the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第34章
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under red candle shades； the joy riders from the city； racing their cars
along the Albany road。 It woke the echoes of Sleepy Hollow。 It crossed the
Hudson。 The granite walls of the Palisades flung it back against the granite
walls of the prison。 Whichever way the convict turned； it hunted him；
reaching for him； pointing him outstirring in the heart of each who heard
it the lust of the hunter； which never is so cruel as when the hunted thing is
a man。
〃Find him！〃 shrieked the siren。 〃Find him！ He's there； behind your
hedge！ He's kneeling by the stone wall。 THAT'S he running in the
moonlight。 THAT'S he crawling through the dead leaves！ Stop him！ Drag
him down！ He's mine！ Mine！〃
But from within the prison； from within the gray walls that made the
home of the siren； each of twelve hundred men cursed it with his soul。
Each； clinging to the bars of his cell； each； trembling with a fearful joy；
each； his thumbs up； urging on with all the strength of his will the hunted；
rat…like figure that stumbled panting through the crisp October night；
bewildered by strange lights； beset by shadows； staggering and falling；
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running like a mad dog in circles； knowing that wherever his feet led him
the siren still held him by the heels。
As a rule； when Winnie Keep was dressing for dinner； Fred； in the
room adjoining； could hear her unconsciously and light…heartedly singing
to herself。 It was a habit of hers that he loved。 But on this night； although
her room was directly above where he sat upon the terrace； he heard no
singing。 He had been on the terrace for a quarter of an hour。 Gridley； the
aged butler who was rented with the house； and who for twenty years had
been an inmate of it； had brought the cocktail and taken away the empty
glass。 And Keep had been alone with his thoughts。 They were entirely of
the convict。 If the man suddenly confronted him and begged his aid； what
would he do？ He knew quite well what he would do。 He considered even
the means by which he would assist the fugitive to a successful get…away。
The ethics of the question did not concern Fred。 He did not weigh his
duty to the State of New York； or to society。 One day； when he had visited
〃the institution；〃 as a somewhat sensitive neighborhood prefers to speak of
it； he was told that the chance of a prisoner's escaping from Sing Sing and
not being at once retaken was one out of six thousand。 So with Fred it was
largely a sporting proposition。 Any man who could beat a six…thousand…to…
one shot commanded his admiration。
And； having settled his own course of action； he tried to imagine
himself in the place of the man who at that very moment was endeavoring
to escape。 Were he that man； he would first； he decided； rid himself of his
tell…tale clothing。 But that would leave him naked； and in Westchester
County a naked man would be quite as conspicuous as one in the purple…
gray cloth of the prison。 How could he obtain clothes？ He might hold up a
passer…by； and； if the passer…by did not flee from him or punch him into
insensibility； he might effect an exchange of garments； he might by threats
obtain them from some farmer； he might despoil a scarecrow。
But with none of these plans was Fred entirely satisfied。 The question
deeply perplexed him。 How best could a naked man clothe himself？ And
as he sat pondering that point； from the bushes a naked man emerged。 He
was not entirely undraped。 For around his nakedness he had drawn a
canvas awning。 Fred recognized it as having been torn from one of the
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row…boats in the lake。 But； except for that； the man was naked to his heels。
He was a young man of Fred's own age。 His hair was cut close； his face
smooth…shaven； and above his eye was a half…healed bruise。 He had the
sharp； clever； rat…like face of one who lived by evil knowledge。 Water
dripped from him； and either for that reason or from fright the young man
trembled； and； like one who had been running； breathed in short； hard
gasps。
Fred was surprised to find that he was not in the least surprised。 It was
as though he had been waiting for the man； as though it had been an
appointment。
Two thoughts alone concerned him： that before he could rid himself of
his visitor his wife might return and take alarm； and that the man； not
knowing his friendly intentions； and in a state to commit murder； might
rush him。 But the stranger made no hostile move； and for a moment in the
moonlight the two young men eyed each other warily。
Then； taking breath and with a violent effort to stop the chattering of
his teeth； the stranger launched into his story。
