the red cross girl-第37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！


always　to　have　to　make　believe　became　monotonous。　Even　〃dry
shopping〃　along　the　Rue　de　la　Paix　when　you　pretend　you　can　have
anything　you　see　in　any　window；　leaves　one　just　as　rich；　but
unsatisfied。　So　the　advice　of　the　war　correspondent　to　seek　out
German　spies　came　to　Jimmie　like　a　day　at　the　circus；　like　a　week
at　the　Danbury　Fair。　It　not　only　was　a　call　to　arms；　to　protect
his　flag　and　home；　but　a　chance　to　play　in　earnest　the　game　in
which　he　most　delighted。　No　longer　need　he　pretend。　No　longer
need　he　waste　his　energies　in　watching；　unobserved；　a　greedy
rabbit　rob　a　carrot　field。　The　game　now　was　his　fellow…man　and
his　enemy；　not　only　his　enemy；　but　the　enemy　of　his　country。

In　his　first　effort　Jimmie　was　not　entirely　successful。　The　man
looked　the　part　perfectly；　he　wore　an　auburn　beard；　disguising
spectacles；　and　he　carried　a　suspicious　knapsack。　But　he　turned
out　to　be　a　professor　from　the　Museum　of　Natural　History；　who
wanted　to　dig　for　Indian　arrow…heads。　And　when　Jimmie　threatened
to　arrest　him；　the　indignant　gentleman　arrested　Jimmie。　Jimmie
escaped　only　by　leading　the　professor　to　a　secret　cave　of　his
own；　though　on　some　one　else's　property；　where　one　not　only　could
dig　for　arrow…heads；　but　find　them。　The　professor　was　delighted；
but　for　Jimmie　it　was　a　great　disappointment。　The　week　following
Jimmie　was　again　disappointed。

On　the　bank　of　the　Kensico　Reservoir；　he　came　upon　a　man　who　was
acting　in　a　mysterious　and　suspicious　manner。　He　was　making　notes
in　a　book；　and　his　runabout　which　he　had　concealed　in　a　wood　road
was　stuffed　with　blue…prints。　It　did　not　take　Jimmie　long　to
guess　his　purpose。　He　was　planning　to　blow　up　the　Kensico　dam；
and　cut　off　the　water　supply　of　New　York　City。　Seven　millions　of
people　without　water！　With　out　firing　a　shot；　New　York　must
surrender！　At　the　thought　Jimmie　shuddered；　and　at　the　risk　of
his　life　by　clinging　to　the　tail　of　a　motor　truck；　he　followed
the　runabout　into　White　Plains。　But　there　it　developed　the
mysterious　stranger；　so　far　from　wishing　to　destroy　the　Kensico
dam；　was　the　State　Engineer　who　had　built　it；　and；　also；　a　large
part　of　the　Panama　Canal。　Nor　in　his　third　effort　was　Jimmie　more
successful。　From　the　heights　of　Pound　Ridge　he　discovered　on　a
hilltop　below　him　a　man　working　alone　upon　a　basin　of　concrete。
The　man　was　a　German…American；　and　already　on　Jimmie's　list　of
〃suspects。〃　That　for　the　use　of　the　German　artillery　he　was
preparing　a　concrete　bed　for　a　siege　gun　was　only　too　evident。
But　closer　investigation　proved　that　the　concrete　was　only　two
inches　thick。　And　the　hyphenated　one　explained　that　the　basin　was
built　over　a　spring；　in　the　waters　of　which　he　planned　to　erect　a
fountain　and　raise　gold　fish。　It　was　a　bitter　blow。　Jimmie　became
discouraged。　Meeting　Judge　Van　Vorst　one　day　in　the　road　he　told
him　his　troubles。　The　young　judge　proved　unsympathetic。　〃My
advice　to　you；　Jimmie；〃　he　said；　〃is　to　go　slow。　Accusing
everybody　of　espionage　is　a　very　serious　matter。　If　you　call　a
man　a　spy；　it's　sometimes　hard　for　him　to　disprove　it；　and　the
name　sticks。　So；　go　slowvery　slow。　Before　you　arrest　any　more
people；　come　to　me　first　for　a　warrant。〃

