the red cross girl-第24章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


to　the　studio。　Philip　made　no　effort　to　follow　and　to　explain。
What　was　there　to　explain？　How　could　he　explain　that　which；　to
himself；　was　unbelievable？　Besides；　the　girl　had　served　her
purpose。　If　he　could　read　the　mind　of　one；　he　could　read　the
minds　of　all。　By　some　unexplainable　miracle；　to　his　ordinary
equipment　of　senses　a　sixth　had　been　added。　As　easily　as；　before
that　morning；　he　could　look　into　the　face　of　a　fellow…mortal；　he
now　could　look　into　the　workings　of　that　fellow…mortal's　mind。
The　thought　was　appalling。　It　was　like　living　with　one's　ear　to　a
key…hole。　In　his　dismay　his　first　idea　was　to　seek　medical
advicethe　best　in　London。　He　turned　instantly　in　the　direction
of　Harley　Street。　There；　he　determined；　to　the　most　skilled
alienist　in　town　he　would　explain　his　strange　plight。　For　only　as
a　misfortune　did　the　miracle　appear　to　him。　But　as　he　made　his
way　through　the　streets　his　pace　slackened。

Was　he　wise；　he　asked　himself；　in　allowing　others　to　know　he
possessed　this　strange　power？　Would　they　not　at　once　treat　him　as
a　madman？　Might　they　not　place　him　under　observation；　or　even
deprive　him　of　his　liberty？　At　the　thought　he　came　to　an　abrupt
halt　His　own　definition　of　the　miracle　as　a　〃power〃　had　opened　a
new　line　of　speculation。　If　this　strange　gift　（already　he　was
beginning　to　consider　it　more　leniently）　were　concealed　from
others；　could　he　not　honorably　put　it　to　some　useful　purpose？
For；　among　the　blind；　the　man　with　one　eye　is　a　god。　Was　not
heamong　all　other　men　the　only　one　able　to　read　the　minds　of
all　other　mena　god？　Turning　into　Bruton　Street；　he　paced　its
quiet　length　considering　the　possibilities　that　lay　within　him。

It　was　apparent　that　the　gift　would　lead　to　countless
embarrassments。　If　it　were　once　known　that　he　possessed　it；　would
not　even　his　friends　avoid　him？　For　how　could　any　one；　knowing
his　most　secret　thought　was　at　the　mercy　of　another；　be　happy　in
that　other's　presence？　His　power　would　lead　to　his　social
ostracism。　Indeed；　he　could　see　that　his　gift　might　easily　become
a　curse。　He　decided　not　to　act　hastily；　that　for　the　present　he
had　best　give　no　hint　to　others　of　his　unique　power。

As　the　idea　of　possessing　this　power　became　more　familiar；　he
regarded　it　with　less　aversion。　He　began　to　consider　to　what
advantage　he　could　place　it。　He　could　see　that；　given　the　right
time　and　the　right　man；　he　might　learn　secrets　leading　to
far…reaching　results。　To　a　statesman；　to　a　financier；　such　a　gift
as　he　possessed　would　make　him　a　ruler　of　men。　Philip　had　no
desire　to　be　a　ruler　of　men；　but　he　asked　himself　how　could　he
bend　this　gift　to　serve　his　own？　What　he　most　wished　was　to　marry
Helen　Carey；　and；　to　that　end；　to　possess　money。　So　he　must　meet
men　who　possessed　money；　who　were　making　money。　He　would　put
questions　to　them。　And　with　words　they　would　give　evasive
answers；　but　their　minds　would　tell　him　the　truth。

The　ethics　of　this　procedure　greatly　disturbed　him。　Certainly　it
was　no　better　than　reading　other　people's　letters。　But；　he
argued；　the　dishonor　in　knowledge　so　obtained　would　lie　only　in
the　use　he　made　of　it。　If　he　used　it　without　harm　to　him　from
whom　it　was　obtained　and　with　benefit　to　others；　was　he　not
justified　in　trading　on　his　superior　equipment？　He　decided　that
each　case　must　be　considered　separately　in　accordance　with　the
principle　involved。　But；　principle　or　no　principle；　he　was
determined　to　become　rich。　Did　not　the　end　justify　the　means？
Certainly　an　all…wise　Providence　had　not　brought　Helen　Carey　into
his　life　only　to　take　her　away　from　him。　It　could　not　be　so
cruel。　But；　in　selecting　them　for　one　another；　the　all…wise
Providence　had　overlooked　the　fact　that　she　was　rich　and　he　was
poor。　For　that　oversight　Providence　apparently　was　now
endeavoring　to　make　amends。　In　what　certainly　was　a　fantastic　and
roundabout　manner　Providence　had　tardily　equipped　him　with　a　gift
that　could　lead　to　great　wealth。　And　who　was　he　to　fly　in　the
face　of　Providence？　He　decided　to　set　about　building　up　a
fortune；　and　building　it　in　a　hurry。

