the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第33章
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other social worlds to conquer； and when they combined their fortunes and
ambitions they found Keepsburg impossible； and they left it to lay siege to
New York。 They were too crafty to at once attack New York itself。 A
widow lady they met while on their honeymoon at Palm Beach had told
them not to attempt that。 And she was the Palm Beach correspondent of a
society paper they naturally accepted her advice。 She warned them that in
New York the waiting…list is already interminable； and that； if you hoped
to break into New York society； the clever thing to do was to lay siege to it
by way of the suburbs and the country clubs。 If you went direct to New
York knowing no one； you would at once expose that fact； and the result
would be disastrous。
She told them of a couple like themselves； young and rich and from
the West； who； at the first dance to which they were invited； asked； 〃Who
is the old lady in the wig？〃 and that question argued them so unknown that
it set them back two years。 It was a terrible story； and it filled the Keeps
with misgivings。 They agreed with the lady correspondent that it was far
better to advance leisurely； first firmly to intrench themselves in the
suburbs； and then to enter New York； not as the Keeps from Keepsburg；
which meant nothing； but as the Fred Keeps of Long Island； or
Westchester； or Bordentown。
〃In all of those places；〃 explained the widow lady； 〃our smartest
people have country homes； and at the country club you may get to know
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them。 Then； when winter comes； you follow them on to the city。〃
The point from which the Keeps elected to launch their attack was
Scarboro…on…the…Hudson。 They selected Scarboro because both of them
could play golf； and they planned that their first skirmish should be fought
and won upon the golf…links of the Sleepy Hollow Country Club。 But the
attack did not succeed。 Something went wrong。 They began to fear that the
lady correspondent had given them the wrong dope。 For； although three
months had passed； and they had played golf together until they were as
loath to clasp a golf club as a red…hot poker； they knew no one； and no one
knew them。 That is； they did not know the Van Wardens； and if you lived
at Scarboro and were not recognized by the Van Wardens； you were not to
be found on any map。
Since the days of Hendrik Hudson the country…seat of the Van Wardens
had looked down upon the river that bears his name； and ever since those
days the Van Wardens had looked down upon everybody else。 They were
so proud that at all their gates they had placed signs reading； 〃No horses
allowed。 Take the other road。〃 The other road was an earth road used by
tradespeople from Ossining； the road reserved for the Van Wardens； and
automobiles； was of bluestone。 It helped greatly to give the Van Warden
estate the appearance of a well kept cemetery。 And those Van Wardens
who occupied the country…place were as cold and unsociable as the sort of
people who occupy cemeteriesexcept 〃Harry〃 Van Warden； and she lived
in New York at the Turf Club。
Harry； according to all local traditionfor he frequently motored out to
Warden Koopf； the Van Warden country…seatand； according to the
newspapers； was a devil of a fellow and in no sense cold or unsociable。 So
far as the Keeps read of him； he was always being arrested for
overspeeding； or breaking his collar…bone out hunting； or losing his front
teeth at polo。 This greatly annoyed the proud sisters at Warden Koopf； not
because Harry was arrested or had broken his collar…bone； but because it
dragged the family name into the newspapers。
〃If you would only play polo or ride to hounds instead of playing
golf；〃 sighed Winnie Keep to her husband； 〃you would meet Harry Van
Warden； and he'd introduce you to his sisters； and then we could break in
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anywhere。〃
〃If I was to ride to hounds；〃 returned her husband； 〃the only thing I'd
break would be my neck。〃
The country…place of the Keeps was completely satisfactory； and for
the purposes of their social comedy the stage…setting was perfect。 The
house was one they had rented from a man of charming taste and inflated
fortune； and with it they had taken over his well…disciplined butler； his
pictures； furniture； family silver； and linen。 It stood upon an eminence；
was heavily wooded； and surrounded by many gardens； but its chief
attraction was an artificial lake well stocked with trout that lay directly
below the terrace of the house and also in full view from the road to
Albany。
This latter fact caused Winnie Keep much concern。 In the
