The Submarine Boys for the Flag | Page 3

German's
invitation, but Jack merely smiled quietly as he followed in the
stranger's wake. Up the stairs they went. The Professor unlocked a door,
admitting himself and his guest to the outer of a suite of two rooms.
Once they were inside Radberg locked the door behind them.
"Come to the other room, Herr Benson," directed the Professor. The
door of this inner room the German also locked, remarking:
"Now, if the man, Holt, chooses to follow and listen, he can hear
nothing."
"All this sounds mighty mysterious," laughed Jack Benson,
good-humoredly.
However, the submarine boy went and stood by a chair near the
window and then waited until he saw that the stranger was about to seat
himself.
"Now," asked Jack, stretching his legs, "what's the business about? I

haven't a whole lot of time to-day."
"Listen, and you shall hear, as soon as I am ready," came, stiffly, from
the stranger. "You are a boy, and I am Herr Professor--"
"Oh, you told me all about being a hair professor before," smiled Jack.
"Now, see here. Whether you're really a barber, or whether you're just
amusing yourself with me, we want to have one thing understood. I
came here, sir, as a matter of courtesy to you, and you will have to treat
me with just as much courtesy. Otherwise, I shall wish you
good-morning."
This was said with a flash of the eye which warned Radberg that, in his
rather overbearing way, he was going too for.
"Oh, my dear young friend," he replied, persuasively, "you don't
understand. In Germany I am--well, perhaps what you would call a
rather distinguished man. At least, my neighbors are good enough to
say so. And, in Germany, when a herr professor talks, others listen
respectfully."
"Just the same way with the hair professors in this country," chuckled
Jack. "When an American barber gets wound up and started, all a
fellow can do is to listen. It's no use trying to run away from a barber
anywhere, I guess. He has you strapped down to the chair."
"Barber?" repeated Professor Radberg, in disgust. "I don't understand
you."
"Oh, it isn't necessary," laughed Jack. "It's a sort of Yankee joke. And I
beg your pardon, Professor, if I am wasting your time. Now, go ahead,
please, and tell me why you invited me here."
There was something of salt water breeziness and crispness about
Jack's speech that caused the German's brow to cloud for an instant.
Then, after a visible effort to compose himself, Radberg leaned forward
to ask:

"Do you speak German?"
"No, sir." Jack shook his head.
"Ach, that is too bad!" muttered the German, in a voice suggesting
severe disapproval of one who hadn't mastered his own native tongue.
"However, you will soon learn."
"Yes; if there's a big enough prize goes with it," agreed Jack.
"Prize?" repeated Professor Radberg. "You will say so!"
Then, leaning forward once more, and speaking in his most impressive
voice, Herr Professor Radberg continued:
"Herr Benson, we are going to take you into the German Navy!"
The Professor now leaned back to watch the effect of his words.
"Are you going to do it when I'm awake?" asked Jack, curiously.
"Nein! I do not understand you."
"Are you going to take me in by force, or wait until you catch me
asleep?" questioned Captain Jack Benson.
"Ach! Do not be silly, boy!"
"I might say the same to you, Professor," replied Jack Benson,
composedly, "but we'll let it pass. How are you going to get me into the
German Navy, and what are you going to do with me after you get me
there?"
"How?" cried Professor Radberg. "Why we are going to pay you a very
handsome sum of money, and we are going to give you a most
honorable position in our imperial service. And--"
Here Professor Radberg leaned forward once more, lowering his voice
considerably.

"There are three of you boys, all experts at the Pollard works. Well, we
are going to take all three of you into the German navy, and we will do
something very handsome for you all."
"The other fellows will be delighted when I tell 'em what's coming their
way," smiled Captain Jack.
"Ach! So? Of course."
"Now, what do you propose to do with us in your navy?" Jack went on.
"Are you going to make officers of us?"
"Officers?" repeated Herr Professor Radberg, slowly. "Well, no, Herr
Benson. We could not exactly do that. Our officers are, as you will
understand, very--what is your English word?--aristocratic. They could
not be quite persuaded to take American commoners as their brother
officers. That you would not expect, of course."
"Certainly not," young Benson agreed. If there was a slight tinge of
sarcasm in his it was lost on