From　Bruton　Street　he　had　emerged　upon　Berkeley　Square；　and；　as
Lady　Woodcote　had　invited　him　to　meet　Helen　at　luncheon　at　the
Ritz；　he　turned　in　that　direction。　He　was　too　early　for　luncheon；
but　in　the　corridor　of　the　Ritz　he　knew　he　would　find　persons　of
position　and　fortune；　and　in　reading　their　minds　he　might　pass
the　time　before　luncheon　with　entertainment；　possibly　with
profit。　For；　while　pacing　Bruton　Street　trying　to　discover　the
principles　of　conduct　that　threatened　to　hamper　his　new　power；　he
had　found　that　in　actual　operation　it　was　quite　simple。　He
learned　that　his　mind；　in　relation　to　other　minds；　was　like　the
receiver　of　a　wireless　station　with　an　unlimited　field。　For；
while　the　wireless　could　receive　messages　only　from　those
instruments　with　which　it　was　attuned；　his　mind　was　in　key　with
all　other　minds。　To　read　the　thoughts　of　another；　he　had　only　to
concentrate　his　own　upon　that　person；　and　to　shut　off　the
thoughts　of　that　person；　he　had　only　to　turn　his　own　thoughts
elsewhere。　But　also　he　discovered　that　over　the　thoughts　of　those
outside　the　range　of　his　physical　sight　he　had　no　control。　When
he　asked　of　what　Helen　Carey　was　at　that　moment　thinking；　there
was　no　result。　But　when　he　asked；　〃Of　what　is　that　policeman　on
the　corner　thinking？〃　he　was　surprised　to　find　that　that　officer
of　the　law　was　formulating　regulations　to　abolish　the　hobble
skirt　as　an　impediment　to　traffic。

As　Philip　turned　into　Berkeley　Square；　the　accents　of　a　mind　in
great　distress　smote　upon　his　new　and　sixth　sense。　And；　in　the
person　of　a　young　gentleman　leaning　against　the　park　railing；　he
discovered　the　source　from　which　the　mental　sufferings　emanated。
The　young　man　was　a　pink…cheeked；　yellow…haired　youth　of
extremely　boyish　appearance；　and　dressed　as　if　for　the
race…track。　But　at　the　moment　his　pink　and　babyish　face　wore　an
expression　of　complete　misery。　With　tear…filled　eyes　he　was
gazing　at　a　house　of　yellow　stucco　on　the　opposite　side　of　the
street。　And　his　thoughts　were　these：　〃She　is　the　best　that　ever
lived；　and　I　am　the　most　ungrateful　of　fools。　How　happy　were　we
in　the　house　of　yellow　stucco！　Only　now；　when　she　has　closed　its
doors　to　me；　do　I　know　how　happy！　If　she　would　give　me　another
chance；　never　again　would　I　distress　or　deceive　her。〃

So　far　had　the　young　man　progressed　in　his　thoughts　when　an
automobile　of　surprising　smartness　swept　around　the　corner　and
drew　up　in　front　of　the　house　of　yellow　stucco；　and　from　it
descended　a　charming　young　person。　She　was　of　the　Dresden…
shepherdess　type；　with　large　blue　eyes　of　haunting　beauty　and
innocence。

〃My　wife！〃　exclaimed　the　blond　youth　at　the　railings。　And
instantly　he　dodged　behind　a　horse　that；　while　still　attached　to
a　four…wheeler；　was　contentedly　eating　from　a　nose…bag。

With　a　key　the　Dresden　shepherdess　opened　the　door　to　the　yellow
house　and　disappeared。

The　calling　of　the　reporter　trains　him　in　audacity；　and　to　act
quickly。　He　shares　the　troubles　of　so　many　people　that　to　the
troubles　of　other　people　he　becomes　callous；　and　often　will　rush
in　where　friends　of　the　family　fear　to　tread。　Although　Philip　was
not　now　acting　as　a　reporter；　he　acted　quickly。　Hardly　had　the
door　closed　upon　the　young　lady　than　he　had　mounted　the　steps　and
rung　the　visitor's　bell。　As　he　did　so；　he　could　not　resist
casting　a　triumphant　glance　in　the　direction　of　the　outlawed
husband。　And；　in　turn；　what　the　outcast　husband；　peering　from
across　the　back　of　the　cab　horse；　thought　of　Philip；　of　his
clothes；　of　his　general　appearance；　and　of　the　manner　in　which　he
would　delight　to　alter　all　of　them；　was　quickly　communicated　to
the　American。　They　were　thoughts　of　a　nature　so　violent　and
uncomplimentary　that　Philip　hastily　cut　off　all　connection。

