the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第8节
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and； on the sidewalks； on their way to work； processions of shop…girls
stepped out briskly。 It was the street and the city and the life he had found
fascinating； but now it jarred and affronted him。 A girl he knew had died；
had passed out of his life foreverworse than that had never existed； and
yet the city went or just as though that made no difference； or just as little
difference as it would have made had Sister Anne really lived and really
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died。
At the same early hour； an hour far too early for the rest of the house
party； Anita Flagg and Helen Page； booted and riding…habited； sat alone at
the breakfast table； their tea before them； and in the hands of Anita Flagg
was the DAILY REPUBLIC。 Miss Page had brought the paper to the table
and； with affected indignation at the impertinence of the press； had pointed
at the front…page photograph； but Miss Flagg was not looking at the
photograph； or drinking her tea； or showing in her immediate surroundings
any interest whatsoever。 Instead； her lovely eyes were fastened with
fascination upon the column under the heading 〃The Red Cross Girl〃； and；
as she read； the lovely eyes lost all trace of recent slumber； her lovely lips
parted breathlessly； and on her lovely cheeks the color flowed and faded
and glowed and bloomed。 When she had read as far as a paragraph
beginning； 〃When Sister Anne walked between them those who suffered
raised their eyes to hers as flowers lift their faces to the rain；〃 she dropped
the paper and started for telephone。
〃Any man；〃 cried she； to the mutual discomfort of Helen Page and the
servants； 〃who thinks I'm like that mustn't get away！ I'm not like that and I
know it； but if he thinks so that's all I want。 And maybe I might be like
thatif any man would help。〃
She gave her attention to the telephone and 〃Information。〃 She
demanded to be instantly put into communication with the DAILY
REPUBLIC and Mr。 Sam Ward。 She turned again upon Helen Page。
〃I'm tired of being called a good sport；〃 she protested； 〃by men who
aren't half so good sports as I am。 I'm tired of being talked to about
moneyas though I were a stock…broker。 This man's got a head on his
shoulders； and he's got the shoulders too； and he's got a darned good…
looking head； and he thinks I'm a ministering angel and a saint； and he put
me up on a pedestal and made me dizzyand I like being made dizzy； and
I'm for him！ And I'm going after him！〃
〃Be still！〃 implored Helen Page。 〃Any one might think you meant it！〃
She nodded violently at the discreet backs of the men…servants。
〃Ye gods； Parker！〃 cried Anita Flagg。 〃Does it take three of you to
pour a cup of tea？ Get out of here； and tell everybody that you all three
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caught me in the act of proposing to an American gentleman over the
telephone and that the betting is even that I'll make him marry me！〃
The faithful and sorely tried domestics fled toward the door。 〃And
what's more；〃 Anita hurled after them； 〃get your bets down quick； for after
I meet him the odds will be a hundred to one！〃
Had the REPUBLIC been an afternoon paper； Sam might have been at
the office and might have gone to the telephone； and things might have
happened differently； but； as the REPUBLIC was a morning paper； the
only person in the office was the lady who scrubbed the floors and she
refused to go near the telephone。 So Anita Flagg said； 〃I'll call him up
later；〃 and went happily on her ride； with her heart warm with love for all
the beautiful world； but later it was too late。
To keep himself fit； Sam Ward always walked to the office。 On this
particular morning Hollis Holworthy was walking uptown and they met
opposite the cathedral。
〃You're the very man I want；〃 said Hollworthy joyously 〃you've got
to decide a bet。〃
He turned and fell into step with Sam。
〃It's one I made last night with Anita Flagg。 She thinks you didn't
know who she was yesterday； and I said that was ridiculous。 Of course you
knew。 I bet her a theatre party。〃
To Sam it seemed hardly fair that so soon； before his fresh wound had
even been dressed； it should be torn open by impertinent fingers； but he
had no right to take offense。 How could the man； or any one else； know
what Sister Anne had meant to him？
〃I'm afraid you lose；〃 he said。 He halted to give Holworthy the hint to
leave him； but Holworthy had no such intention。
〃You don't say so！〃 exclaimed that young man。 〃Fancy one of you
chaps being taken in like that。 〃I thought you were taking her ingetting
up a story for the Sunday supplement。〃
Sam shook his head； nodded； and again moved on； but he was not yet
to escape。 〃And； instead of your fooling her；〃 exclaimed Holworthy
incredulously； 〃she was having fun； with you！〃
With difficulty Sam smiled。
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〃So it would seem；〃 he said。
〃She certainly made an awfully funny story of it！〃 exclaimed
Holworthy admiringly。 〃I thought she was making it upshe must have
made some of it up。 She said you asked her to take a day off in New York。
That isn't so is it？〃
〃Yes； that's so。〃
〃By Jove！〃 cried Holworthyand that you invited her to see the
moving…picture shows？〃
Sam； conscious of the dearly bought front row seats in his pocket；
smiled pleasantly。
〃Did she say I said thator you？〃 he asked
〃She did。〃
〃Well； then； I must have said it。〃
Holworthy roared with amusement。
〃And that you invited her to feed peanuts to the monkeys at the Zoo？〃
Sam avoided the little man's prying eyes。
〃Yes； I said that too。〃
〃And I thought she was making it up！〃 exclaimed Holworthy。 〃We did
laugh。 You must see the fun of it yourself。〃
Lest Sam should fail to do so he proceeded to elaborate。
〃You must see the fun in a man trying to make a date with Anita
Flaggjust as if she were nobody！〃
〃I don't think；〃 said Sam； 〃that was my idea。〃 He waved his stick at a
passing taxi。 〃I'm late；〃 he said。 He abandoned Hollis on the sidewalk；
chuckling and grinning with delight； and unconscious of the mischief he
had made。
An hour later at the office； when Sam was waiting for an assignment；
the telephone boy hurried to him； his eyes lit with excitement。
〃You're wanted on the 'phone；〃 he commanded。 His voice dropped to
an awed whisper。 〃Miss Anita Flagg wants to speak to you！〃
The blood ran leaping to Sam's heart and face。 Then he remembered
that this was not Sister Anne who wanted to speak to him； but a woman he
had never met。
〃Say you can't find me；〃 he directed。 The boy gasped； fled； and
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returned precipitately。
〃The lady says she wants your telephone numbersays she must have
it。〃
〃Tell her you don't know it； tell her it's against the rulesand hang up。〃
Ten minutes later the telephone boy； in the strictest confidence； had
informed every member of the local staff that Anita Flaggthe rich； the
beautiful； the daring； the original of the Red Cross story of that morning
had twice called up Sam Ward and by that young man had been thrown
downand thrown hard！
That night Elliott； the managing editor； sent for Sam； and when Sam
entered his office he found also there Walsh； the foreign editor； with whom
he was acquainted only by sight。
Elliott introduced them and told Sam to be seated。
〃Ward；〃 he began abruptly； 〃I'm sorry to lose you； but you've got to go。
It's on account of that story of this morning。〃
Sam made no sign； but he was deeply hurt。 From a paper he had
served so loyally this seemed scurvy treatment。 It struck him also that；
