peace manoeuvres-第4节

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tell！〃　　Again　he　sank　from　sight。

Miss　Farrar　now　was　more　than　bored；　she　was　annoyed。　　Why　grown
men　should　play　at　war　so　seriously　she　could　not　understand。　　It
was　absurd！　　She　no　longer　would　remain　a　party　to　it；　and；　lest
the　men　in　the　car　might　involve　her　still　further；　she　retreated
hastily　toward　the　house。　　As　she　opened　the　door　the　car　halted　at
the　gate；　and　voices　called　to　her；　but　she　pretended　not　to　hear
them；　and　continued　up　the　stairs。　　Behind　her　the　car　passed
noisily　on　its　way。

She　mounted　the　stairs；　and　crossing　a　landing　moved　down　a　long
hall；　at　the　further　end　of　which　was　her　bedroom。　　The　hall　was
uncarpeted；　but　the　tennis　shoes　she　wore　made　no　sound；　nor　did
the　door　of　her　bedroom　when　she　pushed　it　open。

On　the　threshold　Miss　Farrar　stood　quite　still。　　A　swift；　sinking
nausea　held　her　in　a　vice。　　Her　instinct　was　to　scream　and　run；　but
her　throat　had　tightened　and　gone　dry；　and　her　limbs　trembled。
Opposite　the　door　was　her　dressing…table；　and　reflected　in　its
mirror　were　the　features　and　figure　of　the　rat…like　soldier。　　His
back　was　toward　her。　　With　one　hand　he　swept　the　dressing…table。
The　other；　hanging　at　his　side；　held　a　revolver。　　In　a　moment　the
panic　into　which　Miss　Farrar　had　been　thrown　passed。　　Her　breath
and　blood　returned；　and；　intent　only　on　flight；　she　softly　turned。
On　the　instant　the　rat…faced　one　raised　his　eyes；　saw　her　reflected
in　the　mirror；　and　with　an　oath；　swung　toward　her。　　He　drew　the
revolver　close　to　his　cheek；　and　looked　at　her　down　the　barrel。
〃Don't　move！〃　he　whispered；　〃don't　scream！　　Where　are　the　jewels？〃

Miss　Farrar　was　not　afraid　of　the　revolver　or　of　the　man。　　She　did
not　believe　either　would　do　her　harm。　　The　idea　of　both　the
presence　of　the　man　in　her　room；　and　that　any　one　should　dare　to
threaten　her　was　what　filled　her　with　repugnance。　　As　the　warm
blood　flowed　again　through　her　body　her　spirit　returned。　　She　was
no　longer　afraid。　　She　was；　instead；　indignant；　furious。

With　one　step　she　was　in　the　room；　leaving　the　road　to　the　door
open。

〃Get　out　of　here；〃　she　commanded。

The　little　man　snarled；　and　stamped　the　floor。　　He　shoved　the　gun
nearer　to　her。

〃The　jewels；　damn　you！〃　he　whispered。　　〃Do　you　want　me　to　blow　your
fool　head　off？　　Where　are　the　jewels？〃

〃Jewels？〃　repeated　Miss　Farrar。　　〃I　have　no　jewels！〃

〃You　lie！〃　shrieked　the　little　man。　　〃He　said　the　house　was　full　of
jewels。　　We　heard　him。　　He　said　he　would　stay　to　guard　the　jewels。〃

Miss　Farrar　recognized　his　error。　　She　remembered　Lathrop's　jest；
and　that　it　had　been　made　while　the　two　men　were　within　hearing；
behind　the　stone　wall。

〃It　was　a　joke！〃　she　cried。　　〃Leave　at　once！〃　　She　backed　swiftly
toward　the　open　window　that　looked　upon　the　road。　　〃Or　I'll　call
your　sergeant！〃

〃If　you　go　near　that　window　or　scream；〃　whispered　the　rat…like　one；
〃I'll　shoot！〃

A　heavy　voice；　speaking　suddenly　from　the　doorway；　shook　Miss
Farrar's　jangled　nerves　into　fresh　panic。

