The Red Cross Girl

, the New York REPUBLIC sent Sam Ward to cover the story, and with him Redding to take photographs. It was a crisp, beautiful day in October, full of sunshi

ent he had sulked, and he was still sulking. Only a year before he had graduated into New York from a small up-stat

he city editor. "With the speeches and list

job. Where's there any heart-interest in a Wall Street broker like Flagg waving a silver trowel and singing, 'See what a

the city editor, "I used to be g

wasted twenty-six years in the backwoods, as I did, you'd know that

nd bend backward. We never see flowers in New York except on the women's hats. We never see the women except in cages in the elevators-they spend their lives shooting up and down elevator shafts in department stores, in apartment

o be caged in elevators, but they're not. Instead, they flash past you in the street; they shine upon you from boxes in the theatre; they frown at you from the tops of buses; they smile at

ll be free from your only trouble. There will be few women at the celebration, and th

, and, with a sardonic smile, listened to Flagg telling his assembled friends and

his speech?", asked Reddi

don't escape with less than three copies. I'm waiting to hear the ritual they always ha

ding, "and reporters are expected. I asked t

er his armpit and smoothed his yellow gloves. He was very th

nutes from Broadway. And even if I were starving I would rather have a clu

blue cambric uniform of a nursing sister, with a red cross on her arm, with a white collar turned down, white cuffs turned back, and a tiny black velvet bonnet. A bow of white lawn chu

hooded camera at her as swiftly as a co

viewed blurts out that which is indiscreet but most important, the cub reporter says: "That's most interesting, sir. I'll make a note of that." And so warns the great man into silence. But

would have ogled her with impertinent approval. Now Sam, because he was a star reporter, observed that the lady before him was the most beautiful young woman he had ever seen; but no one would have guessed that he observed that-

It seems a pity," he added disappointedly, "because it's so well done that people ought to know about it." He frowned at t

was regarding him in alarm-obviously s

reporter?

ey hope he will print their names in black letters; a few others-only repo

m the REPUBLIC,

ME?" demanded

uestion; in extenuation and expla

work here," he said sim

t to leave her. In giving that imp

," persisted Sister Anne.

r this could be the height of innocence or the most banal coquetry. Th

nd, as you didn't seem busy, I thought you might give me some statis

e dark secret in the past of this young woman that at the mere approach of a reporter-even of such a nice-looking reporter as himself-she should shake and shudder. "If that's what

there that he could write about her? Much as he might like to do so, he could not begin his story with: "The Flagg Home for Convalescents is also the home of the most beautiful of all living women." No copy editor would let that get by him. So, as

on. He found that a million dollars and some acres of buildings, containing sun-rooms and hundreds of rigid white beds, had been donated by Spencer Fl

ed-"I mean you yourself-down on your knees,

er beautiful eyebrow

she said-"when we are probationers. Is

ints and whinings and ingratitude?" He glared at the unhappy convalescents as though by that glance

ject of a home for convale

allow me to say so-a magnificent, splendid, healthy young person, weari

the way we look at,

demand

dded toward a

se here," she said "T

nd the ministering angel part of it; but you-I'm not talking about anybody else; I'm talking about you-you are too young! Someho

laughed wi

pardon," sai

ne; "but your ideas of the dut

es are," declared Sam; "

; they were charming shoulders-as

ive," said

e out into the sunshine. Below them stretched Connecticut, painted in autumn colors. Sister Anne seate

she repeated softl

ghtened by the fact that "the woman was very fair." He conceded that. He was not going to pretend to himself that he was not prejudiced by the outrageous beauty of Sister Anne, by the assault upon his feelings mad

hen it can easily be arranged; for the

ckly, but he was quite sin

ers to go to. I have a father, but it was his idea that I should come here; and so I doubt if he would approve of my changing t

the copy editors, he knew, was very ill-paid; but Sam also knew that Collins was married, because his wife used to wait for him in the office to take her to the theatre, and often Sam had thought she was extremely well dressed. Of course Sister Anne was so beautiful

ance. That pays very well. T

ng?" suggeste

aimed in

oughly. "For you!

