peace manoeuvres-第3章

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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　promise？
He　may　not　go　back　to　his　own　army。　　He　can　be　just　as　dead　on　my
lawn　as　anywhere　else！〃

Lathrop　shook　his　head　at　her　sadly。

〃How　you　wrong　me！〃　he　protested。　　〃How　dare　you　doubt　the　promise
of　a　dying　man？　　These　are　really　my　last　words；　and　I　wish　I　could
think　of　something　to　say　suited　to　the　occasion；　but　the　presence
of　strangers　prevents。〃

He　mounted　his　bicycle。　　〃'If　I　had　a　thousand　lives　to　give；'〃　he
quoted　with　fervor；　〃'I'd　give　them　all　to'〃　he　hesitated；　and
smiled　mournfully　on　Miss　Farrar。　　Seeing　her　flushed　and　indignant
countenance；　he　added；　with　haste；　〃to　the　Commonwealth　of
Massachusetts！〃

As　he　started　on　his　wheel　slowly　down　the　path；　he　turned　to　the
sergeant。

〃I'm　escaping；〃　he　explained。　　The　Reds；　with　an　enthusiasm
undoubtedly　genuine；　raised　their　rifles；　and　the　calm　of　the
Indian　summer　was　shattered　by　two　sharp　reports。　　Lathrop；　looking
back　over　his　shoulder；　waved　one　hand　reassuringly。

〃Death　was　instantaneous；〃　he　called。　　He　bent　his　body　over　the
handle…bar；　and　they　watched　him　disappear　rapidly　around　the　turn
in　the　road。

Miss　Farrar　sighed　with　relief。

〃Thank　you　very　much；〃　she　said。

As　though　signifying　that　to　oblige　a　woman　he　would　shoot　any
number　of　prisoners；　the　sergeant　raised　his　hat。

〃Don't　mention　it；　lady；〃　he　said。　　〃I　seen　he　was　annoying　you；
and　that's　why　I　got　rid　of　him。　　Some　of　them　amateur　soldiers；　as
soon　as　they　get　into　uniform；　are　too　fresh。　　He　took　advantage　of
you　because　your　folks　were　away　from　home。　　But　don't　you　worry
about　that。　　I'll　guard　this　house　until　your　folks　get　back。〃

Miss　Farrar　protested　warmly。

〃Really！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃I　need　no　one　to　guard　me。〃

But　the　soldier　was　obdurate。　　He　motioned　his　comrade　down　the
road。

〃Watch　at　the　turn；〃　he　ordered；　〃he　may　come　back　or　send　some　of
the　Blues　to　take　us。　　I'll　stay　here　and　protect　the　lady。〃

Again　Miss　Farrar　protested；　but　the　sergeant；　in　a　benign　and
fatherly　manner；　smiled　approvingly。　　Seating　himself　on　the　grass
outside　the　fence；　he　leaned　his　back　against　the　gatepost；
apparently　settling　himself　for　conversation。

〃Now；　how　long　might　it　have　been；〃　he　asked；　〃before　we　showed　up；
that　you　seen　us？〃

〃I　saw　you；〃　Miss　Farrar　said；　〃when　Mr。when　that　bicycle　scout
was　talking　to　me。　　I　saw　the　red　bands　on　your　hats　among　the
bushes。〃

The　sergeant　appeared　interested。

〃But　why　didn't　you　let　on　to　him？〃

Miss　Farrar　laughed　evasively。

〃Maybe　because　I　am　from　New　York；　too；〃　she　said。　　〃Perhaps　I
wanted　to　see　soldiers　from　my　city　take　a　prisoner。〃

They　were　interrupted　by　the　sudden　appearance　of　the　smaller
soldier。　　On　his　rat…like　countenance　was　written　deep　concern。

〃When　I　got　to　the　turn；〃　he　began；　breathlessly；　〃I　couldn't　see
him。　　Where　did　he　go？　　Did　he　double　back　through　the　woods；　or
did　he　have　time　to　ride　out　of　sight　before　I　got　there？〃

The　reappearance　of　his　comrade　affected　the　sergeant　strangely。
He　sprang　to　his　feet；　his　under　jaw　protruding　truculently；　his
eyes　flashing　with　anger。

〃Get　back；〃　he　snarled。　　〃Do　what　I　told　you！〃

Under　his　breath　he　muttered　words　that；　to　Miss　Farrar；　were
unintelligible。　　The　little　rat…like　man　nodded；　and　ran　from　them
down　the　road。　　The　sergeant　made　an　awkward　gesture　of　apology。

〃Excuse　me；　lady；〃　he　begged；　〃but　it　makes　me　hot　when　them
rookies　won't　obey　orders。　　You　see；〃　he　ran　on　glibly；　〃I'm　a
reg'lar；　served　three　years　in　the　Philippines；　and　I　can't　get
used　to　not　having　my　men　do　what　I　say。〃

Miss　Farrar　nodded；　and　started　toward　the　house。　　The　sergeant
sprang　quickly　across　the　road。

〃Have　you　ever　been　in　the　Philippines；　Miss？〃　he　called。　　〃It's　a
great　country。〃

Miss　Farrar　halted　and　shook　her　head。　　She　was　considering　how　far
politeness　required　of　her　to　entertain　unshaven　militiamen；　who
insisted　on　making　sentries　of　themselves　at　her　front　gate。

The　sergeant　had　plunged　garrulously　into　a　confusing　description
of　the　Far　East。　　He　was　clasping　the　pickets　of　the　fence　with　his
hands；　and　his　eyes　were　fastened　on　hers。　　He　lacked　neither
confidence　nor　vocabulary；　and　not　for　an　instant　did　his　tongue
hesitate　or　his　eyes　wander；　and　yet　in　his　manner　there　was
nothing　at　which　she　could　take　offence。　　He　appeared　only　amiably
vain　that　he　had　seen　much　of　the　world；　and　anxious　to　impress
that　fact　upon　another。　　Miss　Farrar　was　bored；　but　the　man　gave
her　no　opportunity　to　escape。　　In　consequence　she　was　relieved　when
the　noisy　approach　of　an　automobile　brought　him　to　an　abrupt　pause。
Coming　rapidly　down　the　road　was　a　large　touring…car；　filled　with
men　in　khaki。　　The　sergeant　gave　one　glance　at　it；　and　leaped
across　the　road；　taking　cover　behind　the　stone　wall。　　Instantly　he
raised　his　head　above　it　and　shook　his　fist　at　Miss　Farrar。

〃Don't　tell；〃　he　commanded。　　〃They're　Blues　in　that　car！　　Don't
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　f