the red cross girl-第30章

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when　he　knelt　to　drink　at　a　secret　spring　in　the　forest；　the
autumn　leaves　would　crackle　and　he　would　raise　his　eyes　fearing
to　see　a　panther　facing　him。

But　there　ain't　no　panthers　in　Westchester；〃　Jimmie　would
reassure　himself。　And　in　the　distance　the　roar　of　an　automobile
climbing　a　hill　with　the　muffler　open　would　seem　to　suggest　he
was　right。　But　still　Jimmie　remembered　once　before　he　had　knelt
at　that　same　spring；　and　that　when　he　raised　his　eyes　he　had
faced　a　crouching　panther。　〃Mebbe　dad　told　me　it　happened　to
grandpop；〃　Jimmie　would　explain；　〃or　I　dreamed　it；　or；　mebbe；　I
read　it　in　a　story　book。〃

The　〃German　spy〃　mania　attacked　Round　Hill　after　the　visit　to　the
boy　scouts　of　Clavering　Gould；　the　war　correspondent。　He　was
spending　the　week　end　with　〃Squire〃　Harry　Van　Vorst；　and　as　young
Van　Vorst；　besides　being　a　justice　of　the　peace　and　a　Master　of
Beagles　and　President　of　the　Country　Club；　was　also　a　local
〃councilman〃　for　the　Round　Hill　Scouts；　he　brought　his　guest　to　a
camp…fire　meeting　to　talk　to　them。　In　deference　to　his　audience；
Gould　told　them　of　the　boy　scouts　he　had　seen　in　Belgium　and　of
the　part　they　were　playing　in　the　great　war。　It　was　his
peroration　that　made　trouble。

〃And　any　day；〃　he　assured　his　audience；　〃this　country　may　be　at
war　with　Germany；　and　every　one　of　you　boys　will　be　expected　to
do　his　bit。　You　can　begin　now。　When　the　Germans　land　it　will　be
near　New　Haven；　or　New　Bedford。　They　will　first　capture　the
munition　works　at　Springfield；　Hartford；　and　Watervliet　so　as　to
make　sure　of　their　ammunition；　and　then　they　will　start　for　New
York　City。　They　will　follow　the　New　Haven　and　New　York　Central
railroads；　and　march　straight　through　this　village。　I　haven't　the
least　doubt；〃　exclaimed　the　enthusiastic　war　prophet；　〃that　at
this　moment　German　spies　are　as　thick　in　Westchester　as
blackberries。　They　are　here　to　select　camp　sites　and　gun
positions；　to　find　out　which　of　these　hills　enfilade　the　others
and　to　learn　to　what　extent　their　armies　can　live　on　the　country。
They　are　counting　the　cows；　the　horses；　the　barns　where　fodder　is
stored；　and　they　are　marking　down　on　their　maps　the　wells　and
streams。〃

As　though　at　that　moment　a　German　spy　might　be　crouching　behind
the　door；　Mr。　Gould　spoke　in　a　whisper。　〃Keep　your　eyes　open！〃　he
commanded。　〃Watch　every　stranger。　If　he　acts　suspiciously；　get
word　quick　to　your　sheriff；　or　to　Judge　Van　Vorst　here。　Remember
the　scouts'　motto；　'Be　prepared！'〃

That　night　as　the　scouts　walked　home；　behind　each　wall　and
hayrick　they　saw　spiked　helmets。

Young　Van　Vorst　was　extremely　annoyed。

〃Next　time　you　talk　to　my　scouts；〃　he　declared；　you'll　talk　on
'Votes　for　Women。'　After　what　you　said　to…night　every　real　estate
agent　who　dares　open　a　map　will　be　arrested。　We're　not　trying　to
drive　people　away　from　Westchester；　we're　trying　to　sell　them
building　sites。〃

〃YOU　are　not！〃　retorted　his　friend；　〃you　own　half　the　county　now；
and　you're　trying　to　buy　the　other　half。〃

〃I'm　a　justice　of　the　peace；〃　explained　Van　Vorst。　〃I　don't　know
WHY　I　am；　except　that　they　wished　it　on　me。　All　I　get　out　of　it
is　trouble。　The　Italians　make　charges　against　my　best　friends　for
overspeeding　and　I　have　to　fine　them；　and　my　best　friends　bring
charges　against　the　Italians　for　poaching；　and　when　I　fine　the
Italians；　they　send　me　Black　Hand　letters。　And　now　every　day　I'll
be　asked　to　issue　a　warrant　for　a　German　spy　who　is　selecting　gun
sites。　And　he　will　turn　out　to　be　a　millionaire　who　is　tired　of
living　at　the　Ritz…Carlton　and　wants　to　'own　his　own　home'　and
his　own　golf…links。　And　he'll　be　so　hot　at　being　arrested　that
he'll　take　his　millions　to　Long　Island　and　try　to　break　into　the
Piping　Rock　Club。　And；　it　will　be　your　fault！〃