As　Philip　did　not　know　the　name　of　the　Dresden…china　doll；　it　was
fortunate　that　on　opening　the　door；　the　butler　promptly
announced：

〃Her　ladyship　is　not　receiving。〃

〃Her　ladyship　will；　I　think；　receive　me；〃　said　Philip　pleasantly；
〃when　you　tell　her　I　come　as　the　special　ambassador　of　his
lordship。〃

From　a　tiny　reception…room　on　the　right　of　the　entrance…hall
there　issued　a　feminine　exclamation　of　surprise；　not　unmixed　with
joy；　and　in　the　hall　the　noble　lady　instantly　appeared。

When　she　saw　herself　confronted　by　a　stranger；　she　halted　in
embarrassment。　But　as；　even　while　she　halted；　her　only　thought
had　been；　〃Oh！　if　he　will　only　ask　me　to　forgive　him！〃　Philip
felt　no　embarrassment　whatsoever。　Outside；　concealed　behind　a　cab
horse；　was　the　erring　but　bitterly　repentant　husband；　inside；　her
tenderest　thoughts　racing　tumultuously　toward　him；　was　an　unhappy
child…wife　begging　to　be　begged　to　pardon。

For　a　New　York　reporter；　and　a　Harvard　graduate　of　charm　and　good
manners；　it　was　too　easy。

〃I　do　not　know　you；〃　said　her　ladyship。　But　even　as　she　spoke　she
motioned　to　the　butler　to　go　away。　〃You　must　be　one　of　his　new
friends。〃　Her　tone　was　one　of　envy。

〃Indeed；　I　am　his　newest　friend；〃　Philip　assured　her；　〃but　I　can
safely　say　no　one　knows　his　thoughts　as　well　as　I。　And　they　are
all　of　you！〃

The　china　shepherdess　blushed　with　happiness；　but　instantly　she
shook　her　head。

〃They　tell　me　I　must　not　believe　him；〃　she　announced。　〃They　tell
me〃

〃Never　mind　what　they　tell　you；〃　commanded　Philip。　〃Listen　to　ME。
He　loves　you。　Better　than　ever　before；　he　loves　you。　All　he　asks
is　the　chance　to　tell　you　so。　You　cannot　help　but　believe　him。
Who　can　look　at　you；　and　not　believe　that　he　loves　you！　Let　me；〃
he　begged；　〃bring　him　to　you。〃　He　started　from　her　when；
remembering　the　somewhat　violent　thoughts　of　the　youthful
husband；　he　added　hastily：　〃Or　perhaps　it　would　be　better　if　you
called　him　yourself。〃

〃Called　him！〃　exclaimed　the　lady。　〃He　is　in　Paris…at　the
raceswith　her！〃

〃If　they　tell　you　that　sort　of　thing；〃　protested　Philip
indignantly；　〃you　must　listen　to　me。　He　is　not　in　Paris。　He　is
not　with　her。　There　never　was　a　her！〃

He　drew　aside　the　lace　curtains　and　pointed。　〃He　is　there
behind　that　ancient　cab　horse；　praying　that　you　will　let　him　tell
you　that　not　only　did　he　never　do　it；　but；　what　is　much　more
important；　he　will　never　do　it　again。〃

The　lady　herself　now　timidly　drew　the　curtains　apart；　and　then
more　boldly　showed　herself　upon　the　iron　balcony。　Leaning　over
the　scarlet　geraniums；　she　beckoned　with　both　hands。　The　result
was　instantaneous。　Philip　bolted　for　the　front　door；　leaving　it
open；　and；　as　he　darted　down　the　steps；　the　youthful　husband；　in
strides　resembling　those　of　an　ostrich；　shot　past　him。　Philip　did
not　cease　running　until　he　was　well　out　of　Berkeley　Square。　Then；
not　ill…pleased　with　the　adventure；　he　turned　and　smiled　back　at
the　house　of　yellow　stucco。

〃Bless　you；　my　children；〃　he　murmured；　〃bless　you！〃

He　continued　to　the　Ritz；　and；　on　crossing　Piccadilly　to　the
quieter　entrance　to　the　hotel　in　Arlington　Street；　found　gathered
around　it　a　considerable　crowd　drawn　up　on　either　side　of　a　red
carpet　that　stretched　down　the　steps　of　the　hotel　to　a　court
carriage。　A　red　carpet　in　June；　when　all　is　dry　under　foot　and
the　sun　is　shining　gently；　can　mean　only　r