the red cross girl-第26章

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〃We　will　all　three　go　at　once；〃　cried　the　German。　〃My　car　is
outside。　Wait　here。　I　will　have　it　brought　to　the　door？〃

Faust　protested　indignantly。

〃Do　not　disturb　yourself；　Baron；〃　he　said；　〃just　because　a　fresh
reporter〃

But　already　the　German　had　reached　the　hall。　Nor　did　he　stop
there。　They　saw　him；　without　his　hat；　rush　into　Piccadilly；
spring　into　a　taxi；　and　shout　excitedly　to　the　driver。　The　next
moment　he　had　disappeared。

〃That's　the　last　you'll　see　of　him；〃　said　Philip。

〃His　actions　are　certainly　peculiar；〃　gasped　the　millionaire。　〃He
did　not　wait　for　us。　He　didn't　even　wait　for　his　hat！　I　think；
after　all；　I　had　better　go　to　Tate　Street。〃

〃Do　so；〃　said　Philip；　〃and　save　yourself　three　hundred　thousand
dollars；　and　from　the　laughter　of　two　continents。　You'll　find　me
here　at　lunch。　If　I'm　wrong；　I'll　pay　you　a　hundred　pounds。〃

〃You　should　come　with　me；〃　said　Faust。　〃It　is　only　fair　to
yourself。〃

〃I'll　take　your　word　for　what　you　find　in　the　studio；〃　said
Philip。　〃I　cannot　go。　This　is　my　busy　day。〃

Without　further　words；　the　millionaire　collected　his　hat　and
stick；　and；　in　his　turn；　entered　a　taxi…cab　and　disappeared。

Philip　returned　to　the　Louis　Quatorze　chair　and　lit　a　cigarette。
Save　for　the　two　elderly　gentlemen　on　the　sofa；　the　lounge　was
still　empty；　and　his　reflections　were　undisturbed。　He　shook　his
head　sadly。

〃Surely；〃　Philip　thought；　〃the　French　chap　was　right　who　said
words　were　given　us　to　conceal　our　thoughts。　What　a　strange　world
it　would　be　if　every　one　possessed　my　power。　Deception　would　be
quite　futile　and　lying　would　become　a　lost　art。　I　wonder；〃　he
mused　cynically；　〃is　any　one　quite　honest？　Does　any　one　speak　as
he　thinks　and　think　as　he　speaks？〃

At　once　came　a　direct　answer　to　his　question。　The　two　elderly
gentlemen　had　risen　and；　before　separating；　had　halted　a　few　feet
from　him。

〃I　sincerely　hope；　Sir　John；〃　said　one　of　the　two；　〃that　you　have
no　regrets。　I　hope　you　believe　that　I　have　advised　you　in　the
best　interests　of　all？〃

〃I　do；　indeed；〃　the　other　replied　heartily　〃We　shall　be　thought
entirely　selfish；　but　you　know　and　I　know　that　what　we　have　done
is　for　the　benefit　of　the　shareholders。〃

Philip　was　pleased　to　find　that　the　thoughts　of　each　of　the　old
gentlemen　ran　hand　in　hand　with　his　spoken　words。　〃Here；　at
least；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃are　two　honest　men。〃

As　though　loath　to　part；　the　two　gentlemen　still　lingered。

〃And　I　hope；〃　continued　the　one　addressed　as　Sir　John；　〃that　you
approve　of　my　holding　back　the　public　announcement　of　the　combine
until　the　afternoon。　It　will　give　the　shareholders　a　better
chance。　Had　we　given　out　the　news　in　this　morning's　papers　the
stockbrokers　would　have〃

〃It　was　most　wise；〃　interrupted　the　other。　〃Most　just。〃

The　one　called　Sir　John　bowed　himself　away；　leaving　the　other
still　standing　at　the　steps　of　the　lounge。　With　his　hands　behind
his　back；　his　chin　sunk　on　his　chest；　he　remained；　gazing　at
nothing；　his　thoughts　far　away。

Philip　found　them　thoughts　of　curious　interest。　They　were
concerned　with　three　flags。　Now；　the　gentleman　considered　them
separately；　and　Philip　saw　the　emblems　painted　clearly　in　colors；
fluttering　and　flattened　by　the　breeze。　Again；　the　gentleman
considered　them　in　various　combinations；　but　always；　in　whatever
order　his　mind　arranged　them；　of　the　three　his　heart　spoke　always
to　the　same　flag；　as　the　heart　of　a　mother　reaches　toward　her
firstborn。

