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aide； Captain Dorey； on the phone。 They sent me here。 Ask THEM。
I'm not picking out gun sites for the Germans； I'm picking out
positions of defense for Americans when the Germans come！〃
Van Vorst laughed derisively。
〃My word！〃 he exclaimed。 〃You're as bad as Jimmie！〃
Captain McCoy regarded him with disfavor。
〃And you； sir；〃 he retorted； 〃are as bad as ninety million other
Americans。 You WON'T believe！ When the Germans are shelling this
hill； when they're taking your hunters to pull their cook…wagons；
maybe； you'll believe THEN。〃
〃Are you serious？〃 demanded Van Vorst。 〃And you an army officer？〃
〃That's why I am serious；〃 returned McCoy。 〃WE know。 But when we
try to prepare for what is coming； we must do it secretlyin
underhand ways； for fear the newspapers will get hold of it and
ridicule us； and accuse us of trying to drag the country into
war。 That's why we have to prepare under cover。 That's why I've
had to skulk around these hills like a chicken thief。 And；〃 he
added sharply； 〃that's why that boy must not know who I am。 If he
does； the General Staff will get a calling down at Washington；
and I'll have my ears boxed。〃
Van Vorst moved to the door。
〃He will never learn the truth from me；〃 he said。 〃For I will
tell him you are to be shot at sunrise。〃
〃Good！〃 laughed the Captain。 〃And tell me his name。 If ever we
fight over Westchester County； I want that lad for my chief of
scouts。 And give him this。 Tell him to buy a new scout uniform。
Tell him it comes from you。〃
But no money could reconcile Jimmie to the sentence imposed upon
his captive。 He received the news with a howl of anguish。 〃You
mustn't；〃 he begged； 〃I never knowed you'd shoot him！ I wouldn't
have caught him； if I'd knowed that。 I couldn't sleep if I
thought he was going to be shot at sunrise。〃 At the prospect of
unending nightmares Jimmie's voice shook with terror。 〃Make it
for twenty years；〃 he begged。 〃Make it for ten；〃 he coaxed； 〃but；
please； promise you won't shoot him。〃
When Van Vorst returned to Captain McCoy； he was smiling； and the
butler who followed； bearing a tray and tinkling glasses； was
trying not to smile。
〃I gave Jimmie your ten dollars；〃 said Van Vorst； 〃and made it
twenty； and he has gone home。 You will be glad to hear that he
begged me to spare your life； and that your sentence has been
commuted to twenty years in a fortress。 I drink to your good
fortune。〃
〃No！〃 protested Captain McCoy； 〃We will drink to Jimmie！〃
When Captain McCoy had driven away； and his own car and the golf
clubs had again been brought to the steps； Judge Van Vorst once
more attempted to depart； but he was again delayed。
Other visitors were arriving。
Up the driveway a touring…car approached； and though it limped on
a flat tire； it approached at reckless speed。 The two men in the
front seat were white with dust； their faces； masked by
automobile glasses； were indistinguishable。 As though preparing
for an immediate exit； the car swung in a circle until its nose
pointed down the driveway up which it had just come。 Raising his
silk mask the one beside the driver shouted at Judge Van Vorst。
His throat was parched； his voice was hoarse and hot with anger。
〃A gray touring…car；〃 he shouted。 〃It stopped here。 We saw it
from that hill。 Then the damn tire burst； and we lost our way。
Where did he go？〃
〃Who？〃 demanded Van Vorst； stiffly； 〃Captain McCoy？〃
The man exploded with an oath。 The driver with a shove of his
elbow； silenced him。
〃Yes； Captain McCoy；〃 assented the driver eagerly。 〃Which way did
he go？〃
〃To New York；〃 said Van Vorst。
The driver shrieked at his companion。
〃Then； he's doubled back；〃 he cried。 〃He's gone to New Haven。〃 He
stooped and threw in the clutch。 The car lurched forward。
A cold terror swept young Van Vorst。
〃What do you want with him？〃 he called 〃Who are you？〃
Over one shoulder the masked face glared at him。 Above the roar
of the car the words of the driver were flung back。 〃We're Secret
Service from Washington；〃 he shouted。 〃He's from their embassy。
He's a German spy！〃
Leaping and throbbing at sixty miles an hour； the car vanished in
a curtain of white； whirling dust。
Chapter 9。 THE CARD…SHARP
I had looked forward to spending Christmas with some people in
Suffolk； and every one in London assured me that at their house
there would be the kind of a Christmas house party you hear about
but see only in the illustrated Christmas numbers。 They promised
mistletoe； snapdragon； and Sir Roger de Coverley。 On Christmas
morning we would walk to church； after luncheon we would shoot；
after dinner we would eat plum pudding floating in blazing
brandy； dance with the servants； and listen to the waits singing
〃God rest you； merry gentlemen； let nothing you dismay。〃
To a lone American bachelor stranded in London it sounded fine。
And in my gratitude I had already shipped to my hostess； for her
children； of whose age； number； and sex I was ignorant； half of
Gamage's dolls； skees； and cricket bats； and those crackers
that； when you pull them； sometimes explode。 But it was not to
be。 Most inconsiderately my wealthiest patient gained sufficient
courage to consent to an operation； and in all New York would
permit no one to lay violent hands upon him save myself。 By cable
I advised postponement。 Having lived in lawful harmony with his
appendix for fifty years； I thought； for one week longer he might
safely maintain the status quo。 But his cable in reply was an
ultimatum。 So； on Christmas eve； instead of Hallam Hall and a
Yule log； I was in a gale plunging and pitching off the coast of
Ireland； and the only log on board was the one the captain kept
to himself。
I sat in the smoking…room； depressed and cross； and it must have
been on the principle that misery loves company that I
foregathered with Talbot； or rather that Talbot foregathered with
me。 Certainty； under happier conditions and in haunts of men more
crowded； the open…faced manner in which he forced himself upon me
would have put me on my guard。 But； either out of deference to
the holiday spirit； as manifested in the fictitious gayety of our
few fellow…passengers； or because the young man in a knowing；
impertinent way was most amusing； I listened to him from dinner
time until midnight； when the chief officer； hung with snow and
icicles； was blown in from the deck and wished all a merry
Christmas。
Even after they unmasked Talbot I had neither the heart nor the
inclination to turn him down。 Indeed； had not some of the
passengers testified that I belonged to a different profession；
the smoking…room crowd would have quarantined me as his
accomplice。 On the first night I met him I was not certain
whether he was English or giving an imitation。 All the outward
and visible signs were English； but he told me that； though he
had been educated at Oxford and since then had spent most of his
years in India； playing polo； he was an American。 He seemed to
have spent much time； and according to himself much money； at the
French watering…places and on the Riviera。 I felt sure that it
was in France I had already seen him； but where I could not
recall。 He was hard to place。 Of people at home and in London
well worth knowing he talked glibly； but in speaking of them he
made several slips。 It was his taking the trouble to cover up the
slips that first made me wonder if his talking about himself was
not mere vanity； but had some special object。 I felt he was
presenting letters of introduction in order that later he might
ask a favor。 Whether he was leading up to an immediate loan； or
in New York would ask for a card to a club； or an introduction to
a banker； I could not tell。 But in forcing himself upon me；
except in self…interest； I could think of no other motive。 The
next evening I discovered the motive。
He was in the smoking…room playing solitaire； and at once I
recalled that it was at Aix…les…Bains I had first seen him； and
that he held a bank at baccarat。 When he asked me to sit down I
said： 〃I saw you last summer at Aix…les…Bains。〃
His eyes fell to the pack in his hands and apparently searched it
for some particular card。
〃What was I doing？〃