By turns Ned, Bob and Jerry explained to their companions the reason for capturing Crooked Nose and the other man, relating the story of the fire in Cresville some months back. There was little sleep for any one the rest of that night. A guard was posted over the two prisoners, when a search had failed to reveal the missing third man, and in the morning, after a hasty breakfast in the old barn, the march back to camp was made. The storm was over. There was some surprise when Jerry and his chums returned with their prisoners. Captain Trainer, when he heard the story, had the men locked up in the guardhouse until the civil authorities could be communicated with, as the crime was not a military one. And, a little later, Hans Freitlach, _alias_ Jim Waydell, the crooked-nosed man, and Fritz Lebhach, his companion, were safely in jail, and some papers found on them disclosed their real identity. They were German spies, being members of a band that had for its object the destruction of munition plants and warehouses and factories, where war goods for our government and the Allies were being stored and made. They had set a number of fires, it was learned afterward, though the one in Cresville had been a personal matter, designed to get hold of the old Frenchman’s money. After that crime Freitlach and Lebhach had fled, agreeing to meet later in the South, as they did, much to their own discomfort. “And who do you think that other man was--the one that bowled Bob over?” asked Jerry, rushing excitedly up to his chums a few days after the men had been sent to Cresville to await trial. “Haven’t an idea, unless he was some football star,” Chunky ruefully answered, remembering his failure to tackle. “He was Pug Kennedy’s step-father!” was the unexpected information Jerry gave. “Pug Kennedy’s step-father!” exclaimed Ned and Bob. “Yes. His name is Meyer, and he’s another German spy, and so is Pug. Meyer masqueraded as an Irishman, for he had been pals with an Irish prize-fighter for some years.” “And was it his father Pug sneaked out to meet at night?” asked Ned. “Yes,” answered Jerry. “Since Pug has deserted the whole story has come out. His father was another spy, and his particular work was to make trouble in camps--set fire to storehouses, quartermasters’ depots and the like. Pug was going to help him, and that’s why he enlisted--the rotten traitor! But he’s gone, and the Secret Service men hope to catch them both.” A week later came back word from Cresville that filled the young soldiers with keen satisfaction. The ashes of the tenement house fire had been thoroughly searched and an iron box belonging to the French engraver had been recovered. It contained a large part of the old man’s money and also Mr. Baker’s gold watch. “I’m glad dad has his watch back,” said Bob. “But what about the diamond brooch belonging to Jerry’s mother?” “Maybe they’ll get that later,” said Jerry hopefully.