peace manoeuvres-第2章

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Four　days　of　sun　and　rain；　astride　of　a　bicycle；　without　food　or
sleep；　had　drawn　his　face　into　fine；　hard　lines；　had　bronzed　it
with　a　healthy　tan。　　His　uniform；　made　by　the　same　tailor　that
fitted　him　with　polo　breeches；　clung　to　him　like　a　jersey。　　The
spectacle　he　presented　was　that　of　an　extremely　picturesque；
handsome；　manly　youth；　and　of　that　fact　no　one　was　better　aware
than　himself。

〃Look　at　me；〃　he　begged；　sadly。

Miss　Farrar　was　entirely　unimpressed。

〃I　am！〃　she　returned；　coldly。　　〃I　never　saw　you　looking　so　well
and　you　know　it。〃　　She　gave　a　gasp　of　comprehension。　　〃You　came
here　because　you　knew　your　uniform　was　becoming！〃

Lathrop　regarded　himself　complacently。

〃Yes；　isn't　it？〃　he　assented。　　〃I　brought　on　this　war　in　order　to
wear　it。　　If　you　don't　mind；〃　he　added；　〃I　think　I'll　accept　your
invitation　and　come　inside。　　I've　had　nothing　to　eat　in　four　days。〃

Miss　Farrar's　eyes　flashed　indignantly。

〃You're　NOT　coming　inside；〃　she　declared；　〃but　if　you'll　only
promise　to　go　away　at　once；　I'll　bring　you　everything　in　the
house。〃

〃In　that　house；〃　exclaimed　Lathrop；　dramatically；　〃there's　only　one
thing　that　I　desire；　and　I　want　that　so　badly　that　'life　holds　no
charm　without　you。'〃

Miss　Farrar　regarded　him　steadily。

〃Do　you　intend　to　drive　me　away　from　my　own　door；　or　will　you　go？〃

Lathrop　picked　his　wheel　out　of　the　dust。

〃Good…by；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　come　back　when　you　have　made　up　your
mind。〃

In　vexation　Miss　Farrar　stamped　her　foot　upon　the　path。

〃I　HAVE　made　up　my　mind！〃　she　protested。

〃Then；〃　returned　Lathrop；　〃I'll　come　back　when　you　have　changed
it。〃

He　made　a　movement　as　though　to　ride　away；　but　much　to　Miss
Farrar's　dismay；　hastily　dismounted。　　〃On　second　thoughts；〃　he
said；　〃it　isn't　right　for　me　to　leave　you。　　The　woods　are　full　of
tramps　and　hangers…on　of　the　army。　　You're　not　safe。　　I　can　watch
this　road　from　here　as　well　as　from　anywhere　else；　and　at　the　same
time　I　can　guard　you。〃

To　the　consternation　of　Miss　Farrar　he　placed　his　bicycle　against
the　fence；　and；　as　though　preparing　for　a　visit；　leaned　his　elbows
upon　it。

〃I　do　not　wish　to　be　rude；〃　said　Miss　Farrar；　〃but　you　are　annoying
me。　　I　have　spent　fifteen　summers　in　Massachusetts；　and　I　have
never　seen　a　tramp。　　I　need　no　one　to　guard　me。〃

〃If　not　you；〃　said　Lathrop　easily；　〃then　the　family　silver。　　And
think　of　your　jewels；　and　your　mother's　jewels。　　Think　of　yourself
in　a　house　filled　with　jewels；　and　entirely　surrounded　by　hostile
armies！　　My　duty　is　to　remain　with　you。〃

Miss　Farrar　was　so　long　in　answering；　that　Lathrop　lifted　his　head
and　turned　to　look。　　He　found　her　frowning　and　gazing　intently　into
the　shadow　of　the　woods；　across　the　road。　　When　she　felt　his　eyes
upon　her　she　turned　her　own　guiltily　upon　him。　　Her　cheeks　were
flushed　and　her　face　glowed　with　some　unusual　excitement。

〃I　wish；〃　she　exclaimed　breathlessly〃I　wish；〃　she　repeated；　〃the
Reds　would　take　you　prisoner！〃

〃Take　me　where？〃　asked　Lathrop。

〃Take　you　anywhere！〃　cried　Miss　Farrar。　　〃You　should　be　ashamed　to
talk　to　me　when　you　should　be　looking　for　the　enemy！〃

〃I　am　WAITING　for　the　enemy；〃　explained　Lathrop。　　〃It's　the　same
thing。〃

Miss　Farrar　smiled　vindictively。　　Her　eyes　shone。　　〃You　need　not
wait　long；〃　she　said。　　There　was　a　crash　of　a　falling　stone　wall；
and　of　parting　bushes；　but　not　in　time　to　give　Lathrop　warning。　　As
though　from　the　branches　of　the　trees　opposite　two　soldiers　fell
into　the　road；　around　his　hat　each　wore　the　red　band　of　the
invader；　each　pointed　his　rifle　at　Lathrop。

