the red cross girl-第27章

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to　Helen。　By　her　they　were　received　with　a　look　of　so　complete　a
lack　of　recognition；　and　by　Philip　with　a　glare　of　such　savage
hate；　that　they　retreated　in　dismay。　The　pause　seemed　to　last　for
many　years。

At　last　Helen　said：　〃Do　you　know　the　story　of　the　two　roses？　They
grew　in　a　garden　under　a　lady's　window。　They　both　loved　her。　One
looked　up　at　her　from　the　ground　and　sighed　for　her；　but　the
other　climbed　to　the　lady's　window；　and　she　lifted　him　in　and
kissed　himbecause　he　had　dared　to　climb。〃

Philip　took　out　his　watch　and　looked　at　it。　But　Helen　did　not
mind　his　doing　that；　because　she　saw　that　his　eyes　were　filled
with　tears。　She　was　delighted　to　find　that　she　was　making　it　very
hard　for　him；　too。

〃At　any　moment；〃　Philip　said；　〃I　may　know　whether　I　owe　two
hundred　and　twenty…five　thousand　dollars　which　I　can　never　pay；
or　whether　I　am　worth　about　that　sum。　I　should　like　to　continue
this　conversation　at　the　exact　place　where　you　last　spokeAFTER
I　know　whether　I　am　going　to　jail；　or　whether　I　am　worth　a
quarter　of　a　million　dollars。〃

Helen　laughed　aloud　with　happiness。

〃I　knew　that　was　it！〃　she　cried。　〃You　don't　like　my　money。　I　was
afraid　you　did　not　like　ME。　If　you　dislike　my　money；　I　will　give
it　away；　or　I　will　give　it　to　you　to　keep　for　me。　The　money　does
not　matter；　so　long　as　you　don't　dislike　me。〃

What　Philip　would　have　said　to　that；　Helen　could　not　know；　for　a
page　in　many　buttons　rushed　at　him　with　a　message　from　the
telephone；　and　with　a　hand　that　trembled　Philip　snatched　it。　It
read：　〃Combine　is　announced；　shares　have　gone　to　thirty…one；
shall　I　hold　or　sell？〃

That　at　such　a　crisis　he　should　permit　of　any　interruption　hurt
Helen　deeply。　She　regarded　him　with　unhappy　eyes。　Philip　read　the
message　three　times。　At　last；　and　not　without　uneasy　doubts　as　to
his　own　sanity；　he　grasped　the　preposterous　truth。　He　was　worth
almost　a　quarter　of　a　million　dollars！　At　the　page　he　shoved　his
last　and　only　five…pound　note。　He　pushed　the　boy　from　him。

〃Run！〃　he　commanded。　〃Get　out　of　here；　Tell　him　he　is　to　SELL！〃

He　turned　to　Helen　with　a　look　in　his　eyes　that　could　not　be
questioned　or　denied。　He　seemed　incapable　of　speech；　and；　to
break　the　silence；　Helen　said：　〃Is　it　good　news？〃

〃That　depends　entirely　upon　you；〃　replied　Philip　soberly。
〃Indeed；　all　my　future　life　depends　upon　what　you　are　going　to
say　next。〃

Helen　breathed　deeply　and　happily。

〃Andwhat　am　I　going　to　say？〃

〃How　can　I　know　that？〃　demanded　Philip。　〃Am　I　a　mind　reader？〃

But　what　she　said　may　be　safely　guessed　from　the　fact　that　they
both　chucked　Lady　Woodcotes　luncheon；　and　ate　one　of　penny　buns；
which　they　shared　with　the　bears　in　Regents　Park。

Philip　was　just　able　to　pay　for　the　penny　buns。　Helen　paid　for
the　taxi…cab。



Chapter　7。　THE　NAKED　MAN

In　their　home　town　of　Keepsburg；　the　Keeps　were　the　reigning
dynasty；　socially　and　in　every　way。　Old　man　Keep　was　president　of
the　trolley　line；　the　telephone　company；　and　the　Keep　National
Bank。　But　Fred；　his　son；　and　the　heir　apparent；　did　not　inherit
the　business　ability　of　his　father；　or；　if　he　did；　he　took　pains
to　conceal　that　fact。　Fred　had　gone　through　Harvard；　but　as　to
that　also；　unless　he　told　people；　they　would　not　have　known　it。
Ten　minutes　after　Fred　met　a　man　he　generally　told　him。

When　Fred　arranged　an　alliance　with　Winnie　Platt；　who　also　was　of
the　innermost　inner　set　of　Keepsburg；　everybody　said　Keepsburg
would　soon　lose　them。　And　everybody　was　right。　When　single；　each
had　sighed　for　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　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　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〃

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　firs