〃She　won't　scream；〃　said　the　voice。

In　the　door　Miss　Farrar　saw　the　bulky　form　of　the　sergeant；
blocking　her　escape。

Without　shifting　his　eyes　from　Miss　Farrar；　the　man　with　the　gun
cursed　breathlessly　at　the　other。　　〃Why　didn't　you　keep　her　away？〃
he　panted。

〃An　automobile　stopped　in　front　of　the　gate；〃　explained　the
sergeant。　　〃Have　you　got　them？〃　he　demanded。

〃No！〃　returned　the　other。　　〃Nothing！　　She　won't　tell　where　they
are。〃

The　older　man　laughed。　　〃Oh；　yes；　she'll　tell；〃　he　whispered。　　His
voice　was　still　low　and　suave；　but　it　carried　with　it　the　weight　of
a　threat；　and　the　threat；　although　unspoken；　filled　Miss　Farrar
with　alarm。　　Her　eyes；　wide　with　concern；　turned　fearfully　from　one
man　to　the　other。

The　sergeant　stretched　his　hands　toward　her；　the　fingers　working
and　making　clutches　in　the　air。　　The　look　in　his　eyes　was　quite
terrifying。

〃If　you　don't　tell；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃I'll　choke　it　out　of　you！〃

If　his　intention　was　to　frighten　the　girl；　he　succeeded　admirably。
With　her　hands　clasped　to　her　throat；　Miss　Farrar　sank　against　the
wall。　　She　saw　no　chance　of　escape。　　The　way　to　the　door　was
barred；　and　should　she　drop　to　the　garden　below；　from　the　window；
before　she　could　reach　the　road　the　men　would　overtake　her。　　Even
should　she　reach　the　road；　the　house　nearest　was　a　half　mile
distant。

The　sergeant　came　close；　his　fingers　opening　and　closing　in　front
of　her　eyes。　　He　raised　his　voice　to　a　harsh；　bellowing　roar。　　〃I'm
going　to　make　you　tell！〃　he　shouted。　　〃I'm　going　to　choke　it　out　of
you！〃

Although　she　was　alone　in　the　house；　although　on　every　side　the
pine　woods　encompassed　her；　Miss　Farrar　threw　all　her　strength　into
one　long；　piercing　cry　for　help。　　And　upon　the　instant　it　was
answered。　　From　the　hall　came　the　swift　rush　of　feet。　　The　rat…like
one　swung　toward　it。　　From　his　revolver　came　a　report　that　shook
the　room；　a　flash　and　a　burst　of　smoke；　and　through　it　Miss　Farrar
saw　Lathrop　hurl　himself。　　He　dived　at　the　rat…like　one；　and　as　on
the　foot…ball　field　he　had　been　taught　to　stop　a　runner；　flung　his
arms　around　the　other's　knees。　　The　legs　of　the　man　shot　from　under
him；　his　body　cut　a　half　circle　through　the　air；　and　the　part　of
his　anatomy　to　first　touch　the　floor　was　his　head。　　The　floor　was
of　oak；　and　the　impact　gave　forth　a　crash　like　the　smash　of　a　base…
ball　bat；　when　it　drives　the　ball　to　centre　field。　　The　man　did　not
move。　　He　did　not　even　groan。　　In　his　relaxed　fingers　the　revolver
lay；　within　reach　of　Lathrop's　hand。　　He　fell　upon　it　and；　still　on
his　knees；　pointed　it　at　the　sergeant。

〃You're　MY　prisoner；　now！〃　he　shouted　cheerfully。　　〃Hands　up！〃

The　man　raised　his　arms　slowly；　as　if　he　were　lifting　heavy　dumb…
bells。

〃The　lady　called　for　help；〃　he　said。　　〃I　came　to　help　her。〃

〃No！　　No！〃　protested　the　girl。　　〃He　did　NOT　help　me！　　He　said　he
would　choke　me　if　I　didn't〃

〃He　said　he　wouldwhat！〃　bellowed　Lathrop。　　He　leaped　to　his　feet；
and　sent　the　gun　spinning　through　the　window。　　He　stepped　toward
the　man　gingerly；　on　the　balls　of　his　feet；　like　one　walking　on
ice。　　The　man　seemed　to　know　what　that　form　of　approach　threatened；
for　he　threw　his　arms　into　a　position　of　defence。

