the red cross girl-第35节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


In　alarm　the　naked　one　with　a　gesture　commanded　silence。

The　library　led　to　the　front　hall。　In　this　was　the　coat…room。
First　making　sure　the　library　and　hall　were　free　of　servants；
Fred　tiptoed　to　the　coat…room　and；　opening　the　door；　switched：　on
the　electric　light。　The　naked　man；　leaving　in　his　wake　a　trail　of
damp　footprints；　followed　at　his　heels。

Fred　pointed　at　golf…capes；　sweaters；　greatcoats　hanging　from
hooks；　and　on　the　floor　at　boots　and　overshoes。

〃Put　on　that　motor…coat　and　the　galoshes；〃　he　commanded。　〃They'll
cover　you　in　case　you　have　to　run　for　it。　I'm　going　to　leave　you
here　while　I　get　you　some　clothes。　If　any　of　the　servants　butt
in；　don't　lose　your　head。　Just　say　you're　waiting　to　see　meMr。
Keep。　I　won't　be　long。　Wait。〃

〃Wait！〃　snorted　the　stranger。　〃You　BET　I'll　wait！'

As　Fred　closed　the　door　upon　him；　the　naked　one　was　rubbing
himself　violently　with　Mrs。　Keep's　yellow　golf…jacket。

In　his　own　room　Fred　collected　a　suit　of　blue　serge；　a　tennis
shirt；　boots；　even　a　tie。　Underclothes　he　found　ready　laid　out
for　him；　and　he　snatched　them　from　the　bed。　From　a　roll　of　money
in　his　bureau　drawer　he　counted　out　a　hundred　dollars。　Tactfully
he　slipped　the　money　in　the　trousers　pocket　of　the　serge　suit　and
with　the　bundle　of　clothes　in　his　arms　raced　downstairs　and
shoved　them　into　the　coat…room。

〃Don't　come　out　until　I　knock；〃　he　commanded。　〃And；〃　he　added　in
a　vehement　whisper；　〃don't　come　out　at　all　unless　you　have
clothes　on！〃

The　stranger　grunted。

Fred　rang　for　Gridley　and　told　him　to　have　his　car　brought　around
to　the　door。　He　wanted　it　to　start　at　once　within　two　minutes。
When　the　butler　had　departed；　Fred；　by　an　inch；　again　opened　the
coat…room　door。　The　stranger　had　draped　himself　in　the
underclothes　and　the　shirt；　and　at　the　moment　was　carefully
arranging　the　tie。

〃Hurry！〃　commanded　Keep。　〃The　car'll　be　here　in　a　minute。　Where
shall　I　tell　him　to　take　you？〃

The　stranger　chuckled　excitedly；　his　confidence　seemed　to　be
returning。　〃New　York；〃　he　whispered；　〃fast　as　he　can　get　there！
Look　here；〃　he　added　doubtfully；　〃there's　a　roll　of　bills　in
these　clothes。〃

〃They're　yours；〃　said　Fred。

The　stranger　exclaimed　vigorously。　〃You're　all　right！〃　he
whispered。　〃I　won't　forget　this；　or　you　either。　I'll　send　the
money　back　same　time　I　send　the　clothes。〃

〃Exactly！〃　said　Fred。

The　wheels　of　the　touring…car　crunched　on　the　gravel　drive；　and
Fred　slammed　to　the　door；　and　like　a　sentry　on　guard　paced　before
it。　After　a　period　which　seemed　to　stretch　over　many　minutes
there　came　from　the　inside　a　cautious　knocking。　With　equal
caution　Fred　opened　the　door　of　the　width　of　a　finger；　and　put
his　ear　to　the　crack。

〃You　couldn't　find　me　a　button…hook；　could　you？〃　whispered　the
stranger。

Indignantly　Fred　shut　the　door　and；　walking　to　the　veranda；
hailed　the　chauffeur。　James；　the　chauffeur；　was　a　Keepsburg　boy；
and　when　Keep　had　gone　to　Cambridge　James　had　accompanied　him。
Keep　knew　the　boy　could　be　trusted。