So；　the　next　time　Jimmie　proceeded　with　caution。

Besides　being　a　farmer　in　a　small　way；　Jimmie's　father　was　a
handy　man　with　tools。　He　had　no　union　card；　but；　in　laying
shingles　along　a　blue　chalk　line；　few　were　as　expert。　It　was
August；　there　was　no　school；　and　Jimmie　was　carrying　a
dinner…pail　to　where　his　father　was　at　work　on　a　new　barn。　He
made　a　cross…cut　through　the　woods；　and　came　upon　the　young　man
in　the　golf…cap。　The　stranger　nodded；　and　his　eyes；　which　seemed
to　be　always　laughing；　smiled　pleasantly。　But　he　was　deeply
tanned；　and；　from　the　waist　up；　held　himself　like　a　soldier；　so；
at　once；　Jimmie　mistrusted　him。　Early　the　next　morning　Jimmie　met
him　again。　It　had　not　been　raining；　but　the　clothes　of　the　young
man　were　damp。　Jimmie　guessed　that　while　the　dew　was　still　on　the
leaves　the　young　man　had　been　forcing　his　way　through　underbrush。
The　stranger　must　have　remembered　Jimmie；　for　he　laughed　and
exclaimed：

〃Ah；　my　friend　with　the　dinner…pail！　It's　luck　you　haven't　got　it
now；　or　I'd　hold　you　up。　I'm　starving！〃

Jimmie　smiled　in　sympathy。　〃It's　early　to　be　hungry；〃　said
Jimmie；　〃when　did　you　have　your　breakfast？〃

〃I　didn't；〃　laughed　the　young　man。　〃I　went　out　to　walk　up　an
appetite；　and　I　lost　myself。　But；　I　haven't　lost　my　appetite。
Which　is　the　shortest　way　back　to　Bedford？〃

〃The　first　road　to　your　right；〃　said　Jimmie。

〃Is　it　far？〃　asked　the　stranger　anxiously。　That　he　was　very
hungry　was　evident。

〃It's　a　half…hour's　walk；〃　said　Jimmie

〃If　I　live　that　long；〃　corrected　the　young　man；　and　stepped　out
briskly。

Jimmie　knew　that　within　a　hundred　yards　a　turn　in　the　road　would
shut　him　from　sight。　So；　he　gave　the　stranger　time　to　walk　that
distance；　and；　then；　diving　into　the　wood　that　lined　the　road；
〃stalked〃　him。　From　behind　a　tree　he　saw　the　stranger　turn　and
look　back；　and　seeing　no　one　in　the　road　behind　him；　also　leave
it　and　plunge　into　the　woods。

He　had　not　turned　toward　Bedford；　he　had　turned　to　the　left。　Like
a　runner　stealing　bases；　Jimmie　slipped　from　tree　to　tree。　Ahead
of　him　he　heard　the　stranger　trampling　upon　dead　twigs；　moving
rapidly　as　one　who　knew　his　way。　At　times　through　the　branches
Jimmie　could　see　the　broad　shoulders　of　the　stranger；　and　again
could　follow　his　progress　only　by　the　noise　of　the　crackling
twigs。　When　the　noises　ceased；　Jimmie　guessed　the　stranger　had
reached　the　wood　road；　grass…grown　and　moss…covered；　that　led　to
Middle　Patent。　So；　he　ran　at　right　angles　until　he　also　reached
it；　and　as　now　he　was　close　to　where　it　entered　the　main　road；　he
approached　warily。　But；　he　was　too　late。　There　was　a　sound　like
the　whir　of　a　rising　partridge；　and　ahead　of　him　from　where　it
had　been　hidden；　a　gray　touring…car　leaped　into　the　highway。　The
stranger　was　at　the　wheel。　Throwing　behind　it　a　cloud　of　dust；
the　car　raced　toward　Greenwich。　Jimmie　had　time　to　note　only　that
it　bore　a　Connecticut　State　license；　that　in　the　wheel…ruts　the
tires　printed　little　V's；　like　arrow…heads。

