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"You're right, Chief," Carter admitted. "It would not surprise me if there is not a wireless plant here. I'll soon find out."
"Let me help," cried Jane.
Her nerves were suffering from a sharp reaction. All through the excitement of the attack she had remained calm and collected, but now she felt that if she remained another minute in the same room with the two bodies, if she stayed near that row of shackled prisoners, if she should chance to catch Frederic's eye, she either would burst into hysterical weeping or would collapse entirely. If only there was some activity in which she could engage it might serve to divert the current of maddening thoughts that kept overwhelming her. With something to do she might regain her self-control.
"Please let me help Mr. Carter," she begged.
"Certainly," said Fleck, "go ahead. You have earned the right to do anything you wish to-night."
Guided by the light of an electric torch Carter and she quickly made their way to the upper floor. In most of the rooms they found only cheap cots with blankets, evidently the sleeping quarters of the workmen, but in one of the rooms was a desk, and from it a ladder led to an unfinished attic. Boldly climbing the ladder and flashing their torch about they quickly located a high-powered wireless outfit. It was mounted on a sliding shelf by which it could be quickly concealed in a secret cupboard, but evidently the plotters had felt so secure from intrusion in their retreat that they had been in the habit of leaving it exposed.
"I thought we'd find it," said Carter exultantly. "It's an ideal location, up here in the mountains. I'd better smash it at once."
"Wait," warned Jane, thoughtfully, "they spoke of having received a wireless message from those dreadful X-boats lying there off the coast.
If we could only find their code-book, perhaps--"
"Right," cried Carter, catching her idea at once.
Together they descended to the room below and began ransacking the desk, Jane holding the light while Carter examined the papers they found.
"Their system sometimes is bad for them," said Carter. "Here's a ledger with the names of all the men employed here and the amounts paid to each. And look," he went on excitedly, "look what the stupid fools have done with their German methodicalness--here are entries showing all the supplies they obtained, from whom they got them and what they cost.
There's evidence here for a hundred convictions. We'll just take that book along."
There was one small drawer in the desk that was locked. Ruthlessly Carter smashed the woodwork and pried it open. Its only contents was a small parcel, a folded paper in a parchment envelope. Hastily he drew forth the paper and studied it intently.