Sound of the Trumpet
Read Sound of the Trumpet Online
Authors: Grace Livingston Hill
Whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head
.
E
ZEKIEL
33:4
© 2014 by Grace Livingston Hill
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All scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.
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Chapter 1
Eastern United States
1940s
T
wo men sat in an office of a large warehouse, at this hour almost deserted by the main force of workers who usually swarmed everywhere. Though they felt they were alone and safe from all listeners, they spoke in low tones, guardedly.
Weaver, the older man, was large and heavyset, with sharp eyes and firm lips. When he spoke he seemed to dominate the room, as if somehow he had acquired authority over the whole universe.
The other man was smaller, keen-eyed, with caution in his glance. His name was Lacey, and although he was subordinate, he was the more knowledgeable of the two. He was studying the other man as he talked, weighing his words, sifting his expressions.
“We have definite information that the model has been completed and is now in the hands of the manufacturer.” Weaver spoke with heavy emphasis.
“Has it been tested?” asked Lacey sharply. “Are they
sure
it will work?”
“Oh, yes,” said the boss impatiently, “it’s all been worked out. That’s why it’s important to get this thing going at once. If these things can be manufactured fast enough, it will simply revolutionize this war. Anyone with this equipment will be the winner. It depends on who gets there and gets it to working first. And that’s why we
have
to find out just what their secret is. We
think
we know, but we’re still a little vague over a few points. And that’s where you come in. It’s up to you to get drawings, measurements, dates when they plan to ship, all the items you think we will need.”
“You mean to plant
me
somewhere to find out those things? But man, that’s entirely out of my line.”
“Of course not, Lacey! I mean you’re to contact the man we suggest, or if that doesn’t work out, then find the
right
man. One with common sense to keep his mouth shut and work in the most casual way so there will be no hint of suspicion stirred up while he gets all the information we need. It’s nothing new to you, Lacey. It’s much along the line of your last job, only a thousand times more important. And we think we have the right man, but it will be for you to contact him through your usual workers.”
“I see,” said Lacey. “Who’s the manufacturer? Or isn’t that definite yet?”
“Oh yes, that’s definite all right. It’s not just one manufacturer, it’s two. The way they’ve got it worked out, Vandingham and Company have the main part of the work, and Windlass, Cooper, and Crane have the ‘accessories.’ That’s the way they are talking about it among themselves—‘Just a few small gadgets,’ they say. But it happens that we know these gadgets are the most important parts when they are in the main machine. And then there is a third plant involved, a smaller, insignificant plant that Vandingham and Company are secretly taking over. It’s a little dump, not well known, and there they mean to assemble the whole, and feel quite sure the world at large will never dream that anything important like that is going on there. The buildings have been somewhat altered so that they are quite inaccessible to the public, or even to other workers in the same operation, and it will not be known that it has anything at all to do with Vandingham’s. It’s been very cleverly thought out, and it was only by chance that we happened to hear about it through a man who delivers material to them, and he didn’t know he was telling us anything. 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. He’ll probably snap at the chance. I want you to have him approached by a man who’s always been pretty successful getting such jobs across—perhaps Kurt Entry—and I haven’t a doubt but he’ll be putty in our hands. So now it’s up to you to place him and then keep in touch with him.”
“Where does he live?” asked Lacey.
“Just now he’s in the quarters where his grandmother has lived for some time—143 Burton Street. But I wouldn’t advise
you
to be seen going there. We’ve got to work this thing most cautiously, you know.”
“Oh, of course. But I’d want to look the lad over before I undertook this. Personally, I think a girl would fit into that outfit better than a young man. She’d be more likely to pick
older
men in a place like that, not a kid, especially for a job as particular as you say this is.”
“Wait till you see the fella. He’s very dependable—had to knock around a lot. And keen. Besides, I doubt if they’d let a girl get into the place, not on a job as secret as this one!”
“There are always ways for a girl to get places, especially if someone is sweet on her. I understand that young Vandingham likes pretty girls. I know a girl I believe could get almost any young fella to show her around the plant where he worked.”
“Not a plant like that!” said the older man. “Not a government secret! You try this fella first. Then if we can’t get him, or somebody better, we’ll see about the girl.”
“Okay,” said Lacey. “I’ll look him over. What’s his name? Where do I meet him? Has he a telephone? How do I contact him?”
“Name is Sargent. John Sargent. Here are the facts,” said the big man grimly, handing him a folded paper. “Better let your man contact him and feel around how he stands before you make an open proposition. If it’s necessary to offer a larger salary than I’ve suggested, go ahead, of course. The main thing is to get the right man and get him quick. We don’t want that invention to slip out of our hands. And Lacey, be sure you get him one of those new concealed cameras. They’re as inconspicuous as a coat button. Better instruct him to get pictures of everything, and absolutely on the QT. Of course, they wouldn’t let a camera pass the door if they knew it was there. It’s got to be mighty slick work, you know.”
“Of course,” said Lacey. “What do you think I am, Weaver? A child that needs a nurse?”
“Well, I’m just telling you,” warned the boss. “You know who we’re answering to, and you don’t want to get into trouble yourself, do you? Now go. I’ve got another appointment in five minutes, so I guess you’d better fade away before my next man appears. And Lacey, just remember, don’t come here unless I send for you. It won’t be good if we’re seen together too much.”
“But suppose I need to report to you. Do I phone?”
“Only at the prescribed times and places. You’ll find a note in your papers. That’s all, Lacey. Meantime, keep that girl you spoke of up your sleeve for an emergency. Good-bye!”
Lacey stole out a side entrance and disappeared into another part of the building, and a group of three were announced and took his place.
Lacey went by a back way to a rooming house and locked himself into his gloomy little room, where he sat down to study the paper Weaver had given him.