. I'll drop you there. You can hire a car and make Wheatly before dark." Kurt ran indoors, thinking hard as he changed clothes. He told the housekeeper to tell Jerry he was called away and would be back next day. Putting money and a revolver in his pocket, he started out, but hesitated and halted. He happened to think that he was a poor shot with a revolver and a fine one with a rifle. So he went back for his rifle, a small high-power, repeating gun that he could take apart and hide under his coat. When he reached the porch the official glanced from the weapon to Kurt's face and said, with a flash of spirit: "It appears that you are in earnest!" "I am. Something told me to take this," responded Kurt, as he dismounted the rifle. "I've already had one run-in with an I.W.W. I know tough customers when I see them. These foreigners are the kind I don't want near me. And if I see one trying to fire the wheat I'll shoot his leg off." "I'm inclined to think that Uncle Sam would not deplore your shooting a little higher.... Dorn, you're fine! You're all I heard you were! Shake hands!"