the red cross girl-第39节

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When　Jimmie　thrust　the　map　before　his　face；　Van　Vorst　had　glanced
at　it。　Then　he　regarded　it　more　closely。　As　he　raised　his　eyes
they　showed　that　he　was　puzzled。

But　he　greeted　the　prisoner　politely。

〃I'm　extremely　sorry　you've　been　annoyed；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　only
glad　it's　no　worse。　He　might　have　shot　you。　He's　mad　over　the
idea　that　every　stranger　he　sees〃

The　prisoner　quickly　interrupted。

〃Please！〃　he　begged；　〃Don't　blame　the　boy。　He　behaved　extremely
well。　Might　I　speak　with　youALONE？〃　he　asked。

Judge　Van　Vorst　led　the　way　across　the　terrace；　and　to　the
smoking…room；　that　served　also　as　his　office；　and　closed　the
door。　The　stranger　walked　directly　to　the　mantelpiece　and　put　his
finger　on　a　gold　cup。

〃I　saw　your　mare　win　that　at　Belmont　Park；〃　he　said。　〃She　must
have　been　a　great　loss　to　you？〃

〃She　was；〃　said　Van　Vorst。　〃The　week　before　she　broke　her　back；　I
refused　three　thousand　for　her。　Will　you　have　a　cigarette？〃

The　stranger　waved　aside　the　cigarettes。

〃I　brought　you　inside；〃　he　said；　〃because　I　didn't　want　your
servants　to　hear；　and　because　I　don't　want　to　hurt　that　boy's
feelings。　He's　a　fine　boy；　and　he's　a　damned　clever　scout。　I　knew
he　was　following　me　and　I　threw　him　off　twice；　but　to…day　he
caught　me　fair。　If　I　really　had　been　a　German　spy；　I　couldn't
have　got　away　from　him。　And　I　want　him　to　think　he　has　captured　a
German　spy。　Because　he　deserves　just　as　much　credit　as　though　he
had；　and　because　it's　best　he　shouldn't　know　whom　he　DID
capture。〃

Van　Vorst　pointed　to　the　map。　〃My　bet　is；〃　he　said；　〃that　you're
an　officer　of　the　State　militia；　taking　notes　for　the　fall
manoeuvres。　Am　I　right？〃

The　stranger　smiled　in　approval；　but　shook　his　head。

〃You're　warm；〃　he　said；　〃but　it's　more　serious　than　manoeuvres。
It's　the　Real　Thing。〃　From　his　pocketbook　he　took　a　visiting　card
and　laid　it　on　the　table。　〃I'm　'Sherry'　McCoy；〃　he　said；　〃Captain
of　Artillery　in　the　United　States　Army。〃　He　nodded　to　the　hand
telephone　on　the　table。

〃You　can　call　up　Governor's　Island　and　get　General　Wood　or　his
aide；　Captain　Dorey；　on　the　phone。　They　sent　me　here。　Ask　THEM。
I'm　not　picking　out　gun　sites　for　the　Germans；　I'm　picking　out
positions　of　defense　for　Americans　when　the　Germans　come！〃

Van　Vorst　laughed　derisively。

〃My　word！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃You're　as　bad　as　Jimmie！〃

Captain　McCoy　regarded　him　with　disfavor。

〃And　you；　sir；〃　he　retorted；　〃are　as　bad　as　ninety　million　other
Americans。　You　WON'T　believe！　When　the　Germans　are　shelling　this
hill；　when　they're　taking　your　hunters　to　pull　their　cook…wagons；
maybe；　you'll　believe　THEN。〃

〃Are　you　serious？〃　demanded　Van　Vorst。　〃And　you　an　army　officer？〃

〃That's　why　I　am　serious；〃　returned　McCoy。　〃WE　know。　But　when　we
try　to　prepare　for　what　is　coming；　we　must　do　it　secretlyin
underhand　ways；　for　fear　the　newspapers　will　get　hold　of　it　and
ridicule　us；　and　accuse　us　of　trying　to　drag　the　country　into
war。　That's　why　we　have　to　prepare　under　cover。　That's　why　I've
had　to　skulk　around　these　hills　like　a　chicken　thief。　And；〃　he
added　sharply；　〃that's　why　that　boy　must　not　know　who　I　am。　If　he
does；　the　General　Staff　will　get　a　calling　down　at　Washington；
and　I'll　have　my　ears　boxed。〃