The　young　justice　of　the　peace　was　right。　At　least　so　far　as
Jimmie　Sniffen　was　concerned；　the　words　of　the　war　prophet　had
filled　one　mind　with　unrest。　In　the　past　Jimmie's　idea　of　a
holiday　had　been　to　spend　it　scouting　in　the　woods。　In　this
pleasure　he　was　selfish。　He　did　not　want　companions　who　talked；
and　trampled　upon　the　dead　leaves　so　that　they　frightened　the
wild　animals　and　gave　the　Indians　warning。　Jimmie　liked　to
pretend。　He　liked　to　fill　the　woods　with　wary　and　hostile
adversaries。　It　was　a　game　of　his　own　inventing。　If　he　crept　to
the　top　of　a　hill　and　on　peering　over　it；　surprised　a　fat
woodchuck；　he　pretended　the　woodchuck　was　a　bear；　weighing　two
hundred　pounds；　if；　himself　unobserved；　he　could　lie　and　watch；
off　its　guard；　a　rabbit；　squirrel；　or；　most　difficult　of　all；　a
crow；　it　became　a　deer　and　that　night　at　supper　Jimmie　made
believe　he　was　eating　venison。　Sometimes　he　was　a　scout　of　the
Continental　Army　and　carried　despatches　to　General　Washington。
The　rules　of　that　game　were　that　if　any　man　ploughing　in　the
fields；　or　cutting　trees　in　the　woods；　or　even　approaching　along
the　same　road；　saw　Jimmie　before　Jimmie　saw　him；　Jimmie　was　taken
prisoner；　and　before　sunrise　was　shot　as　a　spy。　He　was　seldom
shot。　Or　else　why　on　his　sleeve　was　the　badge　for　〃stalking。〃　But
always　to　have　to　make　believe　became　monotonous。　Even　〃dry
shopping〃　along　the　Rue　de　la　Paix　when　you　pretend　you　can　have
anything　you　see　in　any　window；　leaves　one　just　as　rich；　but
unsatisfied。　So　the　advice　of　the　war　correspondent　to　seek　out
German　spies　came　to　Jimmie　like　a　day　at　the　circus；　like　a　week
at　the　Danbury　Fair。　It　not　only　was　a　call　to　arms；　to　protect
his　flag　and　home；　but　a　chance　to　play　in　earnest　the　game　in
which　he　most　delighted。　No　longer　need　he　pretend。　No　longer
need　he　waste　his　energies　in　watching；　unobserved；　a　greedy
rabbit　rob　a　carrot　field。　The　game　now　was　his　fellow…man　and
his　enemy；　not　only　his　enemy；　but　the　enemy　of　his　country。

In　his　first　effort　Jimmie　was　not　entirely　successful。　The　man
looked　the　part　perfectly；　he　wore　an　auburn　beard；　disguising
spectacles；　and　he　carried　a　suspicious　knapsack。　But　he　turned
out　to　be　a　professor　from　the　Museum　of　Natural　History；　who
wanted　to　dig　for　Indian　arrow…heads。　And　when　Jimmie　threatened
to　arrest　him；　the　indignant　gentleman　arrested　Jimmie。　Jimmie
escaped　only　by　leading　the　professor　to　a　secret　cave　of　his
own；　though　on　some　one　else's　property；　where　one　not　only　could
dig　for　arrow…heads；　but　find　them。　The　professor　was　delighted；
but　for　Jimmie　it　was　a　great　disappointment。　The　week　following
Jimmie　was　again　disappointed。

On　the　bank　of　the　Kensico　Reservoir；　he　came　upon　a　man　who　was
acting　in　a　mysterious　and　suspicious　manner。　He　was　making　notes
in　a　book；　and　his　runabout　which　he　had　concealed　in　a　wood　road
was　stuffed　with　blue…prints。　It　did　not　take　Jimmie　long　to
guess　his　purpose。　He　was　planning　to　blow　up　the　Kensico　dam；
and　cut　off　the　water　supply　of　New　York　City。　Seven　millions　of
people　without　water！　With　out　firing　a　shot；　New　York　must
surrender！　At　the　thought　Jimmie　shuddered；　and　at　the　risk　of
his　life　by　clinging　to　the　tail　of　a　motor　truck；　he　followed
the　runabout　into　White　Plains。　But　there　it　developed　the
mysterious　stranger；　so　far　from　wishing　to　destroy　the　Kensico
dam；　was　the　State　Engineer　who　had　built　it；　and；　also；　a　large
part　of　the　Panama　Canal。　Nor　in　his　third　effort　was　Jimmie　more
successful。　From　the　heights　of　Pound　Ridge　he　discovered　on　a
hilltop　below　him　a　man　working　alone　upon　a　basin　of　concrete。
The　man　was　a　German…American；　and　already　on　Jimmie's　list　of
〃suspects。〃　That　for　the　use　of　the　German　artillery　he　was
preparing　a　concrete　bed　for　a　siege　gun　was　only　too　evident。
But　closer　investigation　proved　that　the　concrete　was　only　two
inches　thick。　And　the　hyphenated　one　explained　that　the　basin　was
built　over　a　spring；　in　the　waters　of　which　he　planned　to　erect　a
fountain　and　raise　gold　fish。　It　was　a　bitter　blow。　Jimmie　became
discouraged。　Meeting　Judge　Van　Vorst　one　day　in　the　road　he　told
him　his　troubles。　The　young　judge　proved　unsympathetic。　〃My
advice　to　you；　Jimmie；〃　he　said；　〃is　to　go　slow。　Accusing
everybody　of　espionage　is　a　very　serious　matter。　If　you　call　a
man　a　spy；　it's　sometimes　hard　for　him　to　disprove　it；　and　the
name　sticks。　So；　go　slowvery　slow。　Before　you　arrest　any　more
people；　come　to　me　first　for　a　warrant。〃

