The Red Cross Girl

ollected in book form, and sold surprisingly well. After he was graduated and became a reporter on the New York Republic, he wrote more stories, in each of which a reporter was the hero, and in w

tted a murder; but if I had, that's just the way I'd feel about it.' For instance, Kipling tells us how a Greek pirate, chained to the oar of a trireme, suffers; how a mother rejoices when her baby crawls across her breast. Kipling has never been a mother or a pirate, but he convinces you he knows how each of them feels. He can do that because he is a genius; you cannot do it because you are not. At co

ed out, "I get a salary. And in Londo

r, "you could write a story abo

marry him, from his own point of view at least, was quite impossible. Of course, he knew that no one could love her as he did, that no one so truly wished for her happiness, or would try so devotedly to make her happy. But to him it did not seem possible that a girl could be happy with a man who was not able to pay for her home, or her clothes, or her food, who would have to borrow her purse if he wante

lip calculated he could stay three months. But he found that to know London well enough to be able to live there on three sovereigns a day you had first to spend so many five-pound notes in getting

ted for more than he had supposed. He found money was many different things-it was self-respect, and proper pride, and private honors and independence. And, lacking these things, he felt he could ask no girl to marry him, certainly not one for whom he cared as he cared for Helen Carey. Besides, while he knew how he loved her, he had no knowledge whatsoever that she loved him. She always seemed extr

elen herself had been most kind, and had taken early morning walks with him in Hyde Park and through the National Galleries; and they had fed buns to the bears in the Zoo, and in doing so had laughed heartily. They

alk through Carlton House Terrace and, leaning against the iron rails of the Carlton Club, gaze up at her window. But, once on the other side of the ocean, that tender exercise must be abandoned. He must even consider her pursued by most attractive guardsmen, diplomats, and belted earls. He knew they could not love her as he did; he knew they could not love her for the rea

utterly and completely miserable. On the fir

the mir

ggs and muffins on the tables to Philip it seemed as though Prichard had said: "I am sorry he is leaving us. The next gentleman who takes these rooms m

lips of the valet had not moved. In su

it fits? Have y

" protested Prichard. "Not with

clothes," demanded Philip. "You didn't

ot; but you asked

thinking o

," answered the valet. "Seeing as you're leavin

telepathy,"

ardon," excla

't wait,"

Their lips did not move, nor did any sound issue from between them; but, without ceasing, broken phrases of thoughts came to him as clearly as when, in passing in a crowd, snatches of talk are carried to the ears. One man thought of his debts; another of the weather, and of what disaster it might bring to his silk hat; an

His first thought was that for some unaccountable cause his brain for the moment was playing tricks with him, and he was inventing the phrases he seemed to hear, that he was attrib

harming appearance had halted. Her glance was troubled, her manner ill at ease. To herself she kept repeating: "Did I tell Hudson to be here at a quarter to eleven, or a quarte

hilip had distinguished the words clearly. Or, if he had not distinguished them, he surely was going mad. It was a ma

t I believe you are waiti

mpertinence, the girl

he for whom I have a message. You have an appointment, I beli

assented

dson," he continued, "

claimed wit

w they'd get it wrong! Not

old shiver cree

ven!" he exclaimed i

anded the young wo

d your mind! I can read everybody's mind. I know jus

f one, he could read the minds of all. By some unexplainable miracle, to his ordinary equipment of senses a sixth had been added. As easily as, before that morning, he could look into the face of a fellow-mortal, he now could look into the workings of that fellow-mortal's mind. The thought was appalling. It was like living with one's ear to a key-h

pt halt His own definition of the miracle as a "power" had opened a new line of speculation. If this strange gift (already he was beginning to consider it more leniently) were concealed from others, could he not honorably put it to some useful purpos

uld any one, knowing his most secret thought was at the mercy of another, be happy in that other's presence? His power would lead to his social ostracism. Indeed,

far-reaching results. To a statesman, to a financier, such a gift as he possessed would make him a ruler of men. Philip had no desire to be a ruler of men; but he asked himself how could he bend this gift to serve his own? What he most wished wa

must be considered separately in accordance with the principle involved. But, principle or no principle, he was determined to become rich. Did not the end justify the means? Certainly an all-wise Providence had not brought Helen Carey into his life only to take her away from him. It could not be so cruel. But, in selecting them for one another, the all-wise Providence had overloo

reatened to hamper his new power, he had found that in actual operation it was quite simple. He learned that his mind, in relation to other minds, was like the receiver of a wireless station with an unlimited field. For, while the wireless could receive messages only from those instruments with which it was attuned, his mind was in key with all other minds. To read the thoughts of another, he had only to concentrate his own upon that person; and to shut off the though