me?" said

e gravel walk as though driving the manicuring idea into a deep

avel walk, his profile toward her-and, unobserved, she could study his face. It was an attractive face strong, clever, almost illegally good-looking. It explained why, as, he had complained to the city editor, his chie

strong, hulking men who would count it God's blessing to work for you, to wait on

now that," sai

on, a delightful thrill of relief. There was every reason why the girl should not confide in a complete stranger

happily. "I think you ought to have a change. You oug

y," said Sist

and a matinee, where you can laugh-or cry, if you like that better-and then, maybe, some fresh air in the park in a taxi; and after that dinner and more theatre, and then I'll see you safe on the train for Greenwich. Before you answer," he adde

e. She did not say so, but her eyes shone and when sh

tfully expensive; even if I don't bring another girl, which I certainly would not, it would cost a gr

disappointment,-"then

yes grew quite

d near there

Harl

e young," said Sister Anne. "Since then I have

was singing

re the kindest person in all the world. I thought so when

," protested Sister Ann

ore with a smile than old man Flagg can do with all his millions.

Sister Anne. "Wher

before then telephone me what theatre and restaurants you want and I'll reserve seats

sly and, so, it seemed, a little

o my duties," she

turday-and my name's Sam Ward and my address is

In the nursing order to which I

, "I'll call yo

ister," sai

y he said it and the way he looked when he said it made it carry almost the touch of a

e an impatient,

," she

ing at the station; he considered whether or not he would meet her with a huge bunch of violets or would have it brought to her when they were at luncheon by the head waiter. He decided the latter way would be more of a ple

that the choice of where they would dine he would leave to her. He calculated that the whole day ought to cost about eighty dollars, which, as star reporter, was what he was then earning each week. That was little enough to give for a day that would be the birthday of his life! No, he contradicted-the day he had first met her must always be the birthday of his life; for never had he met one like her and he was sure there never would be one like her. She was so entirely superior to all the others, so fine, so diffi

worth that merely to have her sit in the flat where one could look at her; for already he had decided that, when they were married, they would live in a flat-probably in one overlooking Central Park, on Central Park West. He knew of sev

two most popular plays in town. He put them away carefully in his waistcoat pocket. Possession

to a waiting motor car and said, "Home!" to the chauffeur. He drove her to the Flagg family vault, as Flagg's envious millionaire neighbors cal

le at tea when she arrived

and we gave away programmes. Well, one of the New York reporters thought I was a real nurse and interviewed me about the

ded himself on knowing who's who in New York. He had met Sam

the smartest newspaper man in New York; he was just leading you on. Do you suppose there's a

exclaimed

ite upset him that I should be wasting my l

iek of disbelie

dollars a month, and he said I could make more as a t

rotested the a

d he offered, as attractions, moving-picture shows and a drive on a Fifth Avenue bus, and feeding peanuts to the animals in the park. And if I insisted upon

" shrieked

nformed the American public, had come to the Flaggs'

!" he cried. "And what are

me ridiculous for the last three years; now I have got back a

oward bed, Sister Anne stopped by the stairs and said

ng man. "I will tell you," he whis

"Do as I tell you and say Sister on

otested his lordship. "I'

ommanded Miss Flagg. "I've heard that fr

frowned in

med. It sounded lik

nd her beautiful shoulders shi

, Deptford," she s

e was to ride in the morning, found her ready for bed but standing

hing in her eyes that caused that y

You crying! What in Heave

Miss Flagg receive it kindly. She

smile was worth more than all of old man Flagg's millions, not knowing they were YOUR millions. Suppose he didn't ask any money of you, but just to take care of you, to slave for you-only

!" exclaime

down on your knees to that man and say: 'Take me away! Take me away from t

't you?" cri

ied Anita Flagg. "Because I'm a coward. And tha

illotine ready to fall upon the guilty word or paragraph, was suspended in mid-air; and continually, like a hawk preparing to strike, the blue pencil swooped and circled. But page after page fell softly to the desk and the blue pencil remained inactive. As he read, the voice

winging his legs from the top of a table, was gazing at the ceiling, wrapped in dreams and tobacco smo

hat?" Sam

is hands filled with freshly pulled proofs. He swung toward Collins quickly

anded. Over the room t

ord Deptford. No speeches! No news! It's not a news story at all. It's an editorial, and an essay, and a spring poem. I don't know what it is. And, what'

reen paper shade, were racing over Sam's written

all lik

a column

et your story from the flimsy. And, in your head, cut out Flagg entirely. Call it 'The Red