For　a　week　Jimmie　saw　nothing　of　the　spy；　but　for　many　hot　and
dusty　miles　he　stalked　arrow…heads。　They　lured　him　north；　they
lured　him　south；　they　were　stamped　in　soft　asphalt；　in　mud；　dust；
and　fresh…spread　tarvia。　Wherever　Jimmie　walked；　arrow…heads　ran
before。　In　his　sleep　as　in　his　copy…book；　he　saw　endless　chains
of　V's。　But　not　once　could　he　catch　up　with　the　wheels　that
printed　them。　A　week　later；　just　at　sunset　as　he　passed　below
Round　Hill；　he　saw　the　stranger　on　top　of　it。　On　the　skyline；　in
silhouette　against　the　sinking　sun；　he　was　as　conspicuous　as　a
flagstaff。　But　to　approach　him　was　impossible。　For　acres　Round
Hill　offered　no　other　cover　than　stubble。　It　was　as　bald　as　a
skull。　Until　the　stranger　chose　to　descend；　Jimmie　must　wait。　And
the　stranger　was　in　no　haste。　The　sun　sank　and　from　the　west
Jimmie　saw　him　turn　his　face　east　toward　the　Sound。　A　storm　was
gathering；　drops　of　rain　began　to　splash　and　as　the　sky　grew
black　the　figure　on　the　hilltop　faded　into　the　darkness。　And
then；　at　the　very　spot　where　Jimmie　had　last　seen　it；　there
suddenly　flared　two　tiny　flashes　of　fire。　Jimmie　leaped　from
cover。　It　was　no　longer　to　be　endured。　The　spy　was　signalling。
The　time　for　caution　had　passed；　now　was　the　time　to　act。　Jimmie
raced　to　the　top　of　the　hill；　and　found　it　empty。　He　plunged　down
it；　vaulted　a　stone　wall；　forced　his　way　through　a　tangle　of
saplings；　and　held　his　breath　to　listen。　Just　beyond　him；　over　a
jumble　of　rocks；　a　hidden　stream　was　tripping　and　tumbling。
Joyfully；　it　laughed　and　gurgled。　Jimmie　turned　hot。　It　sounded
as　though　from　the　darkness　the　spy　mocked　him。　Jimmie　shook　his
fist　at　the　enshrouding　darkness。　Above　the　tumult　of　the　coming
storm　and　the　tossing　tree…tops；　he　raised　his　voice。

〃You　wait！〃　he　shouted。　〃I'll　get　you　yet！　Next　time；　I'll　bring
a　gun。〃

Next　time；　was　the　next　morning。　There　had　been　a　hawk　hovering
over　the　chicken　yard；　and　Jimmie　used　that　fact　to　explain　his
borrowing　the　family　shotgun。　He　loaded　it　with　buckshot；　and；　in
the　pocket　of　his　shirt　buttoned　his　license　to　〃hunt；　pursue　and
kill；　to　take　with　traps　or　other　devices。〃

He　remembered　that　Judge　Van　Vorst　had　warned　him；　before　he
arrested　more　spies；　to　come　to　him　for　a　warrant。　But　with　an
impatient　shake　of　the　head　Jimmie　tossed　the　recollection　from
him。　After　what　he　had　seen　he　could　not　possibly　be　again
mistaken。　He　did　not　need　a　warrant。　What　he　had　seen　was　his
warrantplus　the　shotgun。

As　a　〃pathfinder〃　should；　he　planned　to　take　up　the　trail　where
he　had　lost　it；　but；　before　he　reached　Round　Hill；　he　found　a
warmer　trail。　Before　him；　stamped　clearly　in　the　road　still　damp
from　the　rain　of　the　night　before；　two　lines　of　little
arrow…heads　pointed　the　way。　They　were　so　fresh　that　at　each
twist　in　the　road；　lest　the　car　should　be　just　beyond　him；　Jimmie
slackened　his　steps。　After　half　a　mile　the　scent　grew　hot。　The
tracks　were　deeper；　the　arrow…heads　more　clearly　cut；　and　Jimmie
broke　into　a　run。　T