Chapter XXIII: Iggy Turns Sleuth

Vindicated at the eleventh hour by the confessions of Bixton and Eldridge, Franz Schnitzel returned to barracks completely exonerated of the crime of poisoning his comrades. Bixton and Eldridge both underwent speedy trial by a court martial. Bixton was charged with desertion and conspiracy, and sentenced to several years in a Federal prison, while Eldridge escaped with a year. As an accomplice of Bixton in the matter of the suitcase affair, he was deemed equally guilty of conspiracy.

During the first week or two after his return to his company, Schnitzel showed a depth of gratitude toward the four Brothers that only one who had been so long in the shadow could exhibit to those who had led him back into the sunshine. As time went on, however, he relapsed into his old taciturn ways. He took to prowling about by himself seeming almost to resent the Khaki Boys' kindly invitations to accompany them on their little adventures about camp or to Tremont or Glenwood.

In fact Schnitzel showed a decided predilection for the society of a Cuban, named Fernando, who lived in Company E's adjoining barrack. Fernando was a man who had almost as little to say as had Schnitzel. Though not a citizen of the United States he had enlisted shortly before the four Khaki Boys had come to Camp Sterling. At the time of the poisoning he had been on kitchen detail also and, soon after Schnitzel's release, the German-American had struck up a friendship with him.

"I no like him, that Koobain," Ignace frequently protested to his bunkies. "Never I see why Schnitzel go by him all time. He no good."

Growing distrust of Fernando prompted Iggy to poke about in the discreet wake of Schnitzel and the Cuban. His frequent absences from barracks in the evening occasioned a good deal of curious comment on the part of his bunkies.

One night as they discussed this Iggy was hiking along through a fine rain after his quarry. He had followed Schnitzel out of barracks and seen him meet Fernando. This evening the two had elected to walk far despite the bad weather. Coming at last to an outlying barrack in an early stage of the process of erection, the two paused before it and began to talk. Seeing them stop, Iggy stopped also at a safe distance. He dared go no nearer to them. Deeply disappointed, he was about to turn back when a brilliant idea assailed him.

Keeping well in the shelter of a neighboring barrack which was almost completed, he made a wide circle and approached the skeleton of the other barrack from the back. It would be easy enough for him to climb into it and make his way to the partially open front, provided he could do it without being heard. Once there he could crouch low within a few feet of the two men and perhaps overhear what they said. He had already heard at different times enough of their talk to worry him. Now he proposed to hear still more--if only they did not go away before he got to them. The first words he heard, spoken in German, nearly toppled him over.

"You are willing to do this for the Fatherland?" It was the supposed Cuban who spoke.

"Yes. I long to be of use to Germany. Nothing else can wipe out the trouble that these cursed Americans have made me. I wish now that I had been the one to poison those dogs. Then I would have gloried in it."

"You have been spared for a greater work. What you will do to-morrow night will well recompense you. Now remember. Meet me here at six to-morrow evening. I will give you the camera. Be sure and set it in the rubbish can with the tripod socket downward. The shutter release is on the side. You will have fastened one end of this piece of fishing line to the trigger of the shutter release. Fishing line does not stretch. Loop the other end round one of the bolts on the inside of the cover that hold its handle on. I have examined those covers and there is a bolt end coming through which makes this possible. Tie it with as little slack as possible and fit the cover on the can. The first man who lifts it will do the trick."

"What will happen when that release is pulled?" asked Schnitzel.

The other man chuckled grimly.

"A snap shot will be taken somewhat different from the usual sort. That release controls an electrical contact intimately connected with a certain kind of fulminate and behind that again is--the stuff that means the finish of Company E barracks. The explosion will be so destructive that no trace will be left of either the camera or the can. Very soon afterward Company E's other barrack will follow yours. This is a trick which can be successfully worked twice. Now heed what I tell you, as this is our only chance to talk. To-morrow night I will meet you here only for a moment to give you the camera. You must then hurry back and do your work, while the men are at mess. We can only trust that no one will disturb the can too soon. We must destroy as many of our enemies as we can before they are sent out against us. You are not afraid to do your part for the Fatherland?"

"_Deutschland über alles_," was Schnitzel's low, fervent answer.

"_Gut!_ Now we must return. Go you first and I will follow slowly. I shall not see you again until I meet you here at six to-morrow evening."

Trembling with horror at what he had heard, Ignace waited breathlessly for the plotters to depart. After five minutes he straightened up cautiously. All was silent. Growing bolder he stood erect and peered out of one of the open spaces in the frame-work of the barrack. No one was in sight. Making a hasty exit he set off for headquarters on the mad run.

Arrived at headquarters he had his own troubles with a supercilious orderly, who demanded to know the nature of his business.

"I will no tell," was the Pole's dogged refusal. "You no say him Pulinski want see, you ver' sorry."

This threat was effective in gaining for him the desired interview. His tale told, Ignace became alarmed at the major's lack of agitation.

"You no believe, sir, what I do?" he ended desperately.

"I believe you, Pulinski." The K. O.'s tone was extremely kind. "Now I'm going to ask you to go back to barracks and say nothing to anyone about this. You've done your part and done it well. Leave the rest to me, and remember the Army will protect its own."

"So will I, sir. For Schnitzel have I the hurt here." Iggy laid a hand on his heart. "Never have I think he spy. Once fren's. Now him enemy my country, my enemy, too. I am the solder."

Saluting, Iggy departed wholly unconscious of the nobility of his little speech.

The next day broke in a torrent of rain that gradually slackened to a fine mist that continued to fall all day, bringing on an early dusk. Painfully on the alert, Ignace had watched vainly all day for the "som'thin'." He had had no trouble in avoiding Schnitzel. The latter had not come near the four Brothers. When at ten minutes to six Ignace saw him go down the squad-room stairs, he was in a fever of dread. The time had come and the "so cross major" had done nothing. He had not believed, then, after all. Ignace decided that he would have to take the initiative. He would say he was not hungry. He would not go to mess. He would stay in barracks and watch the rubbish can. If Schnitzel attempted to go near it, he would fight him away from it.

Meanwhile Schnitzel was forging along through the mist toward the rendezvous. As he neared the spot, he could see no one. Drawing close to the barrack he waited, eyes and ears trained to catch first sight and sound of Fernando. It was only a moment or two until he heard the swashing contact of running feet with mud. Next a rain-drenched figure made port beside him, flashing a white ray of light upon him.

"It is you," spoke a relieved voice in German. "Here is the camera. Take it quickly. I must return. Fail you not. Strike well for the Fatherland!"

"Hold it just a second," replied Schnitzel. "I brought a paper for it to guard against the rain."

"_Gut_," approved the voice. "_Bitte, schnell!_"

"All's well!" Schnitzel exclaimed loudly in English.

"Shh! Are you mad that you----"

The question was never answered. Forth from the skeleton of the barrack leaped a succession of dark forms. They closed in on the pair with incredible quickness.

"Traitor!" came a savage cry uttered in German. "Die then, with your kind!"

"Not yet," panted Schnitzel as the supposed colleagues fought desperately for the possession of the camera case, to which Schnitzel clung like grim death. "Got it," he bellowed. "Hold him tight! He's Freidrich, not Fernando! He's a German spy! He poisoned the boys! He tried to blow up the barracks! I swore to run him down! I've done it. Let him die like a dog! Shooting's too good for him!"