Then　the　thoughts　were　diverted；　and　in　his　mind's　eye　the　old
gentleman　was　watching　the　launching　of　a　little　schooner　from　a
shipyard　on　the　Clyde。　At　her　main　flew　one　of　the　three　flagsa
flag　with　a　red　cross　on　a　white　ground。　With　thoughts　tender　and
grateful；　he　followed　her　to　strange；　hot　ports；　through
hurricanes　and　tidal　waves；　he　saw　her　return　again　and　again　to
the　London　docks；　laden　with　odorous　coffee；　mahogany；　red
rubber；　and　raw　bullion。　He　saw　sister　ships　follow　in　her　wake
to　every　port　in　the　South　Sea；　saw　steam　packets　take　the　place
of　the　ships　with　sails；　saw　the　steam　packets　give　way　to　great
ocean　liners；　each　a　floating　village；　each　equipped；　as　no
village　is　equipped；　with　a　giant　power　house；　thousands　of
electric　lamps；　suite　after　suite　of　silk…lined　boudoirs；　with
the　floating　harps　that　vibrate　to　a　love　message　three　hundred
miles　away；　to　the　fierce　call　for　help　from　a　sinking　ship。　But
at　the　main　of　each　great　vessel　there　still　flew　the　same
house…flagthe　red　cross　on　the　field　of　whiteonly　now　in　the
arms　of　the　cross　there　nestled　proudly　a　royal　crown。

Philip　cast　a　scared　glance　at　the　old　gentleman；　and　raced　down
the　corridor　to　the　telephone。

Of　all　the　young　Englishmen　he　knew；　Maddox　was　his　best　friend
and　a　stock…broker。　In　that　latter　capacity　Philip　had　never
before　addressed　him。　Now　he　demanded　his　instant　presence　at　the
telephone。

Maddox　greeted　him　genially；　but　Philip　cut　him　short。

〃I　want　you　to　act　for　me；〃　he　whispered；　〃and　act　quick！　I　want
you　to　buy　for　me　one　thousand　shares　of　the　Royal　Mail　Line；　of
the　Elder…Dempster；　and　of　the　Union　Castle。〃

He　heard　Maddox　laugh　indulgently。

〃There's　nothing　in　that　yarn　of　a　combine；〃　he　called。　〃It　has
fallen　through。　Besides；　shares　are　at　fifteen　pounds。〃

Philip；　having　in　his　possession　a　second…class　ticket　and　a
five…pound　note；　was　indifferent　to　that；　and　said　so。

〃I　don't　care　what　they　are；〃　he　shouted。　〃The　combine　is　already
signed　and　sealed；　and　no　one　knows　it　but　myself。　In　an　hour
everybody　will　know　it！〃

〃What　makes　you　think　you　know　it？〃　demanded　the　broker。

〃I've　seen　the　house…flags！〃　cried　Philip。　〃I　havedo　as　I　tell
you；〃　he　commanded。

There　was　a　distracting　delay。

〃No　matter　who's　back　of　you；〃　objected　Maddox；　〃it's　a　big　order
on　a　gamble。〃

〃It's　not　a　gamble；〃　cried　Philip。　〃It's　an　accomplished　fact。
I'm　at　the　Ritz。　Call　me　up　there。　Start　buying　now；　and；　when
you've　got　a　thousand　of　each；　stop！〃

Philip　was　much　too　agitated　to　go　far　from　the　telephone　booth；
so　for　half　an　hour　he　sat　in　the　reading…room；　forcing　himself
to　read　the　illustrated　papers。　When　he　found　he　had　read　the
same　advertisement　five　times；　he　returned　to　the　telephone。　The
telephone　boy　met　him　half…way　with　a　message。

〃Have　secured　for　you　a　thousand　shares　of　each；〃　he　read；　〃at
fifteen。　Maddox。〃

Like　a　man　awakening　from　a　nightmare；　Philip　tried　to　separate
the　horror　of　the　situation　from　the　cold　fact。　The　cold　fact　was
sufficiently　horrible。　It　was　that；　without　a　penny　to　pay　for
them；　he　had　bought　shares　in　three　steamship　lines；　which
shares；　added　together；　were　worth　two　hundred　and　twenty　five
thousand　dollars。　He　returned　down　the　corridor　toward　the
lounge。　Trembling　at　his　own　audacity；　he　was　in　a　state　of
almost　complete　panic；　when　that　happened　which　made　his
outrageous　speculation　of　little　consequence。　It　was　drawing　near
to　half…past　one；　and；　in　the　persons　of　several　smart　men　and
beautiful　ladies；　the　component　parts　of　different　luncheon
parties　were　beginning　to　assemble。

Of　the　luncheon　to　which　Lady　Woodcote　had　invited　him；　only　one
guest　had　arrived；　but；　so　far　as　Philip　was　concerned；　that　one
was　sufficient。　It　was　Helen　herself；　seated　alone；　with　her　eyes
fixed　on　the　doors　opening　from　Piccadilly。　Philip；　his　heart
singing　with　appeals；　blessings；　and　adoration；　ran　toward　her。
Her　profile　was　toward　him；　and　she　could　not　see　him；　but　he
could　see　her。　And　he　noted　that；　as　though　seeking　some　one；　her
eyes　were　turned　searchingly　upon　each　young　man　as　he　entered
and　moved　from　one　to　another　of　those　already　in　the　lounge。　Her
expression　was　eager　and　anxious。

