the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第47节
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increased his sense of security。 Their presence seemed to afford a feeling
of security to the prisoner also。 As he brought the car to a halt； he breathed
a sigh。 It was a sigh of deep relief。
Jimmie fell from the tonneau。 In concealing his sense of triumph； he
was not entirety successful。
〃I got him！〃 he cried。 〃I didn't make no mistake about THIS one！〃
〃What one？〃 demanded Van Vorst。
Jimmie pointed dramatically at his prisoner。 With an anxious
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expression the stranger was tenderly fingering the back of his head。 He
seemed to wish to assure himself that it was still there。
〃THAT one！〃 cried Jimmie。 〃He's a German spy！〃
The patience of Judge Van Vorst fell from him。 In his exclamation was
indignation； anger； reproach。
〃Jimmie！〃 he cried。
Jimmie thrust into his hand the map。 It was his 〃Exhibit A。〃 〃Look
what he's wrote；〃 commanded the scout。 〃It's all military words。 And these
are his glasses。 I took 'em off him。 They're made in GERMANY！ I been
stalking him for a week。 He's a spy！〃
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
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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
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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
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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。
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CHAPTER 9。 THE CARD…SHARP
I had looked forward to spending Christmas with some people in
Suffolk； and every one in L