Van　Vorst　moved　to　the　door。

〃He　will　never　learn　the　truth　from　me；〃　he　said。　〃For　I　will
tell　him　you　are　to　be　shot　at　sunrise。〃

〃Good！〃　laughed　the　Captain。　〃And　tell　me　his　name。　If　ever　we
fight　over　Westchester　County；　I　want　that　lad　for　my　chief　of
scouts。　And　give　him　this。　Tell　him　to　buy　a　new　scout　uniform。
Tell　him　it　comes　from　you。〃

But　no　money　could　reconcile　Jimmie　to　the　sentence　imposed　upon
his　captive。　He　received　the　news　with　a　howl　of　anguish。　〃You
mustn't；〃　he　begged；　〃I　never　knowed　you'd　shoot　him！　I　wouldn't
have　caught　him；　if　I'd　knowed　that。　I　couldn't　sleep　if　I
thought　he　was　going　to　be　shot　at　sunrise。〃　At　the　prospect　of
unending　nightmares　Jimmie's　voice　shook　with　terror。　〃Make　it
for　twenty　years；〃　he　begged。　〃Make　it　for　ten；〃　he　coaxed；　〃but；
please；　promise　you　won't　shoot　him。〃

When　Van　Vorst　returned　to　Captain　McCoy；　he　was　smiling；　and　the
butler　who　followed；　bearing　a　tray　and　tinkling　glasses；　was
trying　not　to　smile。

〃I　gave　Jimmie　your　ten　dollars；〃　said　Van　Vorst；　〃and　made　it
twenty；　and　he　has　gone　home。　You　will　be　glad　to　hear　that　he
begged　me　to　spare　your　life；　and　that　your　sentence　has　been
commuted　to　twenty　years　in　a　fortress。　I　drink　to　your　good
fortune。〃

〃No！〃　protested　Captain　McCoy；　〃We　will　drink　to　Jimmie！〃

When　Captain　McCoy　had　driven　away；　and　his　own　car　and　the　golf
clubs　had　again　been　brought　to　the　steps；　Judge　Van　Vorst　once
more　attempted　to　depart；　but　he　was　again　delayed。

Other　visitors　were　arriving。

Up　the　driveway　a　touring…car　approached；　and　though　it　limped　on
a　flat　tire；　it　approached　at　reckless　speed。　The　two　men　in　the
front　seat　were　white　with　dust；　their　faces；　masked　by
automobile　glasses；　were　indistinguishable。　As　though　preparing
for　an　immediate　exit；　the　car　swung　in　a　circle　until　its　nose
pointed　down　the　driveway　up　which　it　had　just　come。　Raising　his
silk　mask　the　one　beside　the　driver　shouted　at　Judge　Van　Vorst。
His　throat　was　parched；　his　voice　was　hoarse　and　hot　with　anger。

〃A　gray　touring…car；〃　he　shouted。　〃It　stopped　here。　We　saw　it
from　that　hill。　Then　the　damn　tire　burst；　and　we　lost　our　way。
Where　did　he　go？〃

〃Who？〃　demanded　Van　Vorst；　stiffly；　〃Captain　McCoy？〃

The　man　exploded　with　an　oath。　The　driver　with　a　shove　of　his
elbow；　silenced　him。

〃Yes；　Captain　McCoy；〃　assented　the　driver　eagerly。　〃Which　way　did
he　go？〃

〃To　New　York；〃　said　Van　Vorst。

The　driver　shrieked　at　his　companion。

〃Then；　he's　doubled　back；〃　he　cried。　〃He's　gone　to　New　Haven。〃　He
stooped　and　threw　in　the　clutch。　The　car　lurched　forward。