〃If　only；〃　Philip　exclaimed；　〃she　were　looking　for　me！　She
certainly　is　looking　for　some　man。　I　wonder　who　it　can　be？〃

As　suddenly　as　if　he　had　slapped　his　face　into　a　wall；　he　halted
in　his　steps。　Why　should　he　wonder？　Why　did　he　not　read　her　mind？
Why　did　he　not　KNOW？　A　waiter　was　hastening　toward　him。　Philip
fixed　his　mind　upon　the　waiter；　and　his　eyes　as　well。　Mentally
Philip　demanded　of　him：　〃Of　what　are　you　thinking？〃

There　was　no　response。　And　then；　seeing　an　unlit　cigarette
hanging　from　Philip's　lips；　the　waiter　hastily　struck　a　match　and
proffered　it。　Obviously；　his　mind　had　worked；　first；　in　observing
the　half…burned　cigarette；　next；　in　furnishing　the　necessary
match。　And　of　no　step　in　that　mental　process　had　Philip　been
conscious！　The　conclusion　was　only　too　apparent。　His　power　was
gone。　No　longer　was　he　a　mind　reader！

Hastily　Philip　reviewed　the　adventures　of　the　morning。　As　he
considered　them；　the　moral　was　obvious。　The　moment　he　had　used
his　power　to　his　own　advantage；　he　had　lost　it。　So　long　as　he　had
exerted　it　for　the　happiness　of　the　two　lovers；　to　save　the　life
of　the　King；　to　thwart　the　dishonesty　of　a　swindler；　he　had　been
all…powerful；　but　when　he　endeavored　to　bend　it　to　his　own　uses；
it　had　fled　from　him。　As　he　stood　abashed　and　repentant；　Helen
turned　her　eyes　toward　him；　and；　at　the　sight　of　him；　there
leaped　to　them　happiness　and　welcome　and　complete　content。　It　was
〃the　look　that　never　was　on　land　or　sea；〃　and　it　was　not
necessary　to　be　a　mind　reader　to　understand　it。　Philip　sprang
toward　her　as　quickly　as　a　man　dodges　a　taxi…cab。

〃I　came　early；〃　said　Helen；　〃because　I　wanted　to　talk　to　you
before　the　others　arrived。〃　She　seemed　to　be　repeating　words
already　rehearsed；　to　be　following　a　course　of　conduct　already
predetermined。　〃I　want　to　tell　you；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　am　sorry
you　are　going　away。　I　want　to　tell　you　that　I　shall　miss　you　very
much。〃　She　paused　and　drew　a　long　breath。　And　she　looked　at
Philip　as　if　she　was　begging　him　to　make　it　easier　for　her　to　go
on。

Philip　proceeded　to　make　it　easier。

〃Will　you　miss　me；〃　he　asked；　〃in　the　Row；　where　I　used　to　wait
among　the　trees　to　see　you　ride　past？　Will　you　miss　me　at　dances；
where　I　used　to　hide　behind　the　dowagers　to　watch　you　waltzing
by？　Will　you　miss　me　at　night；　when　you　come　home　by　sunrise；　and
I　am　not　hiding　against　the　railings　of　the　Carlton　Club；　just　to
see　you　run　across　the　pavement　from　your　carriage；　just　to　see
the　light　on　your　window　blind；　just　to　see　the　light　go　out；　and
to　know　that　you　are　sleeping？〃

Helen's　eyes　were　smiling　happily。　She　looked　away　from　him。

〃Did　you　use　to　do　that？〃　she　asked。

〃Every　night　I　do　that；〃　said　Philip。　〃Ask　the　policemen！　They
arrested　me　three　times。〃

〃Why？〃　said　Helen　gently。

But　Philip　was　not　yet　free　to　speak；　so　he　said：

〃They　thought　I　was　a　burglar。〃

Helen　frowned。　He　was　making　it　very　hard　for　her。

〃You　know　what　I　mean；〃　she　said。　〃Why　did　you　keep　guard　outside
my　window？〃

〃It　was　the　policeman　kept　guard；〃　said　Philip。　〃I　was　there　only
as　a　burglar。　I　came　to　rob。　But　I　was　a　coward；　or　else　I　had　a
conscience；　or　else　I　knew　my　own　unworthiness。〃　There　was　a　long
pause。　As　both　of　them；　whenever　they　heard　the　tune　afterward；
always　remembered；　the　Hungarian　band；　with　rare　inconsequence；
was　playing　the　〃Grizzly　Bear；〃　and　people　were　trying　to　speak
to　Helen。　By　her　they　were　received　with　a　look　of　so　complete　a
lack　of　recognition；　and