the red cross girl-第30部分

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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　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　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　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；　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；