〃Hands　up！〃　shouted　one。　　〃You're　my　prisoner！〃　cried　the　other。

Mechanically　Lathrop　raised　his　hands；　but　his　eyes　turned　to　Miss
Farrar。

〃Did　you　know？〃　he　asked。

〃I　have　been　watching　them；〃　she　said；　〃creeping　up　on　you　for　the
last　ten　minutes。〃

Lathrop　turned　to　the　two　soldiers；　and　made　an　effort　to　smile。

〃That　was　very　clever；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　have　twenty　men　up　the
road；　and　behind　them　a　regiment。　　You　had　better　get　away　while
you　can。〃

The　two　Reds　laughed　derisively。　　One；　who　wore　the　stripes　of　a
sergeant；　answered：　〃That　won't　do！　　We　been　a　mile　up　the　road；
and　you　and　us　are　the　only　soldiers　on　it。　　Gimme　the　gun！〃

Lathrop　knew　he　had　no　right　to　refuse。　　He　had　been　fairly
surprised；　but　he　hesitated。　　When　Miss　Farrar　was　not　in　his　mind
his　amateur　soldiering　was　to　him　a　most　serious　proposition。　　The
war　game　was　a　serious　proposition；　and　that；　through　his　failure
for　ten　minutes　to　regard　it　seriously；　he　had　been　made　a
prisoner；　mortified　him　keenly。　　That　his　humiliation　had　taken
place　in　the　presence　of　Beatrice　Farrar　did　not　lessen　his
discomfort；　nor　did　the　explanation　he　must　later　make　to　his
captain　afford　him　any　satisfaction。　　Already　he　saw　himself
playing　the　star　part　in　a　court…martial。　　He　shrugged　his
shoulders　and　surrendered　his　gun。

As　he　did　so　he　gloomily　scrutinized　the　insignia　of　his　captors。

〃Who　took　me？〃　he　asked。

〃WE　took　you；〃　exclaimed　the　sergeant。

〃What　regiment？〃　demanded　Lathrop；　sharply。　　〃I　have　to　report　who
took　me；　and　you　probably　don't　know　it；　but　your　collar　ornaments
are　upside　down。〃　　With　genuine　exasperation　he　turned　to　Miss
Farrar。

〃Lord！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃isn't　it　bad　enough　to　be　taken　prisoner；
without　being　taken　by　raw　recruits　that　can't　put　on　their
uniforms？〃

The　Reds　flushed；　and　the　younger；　a　sandy…haired；　rat…faced　youth；
retorted　angrily：　〃Mebbe　we　ain't　strong　on　uniforms；　beau；〃　he
snarled；　〃but　you've　got　nothing　on　us　yet；　that　I　can　see。　　You
look　pretty　with　your　hands　in　the　air；　don't　you？〃

〃Shut　up；〃　commanded　the　other　Red。　　He　was　the　older　man；　heavily
built；　with　a　strong；　hard　mouth　and　chin；　on　which　latter　sprouted
a　three　days'　iron…gray　beard。　　〃Don't　you　see　he's　an　officer？
Officers　don't　like　being　took　by　two…spot　privates。〃

Lathrop　gave　a　sudden　start。　　〃Why；〃　he　laughed；　incredulously；
〃don't　you　know〃　　He　stopped；　and　his　eyes　glanced　quickly　up　and
down　the　road。

〃Don't　we　know　what？〃　demanded　the　older　Red；　suspiciously。

〃I　forgot；〃　said　Lathrop。　　〃II　must　not　give　information　to　the
enemy〃

For　an　instant　there　was　a　pause；　while　the　two　Reds　stood
irresolute。　　Then　the　older　nodded　the　other　to　the　side　of　the
road；　and　in　whispers　they　consulted　eagerly。

Miss　Farrar　laughed；　and　Lathrop　moved　toward　her。

〃I　deserve　worse　than　being　laughed　at；〃　he　said。　　〃I　made　a
strategic　mistake。　　I　should　not　have　tried　to　capture　you　and　an
army　corps　at　the　same　time。〃

〃You；〃　she　taunted；　〃who　were　always　so　keen　on　soldiering；　to　be
taken　prisoner；〃　she　lowered　her　voice；　〃and　by　men　like　that！
Aren't　they　funny？〃　she　whispered；　〃and　East　Side　and　Tenderloin！
It　made　me　homesick　to　hear　them！　　I　think　when　not　in　uniform　the
little　one　drives　a　taxicab；　and　the　big　one　is　a　guard　on　the
elevated。〃

〃They　certainly　are　very　'New　York；'〃　assented　Lathrop；　〃and　very
tough。〃

〃I　thought；〃　whispered　Miss　Farrar；　〃those　from　New　York　with　the
Red　Army　were　picked　men。〃

〃What　does　it　matter？〃　exclaimed　Lathrop。　　〃It's　just　as
humiliating　to　be　captured　by　a　ballroom　boy　as　by　a　mere
millionaire！　　I　can't　insist　on　the　invading　army　being　entirely
recruited　from　Harvard　graduates。〃

The　two　Reds　either　had　reached　a　decision；　or　agreed　that　they
could　not　agree；　for　they　ceased　whispering；　and　crossed　to　where
Lathrop　stood。

