One of our men worked it out of him bit by bit as they were loading up their trucks. He was canny enough to ask the right questions about where the material was being taken, and didn’t Vandingham buy that other plant? So we put two and two together. We’ve got ’em all watched.”

“And you mean I’ve got to get a worker in each one of those plants?”

“No, no, not that, Lacey. We’ve got it all worked out, I tell you. You see, it is rumored that young Vandingham is taking over the main office in his father’s place this fall. It might be part of a plan to keep him out of the draft, perhaps. But anyhow, he’s to be there this winter, and the idea is—”

“To try and get his father’s secrets out of him?” interrupted Lacey. “You could never do that! I know those Vandinghams. They’re proud as peacocks of their name and position. They would never give each other away, not even if they were having a real civil war in private among themselves.”

“No, they would never give away their own secrets. But someone else could do it. Someone who knew them well, who was in their confidence and hadn’t any idea how important it was. And I think I’ve found the very one for you. A young fellow who was in college with young Vandingham and is rather up against it financially himself. It’s up to you to offer him a good sum to get some of those figures and plans and formulas we need. First, that we may be able to produce the same thing, perhaps even better than they are planning, and second, that we shall know exactly where and how and when to strike in order that we may destroy their work before it ever gets to the Allies.”

“I see,” said Lacey. “A fine scheme, if it all fits. But I’d be leery about getting the right man into that outfit. I’ve always heard that gang are pretty doggoned smart, and they don’t take every Tom, Dick, and Harry in with them, even if they do happen to have gone to college with Papa’s little boy. However, I’ll do my best, of course. But who’s the lad? Do I know him? Is he known in the city?”

The big man looked at him keenly.

“No, he’s not very well known. You wouldn’t know him. He’s only a bright kid, just came to the city this summer to look after a sick grandmother. His folks are dead and he worked his way through college, but when his grandmother took sick he left a pretty good job he had in the West and came here to look after her. He’s been working around at anything he could get since he came, but he’d be open for a good job, because he wants to take care of the old lady. She hasn’t anybody else. She’s been a librarian for years, living alone, but she had a stroke or two, and I guess she’s pretty bad off. Anyhow, we found out he’s looking for something really good so he can take care of her properly. It seems she did a lot for him when his folks first died, but about two years ago she lost all her savings in some fool investment, and now he feels it’s up to him. So, you see it would be easy to get a hold over him.