So；　the　next　time　Jimmie　proceeded　with　caution。

Besides　being　a　farmer　in　a　small　way；　Jimmie's　father　was　a
handy　man　with　tools。　He　had　no　union　card；　but；　in　laying
shingles　along　a　blue　chalk　line；　few　were　as　expert。　It　was
August；　there　was　no　school；　and　Jimmie　was　carrying　a
dinner…pail　to　where　his　father　was　at　work　on　a　new　barn。　He
made　a　cross…cut　through　the　woods；　and　came　upon　the　young　man
in　the　golf…cap。　The　stranger　nodded；　and　his　eyes；　which　seemed
to　be　always　laughing；　smiled　pleasantly。　But　he　was　deeply
tanned；　and；　from　the　waist　up；　held　himself　like　a　soldier；　so；
at　once；　Jimmie　mistrusted　him。　Early　the　next　morning　Jimmie　met
him　again。　It　had　not　been　raining；　but　the　clothes　of　the　young
man　were　damp。　Jimmie　guessed　that　while　the　dew　was　still　on　the
leaves　the　young　man　had　been　forcing　his　way　through　underbrush。
The　stranger　must　have　remembered　Jimmie；　for　he　laughed　and
exclaimed：

〃Ah；　my　friend　with　the　dinner…pail！　It's　luck　you　haven't　got　it
now；　or　I'd　hold　you　up。　I'm　starving！〃

Jimmie　smiled　in　sympathy。　〃It's　early　to　be　hungry；〃　said
Jimmie；　〃when　did　you　have　your　breakfast？〃

〃I　didn't；〃　laughed　the　young　man。　〃I　went　out　to　walk　up　an
appetite；　and　I　lost　myself。　But；　I　haven't　lost　my　appetite。
Which　is　the　shortest　way　back　to　Bedford？〃

〃The　first　road　to　your　right；〃　said　Jimmie。

〃Is　it　far？〃　asked　the　stranger　anxiously。　That　he　was　very
hungry　was　evident。

〃It's　a　half…hour's　walk；〃　said　Jimmie

〃If　I　live　that　long；〃　corrected　the　young　man；　and　stepped　out
briskly。

Jimmie　knew　that　within　a　hundred　yards　a　turn　in　the　road　would
shut　him　from　sight。　So；　he　gave　the　stranger　time　to　walk　that
distance；　and；　then；　diving　into　the　wood　that　lined　the　road；
〃stalked〃　him。　From　behind　a　tree　he　saw　the　stranger　turn　and
look　back；　and　seeing　no　one　in　the　road　behind　him；　also　leave
it　and　plunge　into　the　woods。

He　had　not　turned　toward　Bedford；　he　had　turned　to　the　left。　Like
a　runner　stealing　bases；　Jimmie　slipped　from　tree　to　tree。　Ahead
of　him　he　heard　the　stranger　trampling　upon　dead　twigs；　moving
rapidly　as　one　who　knew　his　way。　At　times　through　the　branches
Jimmie　could　see　the　broad　shoulders　of　the　stranger；　and　again
could　follow　his　progress　only　by　the　noise　of　the　crackling
twigs。　When　the　noises　ceased；　Jimmie　guessed　the　stranger　had
reached　the　wood　road；　grass…grown　and　moss…covered；　that　led　to
Middle　Patent。　So；　he　ran　at　right　angles　until　he　also　reached
it；　and　as　now　he　was　close　to　where　it　entered　the　main　road；　he
approached　warily。　But；　he　was　too　late。　There　was　a　sound　like
the　whir　of　a　rising　partridge；　and　ahead　of　him　from　where　it
had　been　hidden；　a　gray　touring…car　leaped　into　the　highway。　The
stranger　was　at　the　wheel。　Throwing　behind　it　a　cloud　of　dust；
the　car　raced　toward　Greenwich。　Jimmie　had　time　to　note　only　that
it　bore　a　Connecticut　State　license；　that　in　the　wheel…ruts　the
ti