neighborhood were many Italian laborers； and on several nights the fish
had tempted these born poachers to trespass； and more than once； on hot
summer evenings； small boys from Tarrytown and Ossining had broken
through the hedge； and used the lake as a swimming…pool。
〃It makes me nervous；〃 complained Winnie。 〃I don't like the idea of
people prowling around so near the house。 And think of those twelve
hundred convicts； not one mile away； in Sing Sing。 Most of them are
burglars； and if they ever get out； our house is the very first one they'll
break into。〃
〃I haven't caught anybody in this neighborhood breaking into our
house yet；〃 said Fred； 〃and I'd be glad to see even a burglar！〃
They were seated on the brick terrace that overlooked the lake。 It was
just before the dinner hour； and the dusk of a wonderful October night had
fallen on the hedges； the clumps of evergreens； the rows of close…clipped
box。 A full moon was just showing itself above the tree…tops； turning the
lake into moving silver。 Fred rose from his wicker chair and； crossing to
his young bride； touched her hair fearfully with the tips of his fingers。
〃What if we don't know anybody； Win；〃 he said； 〃and nobody knows
us？ It's been a perfectly good honeymoon； hasn't it？ If you just look at it
that way； it works out all right。 We came here really for our honeymoon； to
be together； to be alone〃
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Winnie laughed shortly。 〃They certainly have left us alone！〃 she
sighed。
〃But where else could we have been any happier？〃 demanded the
young husband loyally。 〃Where will you find any prettier place than this；
just as it is at this minute； so still and sweet and silent？ There's nothing the
matter with that moon； is there？ Nothing the matter with the lake？ Where's
there a better place for a honeymoon？ It's a bowera bower of peace；
solitude abower of〃
As though mocking his words； there burst upon the sleeping
countryside the shriek of a giant siren。 It was raucous； virulent； insulting。
It came as sharply as a scream of terror； it continued in a bellow of rage。
Then； as suddenly as it had cried aloud； it sank to silence； only after a
pause of an instant； as though giving a signal； to shriek again in two sharp
blasts。 And then again it broke into the hideous long drawn scream of rage；
insistent； breathless； commanding； filling the soul of him who heard it；
even of the innocent； with alarm。
〃In the name of Heaven！〃 gasped Keep； 〃what's that？〃
Down the terrace the butler was hastening toward them。 When he
stopped； he spoke as though he were announcing dinner。 〃A convict； sir；〃
he said； 〃has escaped from Sing Sing。 I thought you might not understand
the whistle。 I thought perhaps you would wish Mrs。 Keep to come in…
doors。〃
〃Why？〃 asked Winnie Keep。
〃The house is near the road； madam；〃 said the butler。 〃And there are so
many trees and bushes。 Last summer two of them hid here； and the
keepersthere was a fight。〃 The man glanced at Keep。 Fred touched his
wife on the arm。
〃It's time to dress for dinner； Win；〃 he said。
〃And what are you going to do？〃 demanded Winnie。
I'm going to finish this cigar first。 It doesn't take me long to change。〃
He turned to the butler。 〃And I'll have a cocktail； too I'll have it out here。〃
The servant left them； but in the French window that opened from the
terrace to the library Mrs。 Keep lingered irresolutely。 〃Fred；〃 she begged；
〃youyou're not going to poke around in the bushes； are you？just
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because you think I'm frightened？〃
Her husband laughed at her。 〃I certainly am NOT！〃 he said。 〃And
you're not frightened； either。 Go in。 I'll be with you in a minute。〃
But the girl hesitated。 Still shattering the silence of the night the siren
shrieked relentlessly； it seemed to be at their very door； to beat and buffet
the window…panes。 The bride shivered and held her fingers to her ears。
〃Why don't they stop it！〃 she whispered。 〃Why don't they give him a
chance！〃
When she had gone； Fred pulled one of the wicker chairs to the edge
of the terrace； and； leaning forward with his chin in his hands； sat staring
down at the lake。 The moon had cleared the tops of the trees； had blotted
the lawns with black； rigid squares； had disguised the hedges with
wavering shadows。 Somewhere near at hand a criminala murderer；
burglar； thugwas at large； and the voice of the prison he had tricked still
bellowed in rage； in amazement； still clamored not only for his person but
perhaps for his life。 The whole countryside heard it： the farmers bedding
down their cattle for the night； the guests of the Briar Cliff Inn； dining
under red candle shades； the joy riders from the city； racing their cars
