"No, sir. I _know_ Schnitzel didn't steal them." Jimmy emphasized the 'know' strongly. "Why are you so positive that he did not?" "Because, sir, Schnitzel wasn't that sort. He's a true man, and he's innocent of the crime he's charged with." Jimmy's sympathies overcame his awe of Major Stearns. "Humph!" The K. O. allowed this opinion to stand unrebuked. He was fond of Jimmy, and rather admired him for his staunch defense of the accused soldier. "Is that your only reason?" Tardily recalling Bob's injunction to secrecy regarding Bixton, Jimmy hesitated, then cautiously answered: "We were not acquainted with Schnitzel, sir, at the time we wrote those letters. There was no reason why he should want to take them." "Still you can't give me any proof that he didn't, can you?" "No, sir." Jimmy breathed freely again. Receiving this negative, the major proceeded to question first Roger, then Ignace, with practically the same result. Profiting by Jimmy's mistake, neither volunteered more than was necessary. In the end they left headquarters without their letters. The fact that these had been stolen added to the case against Schnitzel. The Khaki Boys left headquarters in a state of intense excitement, manifested in their eager exchange of remarks the moment they were safely outside the building. Directly after the disappearance of their letters they had suspected Bixton of the theft. His later attempt to get at Jimmy's equipment had strengthened the suspicion. Now the lost letters had, at this late date, turned up in Schnitzel's suitcase. Actual proof against Bixton they had none. That did not matter so much at present. It would come. Why? Because at last they had a clue, or what seemed to them a clue. At least, it was a circumstance that connected Bixton with Schnitzel. If Bixton had stolen the letters that were found in Schnitzel's suitcase, it followed that no one save Bixton would have placed them there, and not only the letters but the bottle of powdered glass and the poison list. CHAPTER XIX A FRUITFUL RUBBISH CAN December heralded many comings and goings at Camp Sterling. With almost every day, a detachment of soldiers marched to the station to return no more. Traveling seaward by circuitous routes, the waiting transports claimed them and bore them away to "Over There." The draft now in full swing, hundreds of men constantly arrived to replace them. Soldiering went on with a rush. Across the water had come the Allies' cry, "More Men!" and Uncle Sam did not propose to be behindhand in furnishing his trench quota.