〃You　bully！〃　whispered　Lathrop。　　〃You　coward！　　You　choke　women；　do
you？〃

He　shifted　from　one　foot　to　the　other；　his　body　balancing　forward；
his　arms　swinging　limply　in　front　of　him。　　With　his　eyes；　he　seemed
to　undress　the　man；　as　though　choosing　a　place　to　strike。

〃I　made　the　same　mistake　you　did；〃　he　taunted。　　〃I　should　have
killed　you　first。　　Now　I　am　going　to　do　it！〃

He　sprang　at　the　man；　his　chin　still　sunk　on　his　chest；　but　with
his　arms　swinging　like　the　spokes　of　a　wheel。　　His　opponent　struck
back　heavily；　violently；　but　each　move　of　his　arm　seemed　only　to
open　up　some　vulnerable　spot。　　Blows　beat　upon　his　chin；　upon　his
nose；　his　eyes；　blows　jabbed　him　in　the　ribs；　drove　his　breath　from
his　stomach；　ground　his　teeth　together；　cut　the　flesh　from　his
cheeks。　　He　sank　to　his　knees；　with　his　arms　clasping　his　head。

〃Get　up！〃　roared　Lathrop。　　〃Stand　up　to　it；　you　coward！〃

But　the　man　had　no　idea　of　standing　up　to　it。　　Howling　with　pain；
he　scrambled　toward　the　door；　and　fled　staggering　down　the　hall。

At　the　same　moment　the　automobile　that　a　few　minutes　before　had
passed　up　the　road　came　limping　to　the　gate；　and　a　half…dozen　men
in　uniform　sprang　out　of　it。　　From　the　window　Lathrop　saw　them
spread　across　the　lawn　and　surround　the　house。

〃They've　got　him！〃　he　said。　　He　pointed　to　the　prostrate　figure　on
the　floor。　　〃He　and　the　other　one；〃　he　explained；　breathlessly；
〃are　New　York　crooks！　　They　have　been　looting　in　the　wake　of　the
Reds；　disguised　as　soldiers。　　I　knew　they　weren't　even　amateur
soldiers　by　the　mistakes　in　their　make…up；　and　I　made　that　bluff　of
riding　away　so　as　to　give　them　time　to　show　what　the　game　was。
Then；　that　provost　guard　in　the　motor　car　stopped　me；　and　when　they
said　who　they　were　after；　I　ordered　them　back　here。　　But　they　had　a
flat　tire；　and　my　bicycle　beat　them。〃

In　his　excitement　he　did　not　notice　that　the　girl　was　not
listening；　that　she　was　very　pale；　that　she　was　breathing　quickly；
and　trembling。

〃I'll　go　tell　them；〃　he　added；　〃that　the　other　one　they　want　is　up
here。〃

Miss　Farrar's　strength　instantly　returned。

With　a　look　of　terror　at　the　now　groaning　figure　on　the　floor；　she
sprang　toward　Lathrop；　with　both　hands　clutching　him　by　his
sleeves。

〃You　will　NOT！〃　she　commanded。　　〃You　will　not　leave　me　alone！〃

Appealingly　she　raised　her　face　to　his　startled　countenance。　　With
a　burst　of　tears　she　threw　herself　into　his　arms。　　〃I'm　afraid！〃
she　sobbed。　　〃Don't　leave　me。　　Please；　no　matter　what　I　say；　never
leave　me　again！〃

Between　bewilderment　and　joy；　the　face　of　Lathrop　was
unrecognizable。　　As　her　words　reached　him；　as　he　felt　the　touch　of
her　body　in　his　arms；　and　her　warm；　wet　cheek　against　his　own；　he
drew　a　deep　sigh　of　content；　and　then；　fearfully　and　tenderly；　held
her　close。

After　a　pause；　in　which　peace　came　to　all　the　world；　he　raised　his
head。

〃Don't　worry！〃　he　said。　　〃You　can　BET　I　won't　leave　you！〃






End