" he said. "This is a n

ceased, and the staff, expectant, smiled cynically upon the star reporter. S

ight on the job-taking care of the sick and wounded. It seemed to me that a million from a man that won't miss a million didn't stack up against what this girl was doing for these sick folks! What I wanted to say," cont

aithful service, backed by the traditio

t's no

made Frank O'Malley famous. It's the kind of story that drives men out of t

was proud of his business; but never before had it served him so well. It had enabled him to tell the woman he loved, and incidentally a million other people, how deeply he honored her; how clearly he appreciated her power for good. No one would know he meant Sister Anne, save two people-Sister Anne

ter many excursions into the hall, he at last found it. On the front page was his story, "The Red Cross Girl." It had the place of honor-right-hand column; but more conspicuous than the headlines of his own story was one of Redding's, photographs. It was the one he had taken of Sister Anne

it read, "in a New Role, Miss A

n the sidewalks, on their way to work, processions of shop-girls stepped out briskly. It was the street and the city and the life he had found fascinating, but now it jarred and affronted him. A girl he knew had died, had pa

ress, had pointed at the front-page photograph; but Miss Flagg was not looking at the photograph, or drinking her tea, or showing in her immediate surroundings any interest whatsoever. Instead, her lovely eyes were fastened with fascination upon the column under the heading "The Red Cross Girl"; and, as she read, the lovely eyes lost all trace of re

thinks I'm like that mustn't get away! I'm not like that and I know it; but if he

demanded to be instantly put into communication with the DAIL

h I were a stock-broker. This man's got a head on his shoulders, and he's got the shoulders too; and he's got a darned good-looking head; and he thinks I'

ght think you meant it!" She nodded violentl

ut of here, and tell everybody that you all three caught me in the act of proposing to an Am

And what's more," Anita hurled after them, "get your bets down

but, as the REPUBLIC was a morning paper, the only person in the office was the lady who scrubbed the floors and she refused to go near the telephone. So An

ffice. On this particular morning Hollis Holworthy w

" said Hollworthy joyously-"

d fell into

ou didn't know who she was yesterday, and I said that was

essed, it should be torn open by impertinent fingers; but he had no right to take

ed to give Holworthy the hint to leave

f you chaps being taken in like that. I thought you were t

ot yet to escape. "And, instead of your fooling her," exclai

iculty Sa

uld seem,

iringly. "I thought she was making it up-she must have made some of it up.

that

and that you invited her to

bought front row seats in h

said that-or

e d

, I must ha

roared wit

er to feed peanuts to t

he little man

said t

exclaimed Holworthy. "We did laugh.

il to do so he pro

rying to make a date with Anita

sing taxi. "I'm late," he said. He abandoned Hollis on the sidewalk, chuck

iting for an assignment, the telephone boy h

ed. His voice dropped to an awed whisper.

he remembered that this was not Sister Anne who wa

irected. The boy gasped, fled

s your telephone number

it; tell her it's again

cal staff that Anita Flagg-the rich, the beautiful, the daring, the original of the Red Cross story o

when Sam entered his office he found also there Walsh, th

ed them and told

lose you, but you've got to go. It's on

h the story had been written, it was causing him more kinds of trouble than was quite fair. The loss of position did not disturb him. In the last month too many mana

hought you like

where you can get bigger stories. We want you to act as our special correspondent in

tery to Forty-seventh Street, he would now tell New York what was of interest in Europe and the British Empire, and so to the whole world. There was one drawback only to his happiness-there was no one with whom he might divide it. He wanted to celebrate his good fortune; he wanted to share it with some one who would un

how ingenuously he had shown it to her-meant nothing; but because the girl he thought she was, the girl he had made dreams about and wanted to marry without a moment's notice, would have seen that what he offered, ridiculous as it was when offered to Anita Flagg, was not rid