〃We　been　talking　over　your　case；〃　explained　the　sergeant；　〃and　we
see　we　are　in　wrong。　　We　see　we　made　a　mistake　in　taking　you
prisoner。　　We　had　ought　to　shot　you　dead。　　So　now　we're　going　to
shoot　you　dead。〃

〃You　can't！〃　objected　Lathrop。　　〃It's　too　late。　　You　should　have
thought　of　that　sooner。〃

〃I　know；〃　admitted　the　sergeant；　〃but　a　prisoner　is　a　hell　of　a
nuisance。　　If　you　got　a　prisoner　to　look　after　you　can't　do　your
own　work；　you　got　to　keep　tabs　on　him。　　And　there　ain't　nothing　in
it　for　the　prisoner；　neither。　　If　we　take　you；　you'll　have　to　tramp
all　the　way　to　our　army；　and　all　the　way　back。　　But；　if　you're
dead；　how　different！　　You　ain't　no　bother　to　anybody。　　You　got　a
half　holiday　all　to　yourself；　and　you　can　loaf　around　the　camp；　so
dead　that　they　can't　make　you　work；　but　not　so　dead　you　can't　smoke
or　eat。〃　　The　sergeant　smiled　ingratiatingly。　　In　a　tempting　manner
he　exhibited　his　rifle。　　〃Better　be　dead；〃　he　urged。

〃I'd　like　to　oblige　you；〃　said　Lathrop；　〃but　it's　against　the
rules。　　You　CAN'T　shoot　a　prisoner。〃

The　rat…faced　soldier　uttered　an　angry　exclamation。　　〃To　hell　with
the　rules！〃　he　cried。　　〃We　can't　waste　time　on　him。　　Turn　him
loose！〃

The　older　man　rounded　on　the　little　one　savagely。　　The　tone　in
which　he　addressed　him　was　cold；　menacing；　sinister。　　His　words
were　simple；　but　his　eyes　and　face　were　heavy　with　warning。

〃Who　is　running　this？〃　he　asked。

The　little　soldier　muttered；　and　shuffled　away。　　From　under　the
brim　of　his　campaign　hat；　his　eyes　cast　furtive　glances　up　and　down
the　road。　　As　though　anxious　to　wipe　out　the　effect　of　his
comrade's　words；　the　sergeant　addressed　Lathrop　suavely　and　in　a
tone　of　conciliation。

〃You　see；〃　he　explained；　〃him　and　me　are　scouts。　　We're　not
supposed　to　waste　time　taking　prisoners。　　So；　we'll　set　you　free。〃
He　waved　his　hand　invitingly　toward　the　bicycle。　　〃You　can　go！〃　he
said。

To　Miss　Farrar's　indignation　Lathrop；　instead　of　accepting　his
freedom；　remained　motionless。

〃I　can't！〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　on　post。　　My　captain　ordered　me　to　stay
in　front　of　this　house　until　I　was　relieved。〃

Miss　Farrar；　amazed　at　such　duplicity；　exclaimed　aloud：

〃He　is　NOT　on　post！〃　she　protested。　　〃He's　a　scout！　　He　wants　to
stop　here；　becausebecausehe's　hungry。　　I　wouldn't　have　let　you
take　him　prisoner；　if　I　had　not　thought　you　would　take　him　away
with　you。〃　　She　appealed　to　the　sergeant。　　〃PLEASE　take　him　away；〃
she　begged。

The　sergeant　turned　sharply　upon　his　prisoner。

〃Why　don't　you　do　what　the　lady　wants？〃　he　demanded。

〃Because　I've　got　to　do　what　my　captain　wants；〃　returned　Lathrop；
〃and　he　put　me　on　sentry…go；　in　front　of　this　house。〃

With　the　back　of　his　hand；　the　sergeant　fretfully　scraped　the　three
days'　growth　on　his　chin。　　〃There's　nothing　to　it；〃　he　exclaimed；
〃but　for　to　take　him　with　us。　　When　we　meet　some　more　Reds　we'll
turn　him　over。　　Fall　in！〃　he　commanded。

〃No！〃　protested　Lathrop。　　〃I　don't　want　to　be　turned　over。　　I've
got　a　much　better　plan。　　YOU　don't　want　to　be　bothered　with　a
prisoner。　　I　don't　want　to　be　a　prisoner。　　As　you　say；　I　am　better
dead。　　You　can't　shoot　a　prisoner；　but　if　he　tries　to　escape　you
can。　　I'll　try　to　escape。　　You　shoot　me。　　Then　I　return　to　my　own
army；　and　report　myself　dead。　　That　ends　your　difficulty　and　saves
me　from　a　court…martial。　　They　can't　court…martial　a　corpse。〃

The　face　of　the　sergeant　flashed　with　relief　and　satisfaction。　　In
his　anxiety　to　rid　himself　of　his　prisoner；　he　lifted　the　bicycle
into　the　road　and　held　it　in　readiness。

〃You're　all　right！〃　he　said；　heartily。　　〃You　can　make　your　getaway
as　quick　as　you　like。〃

But　to　the　conspiracy　Miss　Farrar　refused　to　lend　herself。

〃How　do　you　know；〃　she　demanded；　〃that　he　will　keep　his　promis