The Boy Allies in Great Peril | Page 6

was the reply. "I'll be all right in a minute, though."
He shook his head several times and at last appeared to have gotten rid
of the effects of the blow. He threw off Hal's hand.
"Well, what now?" he asked.

Hal hesitated.
"I hate to see that fellow get away," he said finally. "He probably has
stolen important information."
"I guess there is not much doubt of that," replied Chester, "but Rome is
a pretty sizeable town. A slim chance we have of finding him."
"I'd know him if I see him," said Hal
"So will I. Did you notice the scar across his face?"
"Yes; that's why I say I would know him any place. What do you
suppose it was he stole?"
"A paper of some kind; I saw that. Probably has to do with troop
movements or something of the sort. You remember he stole it from an
army officer."
"Yes; which reminds me that he also disposed of said army officer
without much trouble. The last I saw of him he was floundering about
on the ground in the midst of the crowd."
"Let's go back and have a look for him."
"Good; come on."
The boys turned and retraced their steps. Rounding a corner they came
again within sight of the palace.
"Crowd still there," Hal commented briefly.
It was true. The crowd seemed to have grown rather than to have
diminished.
"Something must have happened while we were gone," said Chester.
"Hear them yell."
"I guess it means war," was Hal's quiet response. "Well, I'm glad."

"And so am I. This German business should be settled without much
trouble now."
"Don't you believe it. The Kaiser is good for a long, hard fight yet."
They pushed their way through the crowd. Suddenly they came to a
stop, their further progress being barred by a solid mass of humanity
directly in front of them, Hal took Chester by the arm.
"Let's see what is going on here," he said.
By dint of hard pushing and shoving they worked their way gradually
through the crowd.
"As I live, it's our friend the army officer," ejaculated Hal.
"So it is," agreed Chester, "and he seems to be rather excited. Look at
him waving his arms about."
Surrounded by a curious crowd, the officer referred to was declaiming
eloquently. It was plain from the attitude of the crowd, however, that he
wasn't making himself plain.
"He's too excited to talk coherently," said Hal. "Maybe we can help him
out a bit. Let's get through the rest of this gang."
He put his elbows in front of him, and closely followed by Chester,
threw his weight upon the mass of humanity in front. The crowd parted,
and the lads pushed their way through, unheeding the protests their
rough methods called forth. They stopped beside the still excited
officer.
"Signor--" began Hal, but the officer paid no attention to him, and
continued to wave his arms violently about.
"You can't get his attention that way," said Chester. "Let me try."
He grasped the Italian officer roughly by the arm and whirled him
about.

Immediately the latter's arms ceased their violent gesticulations and he
turned an angry face upon Chester.
"How dare you lay your hands upon an officer of the king?" he
demanded in a harsh voice.
His hand dropped to his holster.
"Here! Here!" exclaimed Hal. "Hold your horses now and don't get
excited. We've come to tell you something about that paper you lost."
"Ah!" cried the Italian. "So you have it, eh? Give it to me!"
He held out a hand expectantly.
"No, we haven't it," replied Hal, "but--"
"Give me the paper!" cried the officer, his voice becoming shrill with
anger.
"I tell you we haven't the paper," said Hal.
"That's a lie!" shouted the Italian. "You knocked me down and stole the
paper."
He clutched Hal by the arm.
"Let go of me," said the lad angrily. "We are trying to help you and--"
The Italian officer now suddenly drew his revolver, and pointed it
squarely at Hal.
"Give me the paper or I shall shoot," he said more quietly.
He staggered suddenly backward and the revolver dropped to the
ground with a clatter. The Italian wheeled and confronted the angry
face of Chester, who had struck up the weapon.
"What's the matter with you? Can't you see we are trying to help you?"

demanded Chester.
At this point there came a diversion. Members of the crowd who had
witnessed the dispute between the officer and the two lads suddenly set
up a cry of "spies."
Others behind them took it up.
"Spies! Spies!" a hundred voices rang out.
The crowd surged in about them.
Hal gave one quick look about, and then said quietly to Chester:
"We