〃I took a bath in your pond；〃 he blurted forth； 〃andand they stole my
clothes！ That's why I'm like this！〃
Fred was consumed with envy。 In comparison with this ingenious
narrative how prosaic and commonplace became his own plans to rid
himself of accusing garments and explain his nakedness。 He regarded the
stranger with admiration。 But even though he applauded the other's
invention； he could not let him suppose that he was deceived by it。
〃Isn't it rather a cold night to take a bath？〃 he said。
As though in hearty agreement； the naked man burst into a violent fit
of shivering。
〃It wasn't a bath；〃 he gasped。 〃It was a bet！〃
〃A what！〃 exclaimed Fred。 His admiration was increasing。 〃A bet？
Then you are not alone？〃
〃I am NOWdamn them！〃 exclaimed the naked one。 He began again
reluctantly。 〃We saw you from the road； you and a woman； sitting here in
the light from that room。 They bet me I didn't dare strip and swim across
your pond with you sitting so near。 I can see now it was framed up on me
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from the start。 For when I was swimming back I saw them run to where I'd
left my clothes； and then I heard them crank up； and when I got to the
hedge the car was gone！〃
Keep smiled encouragingly。 〃The car！〃 he assented。 〃So you've been
riding around in the moonlight？〃
The other nodded； and was about to speak when there burst in upon
them the roaring scream of the siren。 The note now was of deeper rage；
and came in greater volume。 Between his clinched teeth the naked one
cursed fiercely； and then； as though to avoid further questions； burst into a
fit of coughing。 Trembling and shaking； he drew the canvas cloak closer to
him。 But at no time did his anxious； prying eyes leave the eyes of Keep。
〃Youyou couldn't lend me a suit of clothes could you？〃 he stuttered。
〃Just for to…night？ I'll send them back。 It's all right；〃 he added；
reassuringly。 〃I live near here。〃
With a start Keep raised his eyes； and distressed by his look； the young
man continued less confidently。
〃I don't blame you if you don't believe it；〃 he stammered； 〃seeing me
like this； but I DO live right near here。 Everybody around here knows me；
and I guess you've read about me in the papers； too。 I'mthat is； my name…
…〃 like one about to take a plunge he drew a short breath； and the rat…like
eyes regarded Keep watchfully〃my name is Van Warden。 I'm the one you
read aboutHarryI'm Harry Van Warden！〃
After a pause； slowly and reprovingly Fred shook his head； but his
smile was kindly even regretful； as though he were sorry he could not
longer enjoy the stranger's confidences。
〃My boy！〃 he exclaimed； 〃you're MORE than Van Warden！ You're a
genius！〃 He rose and made a peremptory gesture。 〃Sorry；〃 he said； 〃but
this isn't safe for either of us。 Follow me； and I'll dress you up and send
you where you want to go。〃 He turned and whispered over his shoulder：
〃Some day let me hear from you。 A man with your nerve〃
In alarm the naked one with a gesture commanded silence。
The library led to the front hall。 In this was the coat…room。 First
making sure the library and hall were free of servants； Fred tiptoed to the
coat…room and； opening the door； switched： on the electric light。 The
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naked man； leaving in his wake a trail of damp footprints； followed at his
heels。
Fred pointed at golf…capes； sweaters； greatcoats hanging from hooks；
and on the floor at boots and overshoes。
〃Put on that motor…coat and the galoshes；〃 he commanded。 〃They'll
cover you in case you have to run for it。 I'm going to leave you here while
I get you some clothes。 If any of the servants butt in； don't lose your head。
Just say you're waiting to see meMr。 Keep。 I won't be long。 Wait。〃
〃Wait！〃 snorted the stranger。 〃You BET I'll wait！'
As Fred closed the door upon him； the naked one was rubbing himself
violently with Mrs。 Keep's yellow golf…jacket。
In his own room Fred collected a suit of blue serge； a tennis shirt；
boots； even a tie。 Underclothes he found ready laid out for him； and he
snatched them from the bed。 From a roll of money in his bureau drawer he
counted out a hundred dollars。 Tactfully he slipped the money in the
trousers pocket of the serge suit and with the bundle of clothes in his arms
raced downstairs and shoved them into the coat…room。
〃Don't come out until I knock；〃 he commanded。 〃And；〃 he added in a
vehement whisper； 〃don't come out at all unless you have clothes on！〃
The stranger grunted。
Fred rang for Gridley and told him to have his car brought around to
the door。 He wanted it to start at once within two minutes。 When the butler
had departed； Fred； by an inch； again opened the coat…room door。 The
stranger had draped himself in the underclothes and the shirt； and at the
moment was carefully arranging the tie。
〃H