〃You're　to　take　a　man　to　New　York；〃　he　said；　〃or　wherever　he
wants　to　go。　Don't　talk　to　him。　Don't　ask　any　questions。　So；　if
YOU'RE　questioned；　you　can　say　you　know　nothing。　That's　for　your
own　good！〃

The　chauffeur　mechanically　touched　his　cap　and　started　down　the
steps。　As　he　did　so；　the　prison　whistle；　still　unsatisfied；　still
demanding　its　prey；　shattered　the　silence。　As　though　it　had　hit
him　a　physical　blow；　the　youth　jumped。　He　turned　and　lifted
startled；　inquiring　eyes　to　where　Keep　stood　above　him。

〃I　told　you；〃　said　Keep；　〃to　ask　no　questions。

As　Fred　re…entered　the　hall；　Winnie　Keep　was　coming　down　the
stairs　toward　him。　She　had　changed　to　one　of　the　prettiest
evening　gowns　of　her　trousseau；　and　so　outrageously　lovely　was
the　combination　of　herself　and　the　gown　that　her　husband's
excitement　and　anxiety　fell　from　him；　and　he　was　lost　in
admiration。　But　he　was　not　for　long　lost。　To　his　horror；　the　door
of　the　coat…closet　opened　toward　his　wife　and　out　of　the　closet
the　stranger　emerged。　Winnie；　not　accustomed　to　seeing　young　men
suddenly　appear　from　among　the　dust…coats；　uttered　a　sharp
shriek。

With　what　he　considered　great　presence　of　mind；　Fred　swung　upon
the　visitor

〃Did　you　fix　it？〃　he　demanded。

The　visitor　did　not　heed　him。　In　amazement　in　abject　admiration；
his　eyes　were　fastened　upon　the　beautiful　and　radiant　vision
presented　by　Winnie　Keep。　But　he　also　still　preserved　sufficient
presence　of　mind　to　nod　his　head　dully。

〃Come；〃　commanded　Fred。　〃The　car　is　waiting。〃

Still　the　stranger　did　not　move。　As　though　he　had　never　before
seen　a　woman；　as　though　her　dazzling　loveliness　held　him　in　a
trance；　he　stood　still；　gazing；　gaping；　devouring　Winnie　with　his
eyes。　In　her　turn；　Winnie　beheld　a　strange　youth　who　looked　like
a　groom　out　of　livery；　so　overcome　by　her　mere　presence　as　to　be
struck　motionless　and　inarticulate。　For　protection　she　moved　in
some　alarm　toward　her　husband。

The　stranger　gave　a　sudden　jerk　of　his　body　that　might　have　been
intended　for　a　bow。　Before　Keep　could　interrupt　him；　like　a
parrot　reciting　its　lesson；　he　exclaimed　explosively：

〃My　name's　Van　Warden。　I'm　Harry　Van　Warden。〃

He　seemed　as　little　convinced　of　the　truth　of　his　statement　as
though　he　had　announced　that　he　was　the　Czar　of　Russia。　It　was　as
though　a　stage…manager　had　drilled　him　in　the　lines。

But　upon　Winnie；　as　her　husband　saw　to　his　dismay；　the　words
produced　an　instant　and　appalling　effect。　She　fairly　radiated
excitement　and　delight。　How　her　husband　had　succeeded　in
capturing　the　social　prize　of　Scarboro　she　could　not　imagine；
but；　for　doing　so；　she　flashed　toward　him　a　glance　of　deep　and
grateful　devotion。

Then　she　beamed　upon　the　stranger。　〃Won't　Mr。　Van　Warden　stay　to
dinner？〃　she　asked。

Her　husband　emitted　a　howl。　〃He　will　NOT！〃　he　cried。　〃He's　not
that　kind　of　a　Van　Warden。　He's　a　plumber。　He's　the　man　that
fixes　the　telephone！〃