d, yellow-haired youth of extremely boyish appearance, and dressed as if for the race-track. But at the moment his pink and babyish face wore an expression of complete misery. With tear-filled eyes he was gazing at a house of yellow stucco on the opposite side of the street. And his thou

und the corner and drew up in front of the house of yellow stucco, and from it descended a charming youn

nstantly he dodged behind a horse that, while still attache

rdess opened the door to the

ed quickly. Hardly had the door closed upon the young lady than he had mounted the steps and rung the visitor's bell. As he did so, he could not resist casting a triumphant glance in the direction of the outlawed husband. And, in turn, what the outcast husband, peering from across the back o

en-china doll, it was fortunate that on open

hip is not

d Philip pleasantly, "when you tell her I com

there issued a feminine exclamation of surprise, not unmixe

he will only ask me to forgive him!" Philip felt no embarrassment whatsoever. Outside, concealed behind a cab horse, was the erring but bitter

Harvard graduate of charm and

e spoke she motioned to the butler to go away. "You mu

d her; "but I can safely say no one knows his t

hed with happiness, but in

t believe him," she ann

you so. You cannot help but believe him. Who can look at you, and not believe that he loves you! Let me," he begged, "bring him to you." He started from

the lady. "He is in Pari

lip indignantly, "you must listen to me. He is not i

ent cab horse, praying that you will let him tell you that not only did he

e result was instantaneous. Philip bolted for the front door, leaving it open; and, as he darted down the steps, the youthful husband, in strides resembling those of an ostrich, sho

ildren," he murmu

he hotel to a court carriage. A red carpet in June, when all is dry under foot and the sun is shining gently, can mean only royalty; and in the rear of the men in the street Philip halted. He remembered that for a few days the young

les; on the part of the policemen who had hastened from a cross street, of pride at their temporary responsibility; on the part of the coachman of

us chorus of gentle, hospitable thoughts was shattered by one that was discordant, evil,

shall raise it above my head. I shall crash it against the stone steps. It will hurl them and all of these

tanding close to the open door of the court carriage. From the rear Philip seized him around the waist and locked his arms

m while you take it! But, for Heaven's sake, don't drop it!" Philip tur

young and beautiful, and cloaked with a dignity and sorrow that h

rned Philip. "He m

s, like a lariat, were wound around his chest; and from his pocket the first policeman gingerly drew forth a round, black object of the size of a glass fire-grenade. He held it high in the air, and waved his free hand warningly. But the warning was unobserved. There was no one remaining

rly; "and I wish you to tell me how y

ip, the would-be writer of fict

my business. I am of the International Polic

and added with a dignity that was most beco

ysteriously and

e, my usefulness would be at an end." He pointed toward the two policemen.

h the crowd of hotel officials into

close to a possible tragedy those in the corridor were still ignorant. The members of the Hungarian orchestra were arranging their music; a waiter was

Pennsylvania Dutchman from Pittsburgh, and at one time had been a foreman of the night shift in the same mills he now controlled. But with a roar and a spectacular flash, not unlike one of his ow

e cocktail and Lady Woodcote's luncheon party, Philip, from where he sat, could not help but overhear the conversation of Faust and of the man with him. The latter was a German with Hebraic features and a pointed beard. In lou

ighed en

cy having it all to yourself! It must be fun

, was exclaiming in tones of rapture, and nodd

ou are robbing Spain. You are robbing her of something worth more to her than Cuba. And I tell you, so soon as it is known that this Velasquez is going to your home in Pittsbur

the direction of Philip and, seeing that he had heard, frowned importa

n, Baron," he said, "that costs

ed it would be only polite to look interested. So he obligingly assumed a startle

ession of real surprise

cture-dealer, "I will give you your check; and then I should like t

"but I have had it moved to

've just time before lunch." He rose to his feet, and on the

ool into the Tate Street workshop! Even HE would know that old masters are not found in a half-finished state on Chelsea-made frames and canvases. Fancy my letting him see those two half-completed Van Dycks, the new Hals,

n which he had stumbled, he laughed aloud. The two men, who had risen, surprised at

loud I couldn't help overhearing. I think we've m

ionaire made a pret

tt in everywhere. No public man is safe. Is there n

or all I care," said Phili

and moved to meet it. The millionaire, fearing the reporter would esc

you the whole of it. I don't want the fact garbled, for it is

?" aske

aire smiled

hat will be news to you. I have just bought a Velasquez that I am going

he waiter presented. It was qu

. You are not buying a Velasquez. It is no more a Velasquez than this

shouted Faust.

