be taking a lot of those young fellows away and giving them some
real fighting to do to keep them quiet."

"Well, we'll help whenever we can, sergeant," said Franklin. "If
the inspector thinks it would be a good thing to have the shops
that are kept by Germans watched, I'm quite sure it can be
arranged. If there's war I suppose a lot of you policemen will
go?"

"We'll supply our share, sir," said the sergeant. "I'm expecting
orders any minute -- I'm a reservist myself. Coldstream Guards,
sir."

"Congratulations!" said Franklin. He spoke a little wistfully.
"I wonder if they'll let me go? I think I'm old enough! Well, can
we help any more here tonight?"

"No, thank you, sir. You've done very well as it is. Pity all
the lads don't belong to the Boy Scouts. We'd have less trouble,
I'll warrant. I'll just leave a man here to watch the place. But
they won't be back. They don't mean any real harm, as it is.
It's just their spirits -- and their being a bit thoughtless, you
know."

"All right," said Franklin. "Glad we came along. Good-night,
sergeant. Fall in! March!"

There was a cheer from the crowd that had gathered to watch the
disturbance as the scouts move away. A hundred yards from the
scene of what might have been a tragedy, except for their prompt