He　seized　the　visitor　by　the　sleeve　of　the　long　motor…coat　and
dragged　him　down　the　steps。　Reluctantly；　almost　resistingly；　the
visitor　stumbled　after　him；　casting　backward　amazed　glances　at
the　beautiful　lady。　Fred　thrust　him　into　the　seat　beside　the
chauffeur。　Pointing　at　the　golf…cap　and　automobile　goggles　which
the　stranger　was　stupidly　twisting　in　his　hands；　Fred　whispered
fiercely：

〃Put　those　on！　Cover　your　face！　Don't　speak！　The　man　knows　what
to　do。〃

With　eager　eyes　and　parted　lips　James　the　chauffeur　was　waiting
for　the　signal。　Fred　nodded　sharply；　and　the　chauffeur　stooped　to
throw　in　the　clutch。　But　the　car　did　not　start。　From　the　hedge
beside　the　driveway；　directly　in　front　of　the　wheels；　something
on　all　fours　threw　itself　upon　the　gravel；　something　in　a　suit　of
purple…gray；　something　torn　and　bleeding；　smeared　with　sweat　and
dirt；　something　that　cringed　and　crawled；　that　tried　to　rise　and
sank　back　upon　its　knees；　lifting　to　the　glare　of　the　head…lights
the　white　face　and　white　hair　of　a　very　old；　old　man。　The
kneeling　figure　sobbed；　the　sobs　rising　from　far　down　in　the　pit
of　the　stomach；　wrenching　the　body　like　waves　of　nausea。　The　man
stretched　his　arms　toward　them。　From　long　disuse　his　voice
cracked　and　broke。

〃I'm　done！〃　he　sobbed。　〃I　can't　go　no　farther！　I　give　myself　up！〃

Above　the　awful　silence　that　held　the　four　young　people；　the
prison　siren　shrieked　in　one　long；　mocking　howl　of　triumph。

It　was　the　stranger　who　was　the　first　to　act。　Pushing　past　Fred；
and　slipping　from　his　own　shoulders　the　long　motor…coat；　he
flung　it　over　the　suit　of　purple…gray。　The　goggles　he　clapped
upon　the　old　man's　frightened　eyes；　the　golf…cap　he　pulled　down
over　the　white　hair。　With　one　arm　he　lifted　the　convict；　and　with
the　other　dragged　and　pushed　him　into　the　seat　beside　the
chauffeur。　Into　the　hands　of　the　chauffeur　he　thrust　the　roll　of
bills。

〃Get　him　away！〃　he　ordered。　〃It's　only　twelve　miles　to　the
Connecticut　line。　As　soon　as　you're　across；　buy　him　clothes　and　a
ticket　to　Boston。　Go　through　White　Plains　to　Greenwichand　then
you're　safe！〃

As　though　suddenly　remembering　the　presence　of　the　owner　of　the
car；　he　swung　upon　Fred。　〃Am　I　right？〃　he　demanded。

〃Of　course！〃　roared　Fred。　He　flung　his　arm　at　the　chauffeur　as
though　throwing　him　into　space。

〃Get…to…hell…out…of…here！〃　he　shouted。

The　chauffeur；　by　profession　a　criminal；　but　by　birth　a　human
being；　chuckled　savagely　and　this　time　threw　in　the　clutch。　With
a　grinding　of　gravel　the　racing…car　leaped　into　the　night；　its
ruby　rear　lamp　winking　in　farewell；　its　tiny　siren　answering　the
great　siren　of　the　prison　in　jeering　notes　of　joy　and　victory。

Fred　had　supposed　that　at　the　last　moment　the　younger　convict
proposed　to　leap　to　the　running…board；　but　instead　the　stranger
remained　motionless。

Fred　shouted　impotently　after　the　flying　car。　In　dismay　he　seized
the　stranger　by　the　arm。

〃But　you？〃　he　demanded。　〃How　are　you　going　to　get　away？〃

The　stranger　turned　appealingly　to　where　upon　the　upper　step
stood　Winnie　Keep。

〃I　don't　want　to　get　away；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　hoping；　maybe；　you'd
let　me　stay　to　dinner。〃

A　terrible　and　icy　chill　crept　down　the　spine　of　Fred　Keep。　He
moved　so　that　the　light　from　the　h