supplements and from the impression he had been given of her by the little ass, Holworthy. She was not at all like that. Ever since she had come of age she had been beset by sycophants and flatterers, both old and young, both men a

d so-when on arriving at the office the next morning, which was a Friday, he received a telegram reading, "Arriving to-morrow nine-thirty from Greenwich; the day cannot begin t

ovely eyes tears that sprang from self-pity and wounded f

ild who has struck her head against the table, and from the naughty t

an explanation, Anita Flagg had ch

she announced, "he

s it was, word for word, but this

"Sister Anne is the person t

be no argument; but he assured himself that he had acted within his rights. A girl who could see in a well-meant offer to be kind only a subject for ridicule was of no interest to him. Nor did her telegrams insisting upon continuing their acquaintance flatt

py. He was now a man with a responsible position-one who soon would be conferring with cabinet ministers and putting ambassadors At their ease. He wondered if a beautiful heiress, whose hand was sought in m

t the same restaurant to which he had intended taking her, he continued, to pretend she was with him. And at the theatre, where there was going forward the most popular of all musical comedies, the seat next to him, which to the audience, appeared wastefully empty, was to him filled with her graciou

were others with her. He had a confused impression of bulging shirt-fronts, and shining silks, and diamonds, and drooping plumes upon enormous hats. He thought he recognized Lord Deptford and Holworthy; but the only person he distinguished clearly was Anita Flagg. The girl was all in black velvet, which was drawn to her figure like a wet bathing suit; rou

esied. Instead, he turned his head slowly over his left shoulder, as though he thought she was speaking not to him but some one beyond him, across the aisle. And then his eyes returned to the stage and did not again look toward her. It

in the glow of the foot-lights; saw her lips tremble like those of a child about to

he cares." he

everything she did, she kept robbing him still fu

intent expression, and then slowly and unobtrusively drew back to a seat in the rear of the box. In the

talked to him the other day I thought he was nice. He was nice, But he has behaved abominably-like a boor-like a

? Ward's a clever fellow, but he fancies himself. He's conceited. He's too good-looking; and a lot of silly women have made such a f

eated Miss Flagg-"

ined Holworthy. "About his having the nerve to a

ted with a gasping

you told him that, did you? An

soon'; that he said he wouldn't let you be a manicure and wash th

was a

e said that?" bre

ou did," sa

s anothe

been mad!"

pause and Holwort

ou are angry,

ut not with you. I'm very much pleased with you. At the end

the less intense; and, indeed, so miserable was he and so miserable were his looks, that his friends on the stage considered sending him a note, offering, if he would take himself out of the front row, to give him back his money at the box office. Sam certainly wished to take himself away; but he did not want to admit that

be rude to abandon Sister Anne. But he now was not so conscious of the imaginary Sister Anne as of the actual box party on his near right, who were laughing and chattering volubly. He wondered whether th

ak-and Miss Anita Flagg seemed to understand that and to wish to give him time; for, without regarding him in the least, and as though to establish the fact that she had come to stay, she began calmly and deli

for me. Don't you think you'v

ughter or of mockery, but, instead, gentle reproof and appeal

d to speak, he looked at h

id. "It's Sister Anne come back to l

about Sister Anne-about the kind of me you thought you'd met. When I read that I knew what sort of a man you were. I knew you had been really kind and gentle, and I knew you had dug out som

were watching her with the greatest interest. Half of the people in the now half-empty house were watching them with the greatest interest. To them, between rea

re observed. They were alone-as much alone as though t

prompted Anita

this," he whispered: "I'll say you're the most wonderful, t

; and, with her head bent, she star

said, "but that so

to her box, so that he could meet her friends and go on with them

ront of the theatre-we might go to the park and ta

e me laugh

of the box party, but paying no attention to t

because it is such sad news I haven't told you. It is this: I am leaving

aid Sam, "but in all my life I nev

s!" excla

ing the winter in England. I am sailing on Wednesday. No;

," begge

ay," sa

t day they were at sea-as they leaned upo

o a name on the passenger list. It was: "The Earl o

with interest at a

" she said. "He chan

t weight might be lifted from his soul.

e change?"

d in wonder. She smiled a

at is worrying