German turned cr

insolent one?

o in Tate Street. You will find your Velasquez is there and not on its way to Liverpool. And you will find one exactly like it, and a dozen other 'old

ared the German. "It wou

y to earn a hundred pou

Baron?" demanded Faust.

"For the price of a taxi-cab fare to T

he German. "My car is outside. Wait her

tested in

Baron," he said; "just b

ey saw him, without his hat, rush into Piccadilly, spring into a taxi,

you'll see of h

ire. "He did not wait for us. He didn't even wait for his

dollars, and from the laughter of two continents. You'll find

e," said Faust. "It is

find in the studio," said Philip.

ollected his hat and stick, and, in his

ve for the two elderly gentlemen on the sofa, the lounge was still

ange world it would be if every one possessed my power. Deception would be quite futile and lying would become a lost

The two elderly gentlemen had risen and, bef

"that you have no regrets. I hope you believe tha

thought entirely selfish; but you know and I know that w

he old gentlemen ran hand in hand with his spoken words.

part, the two gentl

he public announcement of the combine until the afternoon. It will give the shareholders a be

" interrupted the

ing at the steps of the lounge. With his hands behind his back, his chin

e emblems painted clearly in colors, fluttering and flattened by the breeze. Again, the gentleman considered them in various combinations; but always,

ain to the London docks, laden with odorous coffee, mahogany, red rubber, and raw bullion. He saw sister ships follow in her wake to every port in the South Sea; saw steam packets take the place of the ships with sails; saw the steam packets give way to great ocean liners, each a floating village, each equipped, as no village is equipped, with a giant power house, thousan

the old gentleman, and raced do

a stock-broker. In that latter capacity Philip had never before ad

genially, but Phi

I want you to buy for me one thousand shares of the Royal

ddox laugh

ine," he called. "It has fallen through

ond-class ticket and a five-pound note

bine is already signed and sealed, and no one know

ink you know it?"

" cried Philip. "I have-do

a distract

ou," objected Maddox, "it'

ed fact. I'm at the Ritz. Call me up there. Start buyi

eading-room, forcing himself to read the illustrated papers. When he found he had read the same adve

ousand shares of each," he

lines, which shares, added together, were worth two hundred and twenty five thousand dollars. He returned down the corridor toward the lounge. Trembling at his own audacity, he was in a state of almost complete panic, when that happened

the doors opening from Piccadilly. Philip, his heart singing with appeals, blessings, and adoration, ran toward her. Her profile was toward him, and she could not see him; but he could see her. And he no

looking for me! She certainly is lookin

hy did he not read her mind? Why did he not KNOW? A waiter was hastening toward him. Philip fixed his

. Obviously, his mind had worked, first, in observing the half-burned cigarette; next, in furnishing the necessary match. And of no step

he life of the King, to thwart the dishonesty of a swindler, he had been all-powerful; but when he endeavored to bend it to his own uses, it had fled from him. As he stood abashed and repentant, Helen turned her eyes toward him; and, at the sight

following a course of conduct already predetermined. "I want to tell you," she said, "that I am sorry you are going away. I want to tell you that I

eeded to ma

dowagers to watch you waltzing by? Will you miss me at night, when you come home by sunrise, and I am not hiding against the railings of the Carlton Club, just to

iling happily. She l

to do that?

Philip. "Ask the policemen!

aid Hele

ot yet free to s

ght I was

e was making it

he said. "Why did you kee

ause. As both of them, whenever they heard the tune afterward, always remembered, the Hungarian band, with rare inconsequence, was playing the "Grizzly Bear," and people were trying to speak to Hele

window. They both loved her. One looked up at her from the ground and sighed for her; but the othe

s doing that, because she saw that his eyes were filled with tears. S

never pay, or whether I am worth about that sum. I should like to continue this conversation at the exact place w

ed aloud wi

not like ME. If you dislike my money, I will give it away, or I will give it to

ed at him with a message from the telephone, and with a hand that trembled Philip snatched

he message three times. At last, and not without uneasy doubts as to his own sanity, he grasped the preposterous truth. He was

"Get out of here, Tel

be questioned or denied. He seemed incapable of speech,

hilip soberly. "Indeed, all my future life

hed deeply

am I goi

?" demanded Philip.

they both chucked Lady Woodcotes luncheon, and ate one of p

ay for the penny buns. He