Edestone. "Mr. Edestone,"--his voice trembled so violently that he
could scarcely speak,--"please do not move or seem surprised at what I
am going to say."

Edestone drew back slightly and looked at him. He thought at first
that the man had suddenly lost his reason. Smith was perfectly livid
and his little eyes were starting from his head. His mouth was open
and he seemed to be vainly trying to draw his blue lips over his great
dry yellow teeth on which they seemed to catch, giving him the
appearance of a snarling dog as he cringed in the corner of the
cab. One hand was pulling at his collar while with the other he
clutched at the seat in a vain effort to restrain the tremors which
were shaking him from head to foot. "Don't speak. I must talk and talk
fast," he said.

Edestone leaned forward as if to halt the car, but the fellow caught
him by the knee in a grip almost of desperation.

"For God's sake don't do that!" he pleaded. "He will kill both of
us. Oh, don't you understand? He is a German spy. I am German, Rebener
is German, we are all Germans--all spies. We have been watching you
for the past six months. This man is now driving you to a place where
they will certainly kill you unless you turn over that instrument
which you have in your pocket."

At this Edestone started. Although he could scarcely control himself
and felt like strangling the chicken-hearted wretch, he recovered
himself in time to say with a look of disgust, "You poor miserable
creature."