A　cold　terror　swept　young　Van　Vorst。

〃What　do　you　want　with　him？〃　he　called　〃Who　are　you？〃

Over　one　shoulder　the　masked　face　glared　at　him。　Above　the　roar
of　the　car　the　words　of　the　driver　were　flung　back。　〃We're　Secret
Service　from　Washington；〃　he　shouted。　〃He's　from　their　embassy。
He's　a　German　spy！〃

Leaping　and　throbbing　at　sixty　miles　an　hour；　the　car　vanished　in
a　curtain　of　white；　whirling　dust。



Chapter　9。　THE　CARD…SHARP

I　had　looked　forward　to　spending　Christmas　with　some　people　in
Suffolk；　and　every　one　in　London　assured　me　that　at　their　house
there　would　be　the　kind　of　a　Christmas　house　party　you　hear　about
but　see　only　in　the　illustrated　Christmas　numbers。　They　promised
mistletoe；　snapdragon；　and　Sir　Roger　de　Coverley。　On　Christmas
morning　we　would　walk　to　church；　after　luncheon　we　would　shoot；
after　dinner　we　would　eat　plum　pudding　floating　in　blazing
brandy；　dance　with　the　servants；　and　listen　to　the　waits　singing
〃God　rest　you；　merry　gentlemen；　let　nothing　you　dismay。〃

To　a　lone　American　bachelor　stranded　in　London　it　sounded　fine。
And　in　my　gratitude　I　had　already　shipped　to　my　hostess；　for　her
children；　of　whose　age；　number；　and　sex　I　was　ignorant；　half　of
Gamage's　dolls；　skees；　and　cricket　bats；　and　those　crackers
that；　when　you　pull　them；　sometimes　explode。　But　it　was　not　to
be。　Most　inconsiderately　my　wealthiest　patient　gained　sufficient
courage　to　consent　to　an　operation；　and　in　all　New　York　would
permit　no　one　to　lay　violent　hands　upon　him　save　myself。　By　cable
I　advised　postponement。　Having　lived　in　lawful　harmony　with　his
appendix　for　fifty　years；　I　thought；　for　one　week　longer　he　might
safely　maintain　the　status　quo。　But　his　cable　in　reply　was　an
ultimatum。　So；　on　Christmas　eve；　instead　of　Hallam　Hall　and　a
Yule　log；　I　was　in　a　gale　plunging　and　pitching　off　the　coast　of
Ireland；　and　the　only　log　on　board　was　the　one　the　captain　kept
to　himself。

I　sat　in　the　smoking…room；　depressed　and　cross；　and　it　must　have
been　on　the　principle　that　misery　loves　company　that　I
foregathered　with　Talbot；　or　rather　that　Talbot　foregathered　with
me。　Certainty；　under　happier　conditions　and　in　haunts　of　men　more
crowded；　the　open…faced　manner　in　which　he　forced　himself　upon　me
would　have　put　me　on　my　guard。　But；　either　out　of　deference　to
the　holiday　spirit；　as　manifested　in　the　fictitious　gayety　of　our
few　fellow…passengers；　or　because　the　young　man　in　a　knowing；
impertinent　way　was　most　amusing；　I　listened　to　him　from　dinner
time　until　midnight；　when　the　chief　officer；　hung　with　snow　and
icicles；　was　blown　in　from　the　deck　and　wished　all　a　merry
Christmas。

Even　after　they　unmasked　Talbot　I　had　neither　the　heart　nor　the
inclination　to　turn　him　down。　Indeed；　had　not　some　of　the
passengers　testified　that　I　belonged　to　a　different　profession；
the　smoking…room　crowd　would　have　quarantined　me　as　his
accomplice。　On　the　first　night　I　met　him　I　was　not　certain
whether　he　was　English　or　giving　an　imitation。　All　the　outward
and　visible　signs　were　English；　but　he　told　me　that；　though　he
had　been　educated　at　Oxford　and　since　then　had　spent　most　of　his
years　in　India；　playing　polo；　he　was　an　American。　He　seemed　to
have　spent　much　time；　and　according　to　himself　much　money；　at　the
French　watering…places　and　on　the　Riviera。　I　felt　sure　that　it
was　in　France　I　had　already　see