the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第42节
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As though in hearty agreement； the naked man burst into a violent fit
of shivering。
〃It wasn't a bath；〃 he gasped。 〃It was a bet！〃
〃A what！〃 exclaimed Fred。 His admiration was increasing。 〃A bet？
Then you are not alone？〃
〃I am NOWdamn them！〃 exclaimed the naked one。 He began again
reluctantly。 〃We saw you from the road； you and a woman； sitting here in
the light from that room。 They bet me I didn't dare strip and swim across
your pond with you sitting so near。 I can see now it was framed up on me
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from the start。 For when I was swimming back I saw them run to where I'd
left my clothes； and then I heard them crank up； and when I got to the
hedge the car was gone！〃
Keep smiled encouragingly。 〃The car！〃 he assented。 〃So you've been
riding around in the moonlight？〃
The other nodded； and was about to speak when there burst in upon
them the roaring scream of the siren。 The note now was of deeper rage；
and came in greater volume。 Between his clinched teeth the naked one
cursed fiercely； and then； as though to avoid further questions； burst into a
fit of coughing。 Trembling and shaking； he drew the canvas cloak closer to
him。 But at no time did his anxious； prying eyes leave the eyes of Keep。
〃Youyou couldn't lend me a suit of clothes could you？〃 he stuttered。
〃Just for to…night？ I'll send them back。 It's all right；〃 he added；
reassuringly。 〃I live near here。〃
With a start Keep raised his eyes； and distressed by his look； the young
man continued less confidently。
〃I don't blame you if you don't believe it；〃 he stammered； 〃seeing me
like this； but I DO live right near here。 Everybody around here knows me；
and I guess you've read about me in the papers； too。 I'mthat is； my name…
…〃 like one about to take a plunge he drew a short breath； and the rat…like
eyes regarded Keep watchfully〃my name is Van Warden。 I'm the one you
read aboutHarryI'm Harry Van Warden！〃
After a pause； slowly and reprovingly Fred shook his head； but his
smile was kindly even regretful； as though he were sorry he could not
longer enjoy the stranger's confidences。
〃My boy！〃 he exclaimed； 〃you're MORE than Van Warden！ You're a
genius！〃 He rose and made a peremptory gesture。 〃Sorry；〃 he said； 〃but
this isn't safe for either of us。 Follow me； and I'll dress you up and send
you where you want to go。〃 He turned and whispered over his shoulder：
〃Some day let me hear from you。 A man with your nerve〃
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
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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。〃
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〃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
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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 convin
